City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Linden, NJ

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

43,614
Residents
$91,036
Median income
$387,200
Median home
$2,205
Median rent (state)

Linden - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Linden places in the 72nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

72nd
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
86th
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: Linden, NJ

New Jersey's Linden is a small city, with 43,614 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $91,036 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. Typical homes in Linden are valued around $387,200, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. Educational attainment runs 23.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 64.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 72 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 80% from five years earlier.

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Jersey scores 108.8 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,205 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts New Jersey's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Commute times here average 29.4 minutes, with 69.9% driving alone and 6.2% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 95.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

43,614 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$91,036 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Linden compare to other US cities?

Where Linden sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 72% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% 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

Each percentile compares Linden against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Jersey only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Jersey-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Linden toward the bottom of New Jersey's cities

Among the 686 New Jersey cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Linden ranks #562 - the 18th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Linden only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#436 of 659
34th percentile in New Jersey
Median Gross Rent
#298 of 686
41st percentile in New Jersey
Median Home Value
#351 of 672
48th percentile in New Jersey
Poverty Rate
#165 of 680
75th percentile in New Jersey
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#562 of 686
18th percentile in New Jersey

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within New Jersey only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

72ndIncome percentile

72nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Linden's home value compares nationally

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

$387,200 24th percentile more affordable than 24% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $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. Linden $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 - Linden, NJ Linden, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Linden, 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 Linden, NJ median $91,036/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%
Linden, 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 Linden, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.7%

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

Population
43,614
Median Income
$91,036
Median Home Value
$387,200
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
64.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%

Schools

Total Schools
11
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
43,000 residents44,000 residents45,000 residents46,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 43,521 residents 45,752 residents ▲ +5.1%
Linden's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
72
housing units authorized
Single-Family
25
detached homes
Multifamily
47
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 355
2020 158
2021 69
2022 390
2023 96
2024 72

Permit volume decreased 80% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
29.4 minutes
Drive Alone
69.9%
Carpool
12.0%
Public Transit
7.1%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
6.2%
Other
2.4%

Based on 22,198 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 Linden sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,205/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Sicklerville
44,500 people
Sayreville
45,237 people
Hackensack
45,768 people
Kearny
40,570 people
Fort Lee
39,818 people
Atlantic City
38,486 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Linden's 43,614 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spanish Fork, UT
43,632 people
Waxahachie, TX
43,591 people
Pittsfield, MA
43,559 people
Channelview, TX
43,536 people
Leominster, MA
43,697 people
Ormond Beach, FL
43,514 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Linden's $91,036 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

North Palm Beach, FL
$91,042 median income
Garden Valley, ID
$91,042 median income
Peekskill, NY
$91,042 median income
Thatcher, UT
$91,042 median income
Kahlotus, WA
$91,042 median income
Merritt Island, FL
$91,020 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Linden, 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 Linden, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 37.9% 28.1% 14.6% 15.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 35.6% White 37.9% Black or African American 28.1% Asian 3.6% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 14.6% Two or more races 15.6% 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 Linden 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
Linden (this city) 43,614 $91,036
Sicklerville 44,500 $102,881
Sayreville 45,237 $98,629
Hackensack 45,768 $82,212
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Linden, NJ?

What is the population of Linden, NJ? +

43,614 people live in Linden, NJ according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Linden is $91,036 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Linden? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Linden; 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 Linden, NJ? +

Linden's median home value sits at $387,200, 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

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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.