City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Kearny, NJ

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Kearny - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

40,570
Residents
$83,212
Median income
$431,700
Median home
$2,763
Median rent (state)

Kearny - the verdict

Nationally, Kearny sits in the 65th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

65th
percentile, household income
80th
percentile, home value
96th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Kearny, NJ

Kearny is a small city in New Jersey, home to 40,570 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Kearny brings in $83,212 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.9%. Home values in Kearny run a median of $431,700, and the median resident age is 39.2 years. 29.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 22 residential building permits were authorized in Kearny (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 108.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,763 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Jersey's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Commute times here average 31.7 minutes, with 64.1% driving alone and 5.3% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 97.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

40,570 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$83,212 /yr

Poverty 8.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Kearny compare to other US cities?

Kearny measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 80% pricier than other cities
Median rent 96% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Kearny's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in New Jersey, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

65thIncome percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Kearny's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$431,700 20th percentile more affordable than 20% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Kearny $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Kearny, NJ Kearny, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kearny, NJ-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Kearny, NJ median $83,212/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Kearny, NJ's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Kearny, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
40,570
Median Income
$83,212
Median Home Value
$431,700
Median Age
39.2
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Labor force participation
63.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
39,000 residents40,000 residents41,000 residents42,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 41,687 residents 40,862 residents ▼ -2.0%
Kearny's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
22
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
22
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 2
2021 0
2022 0
2023 77
2024 22

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
31.7 minutes
Drive Alone
64.1%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
13.3%
Walk
6.0%
Work from Home
5.3%
Other
0.9%

Based on 20,827 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Jersey - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Jersey state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a New Jersey state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Kearny sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,763/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Fort Lee
39,818 people
Atlantic City
38,486 people
Linden
43,614 people
Sicklerville
44,500 people
Sayreville
45,237 people
Hackensack
45,768 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kearny's 40,570 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bartlett, IL
40,531 people
Cedar Falls, IA
40,662 people
Woodlawn CDP (Baltimore County), MD
40,476 people
State College, PA
40,669 people
Essex, MD
40,670 people
Westfield, MA
40,673 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kearny's $83,212 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Imperial, CA
$83,214 median income
Long Creek, IL
$83,214 median income
Trafalgar, IN
$83,214 median income
Dexter, IA
$83,214 median income
Taylor Mill, KY
$83,210 median income
York, NY
$83,214 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kearny, NJ Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Kearny, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 45.7% 23.1% 21.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 50.9% White 45.7% Black or African American 5.8% Asian 3.6% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 23.1% Two or more races 21.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Kearny compares to nearby New Jersey cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Kearny (this city) 40,570 $83,212
Fort Lee 39,818 $105,535
Atlantic City 38,486 $36,220
Linden 43,614 $91,036
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kearny, NJ?

What is the population of Kearny, NJ? +

Kearny, NJ has a population of 40,570 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kearny, NJ? +

Kearny households earn a median of $83,212 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kearny? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kearny; the closest available measure is the New Jersey state average, a cost of living index of 108.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Jersey vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Kearny, NJ? +

The median home value in Kearny is $431,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.