Census-designated place · New Jersey
Lakewood, New Jersey
Lakewood, census-designated place, in Ocean County, New Jersey. Lakewood had 69,585 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±3,855). GEOID 3438580.
Residents, 2020-2024
69,585
±3,855 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 69,398
Median household income
$56,968
±$7,583 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$715,500
±$58,334 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$1,718
±$96 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Lakewood and what county is it in?
Lakewood is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Ocean County, New Jersey. It covers 7.1 square miles of land, 9,803 residents per square mile in 2020.
Lakewood is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Lakewood lies entirely within Lakewood Township, a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Lakewood, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Lakewood's population at 69,585 (±3,855). The 2020 Census counted 69,398 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Lakewood is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Lakewood | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 69,585 ±3,855 | 654,362 | +13,513 |
| Households | 14,036 ±750 | 243,843 | +3,738 |
| Average household size | 4.85 ±0.24 | 2.65 | −0.43 |
| Housing units | 14,718 ±763 | 296,357 | +3,727 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Lakewood?
The median resident of Lakewood is 17.5 years old; 51.2% are under 18 and 5.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.1%. 8.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Lakewood | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 17.5 ±0.8 | 41.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 51.2% ±1.8 pts | 25.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 5.0% ±0.7 pts | 22.6% | – |
| Male | 51.6% ±1.2 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.1% ±3.1 pts | 10.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.1% ±3.2 pts | 81.1% | −3.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±0.7 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 1.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.5% ±1.5 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 26.0% ±3.6 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.4% ±0.6 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 4.8% ±0.8 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.1% ±0.9 pts | 4.1% | −3.8 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.3% ±2.1 pts | 93.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 31.9% ±3.1 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 15.3% ±2.3 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.3% ±1.5 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3% ±0.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Lakewood earn?
Half of Lakewood's 14,036 households earn less than $56,968 a year (±$7,583), against $89,863 in Ocean County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $62,639 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 29.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lakewood | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,968 ±$7,583 | $89,863 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $93,833 ±$6,944 | $118,767 | – |
| Per capita income | $19,050 ±$1,532 | $44,947 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 29.9% ±4.0 pts | 10.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 33.1% ±5.2 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 20.5% ±3.6 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 80.6% ±3.7 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 58.4% ±4.5 pts | 88.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Lakewood?
Owners occupy 39.1% of Lakewood's occupied homes and renters 60.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $715,500 by its owner (±$58,334). The median renter pays $1,718 a month including utilities, and 67.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lakewood | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $715,500 ±$58,334 | $398,400 | +$131,659 |
| Median gross rent | $1,718 ±$96 | $1,755 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 67.1% ±5.3 pts | 50.3% | +8.1 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,281 ±$156 | $2,330 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 39.1% ±3.4 pts | 80.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 60.9% ±3.4 pts | 19.3% | – |
| Housing units | 14,718 ±763 | 296,357 | +3,727 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5% ±1.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 36.0% ±3.8 pts | 74.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2% ±0.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 22.1% ±3.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.3% ±2.4 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.0% ±2.7 pts | 6.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Lakewood work and get to work?
62.1% of Lakewood's workers drive alone and 16.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.3%.
| Measure | Lakewood | Ocean County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.9% ±2.3 pts | 59.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% ±1.8 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.1% ±4.3 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.2% ±2.5 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.6% ±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 5.6% ±2.1 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.1% ±2.9 pts | 12.5% | +7.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.8 min ±1.7 | 30.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Lakewood?
11 census tracts lie mostly in Lakewood, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $39,051 (Tract 7153.04) to $123,819 (Tract 7155.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7152.01Ocean County | 10,931 | $61,422 |
| Tract 7156Ocean County | 10,510 | $75,893 |
| Tract 7153.01Ocean County | 9,490 | $63,053 |
| Tract 7152.02Ocean County | 6,618 | $48,017 |
| Tract 7153.04Ocean County | 5,197 | $39,051 |
| Tract 7150.01Ocean County | 11,771 | $72,708 |
| Tract 7155.01Ocean County | 4,451 | $123,819 |
| Tract 7153.03Ocean County | 3,876 | $41,514 |
| Tract 7154.01Ocean County | 4,861 | $104,655 |
| Tract 7154.04Ocean County | 3,525 | $45,149 |
| Tract 7155.03Ocean County | 4,814 | $114,486 |
| Tract 7154.03Ocean County | 3,065 | $44,975 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Lakewood) · Census block assignment files
How does Lakewood compare with other places in New Jersey?
Lakewood ranks 739th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 19th | 787 |
| Residents per square mile | 42nd | 787 |
| Median household income | 739th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 775th | 785 |
| Median home value | 116th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 405th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 11th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 558th | 780 |
| Median age | 786th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 734th | 777 |
| Work from home | 394th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 761st | 787 |
Lakewood's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Lakewood with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Lakewood?
8 of the 57 figures for Lakewood on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Lakewood are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.