City · New Jersey
Linden, New Jersey
Linden, city, in Union County, New Jersey. Linden had 45,752 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 43,738 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 44,192 (±85). GEOID 3440350.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
45,752
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 43,738 · ACS 2020-2024: 44,192 ±85
Median household income
$92,915
±$3,823 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$419,700
±$13,902 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$1,731
±$71 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Linden and what county is it in?
Linden is a city in Union County, New Jersey. It covers 10.7 square miles of land, 4,092 residents per square mile in 2020.
Linden is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Linden, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 45,752 people lived in Linden on July 1, 2025, up 4.6% since 2020, faster than New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 43,738 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 44,192 (±85).
| Measure | Linden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 44,192 ±85 | 579,290 | +1,970 |
| Households | 15,463 ±477 | 203,277 | +816 |
| Average household size | 2.84 ±0.09 | 2.82 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 16,149 ±461 | 212,385 | no clear change |
Linden's population since 2000
From 39,394 in 2000 to 45,752 in 2025: up 16.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Linden as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Linden?
The median resident of Linden is 40.1 years old; 20.4% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 35.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 30.1%. 36.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Linden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 ±2.2 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.4% ±1.7 pts | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0% ±1.3 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Male | 48.8% ±1.7 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 35.2% ±3.4 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 30.1% ±3.1 pts | 35.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 27.0% ±3.0 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±1.4 pts | 5.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.7% ±0.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 36.1% ±2.6 pts | 33.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 56.7% ±3.5 pts | 47.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.7% ±0.8 pts | 2.5% | – |
| With a disability | 9.9% ±1.2 pts | 9.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 13.1% ±2.2 pts | 13.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.4% ±1.5 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.3% ±2.2 pts | 38.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9% ±1.4 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.7% ±2.6 pts | 90.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.7% ±1.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
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 Linden earn?
Half of Linden's 15,463 households earn less than $92,915 a year (±$3,823), against $103,202 in Union County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $90,316 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Linden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $92,915 ±$3,823 | $103,202 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $117,126 ±$6,881 | $149,595 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,092 ±$2,303 | $52,874 | +$3,284 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.6% ±2.1 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.0% ±5.0 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.5% ±2.4 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.6% ±1.5 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.8% ±1.5 pts | 93.3% | – |
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 Linden?
Owners occupy 59.5% of Linden's occupied homes and renters 40.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $419,700 by its owner (±$13,902). The median renter pays $1,731 a month including utilities, and 45.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Linden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $419,700 ±$13,902 | $529,200 | +$72,890 |
| Median gross rent | $1,731 ±$71 | $1,730 | +$115 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 45.6% ±5.7 pts | 42.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,842 ±$126 | $3,203 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.5% ±3.8 pts | 57.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.5% ±3.8 pts | 42.6% | – |
| Housing units | 16,149 ±461 | 212,385 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1% ±1.1 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 45.2% ±2.9 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.7% ±1.6 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 19.7% ±2.8 pts | 23.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 10.8% ±1.7 pts | 10.2% | – |
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 many new homes is Linden building?
Builders took permits for 47 new housing units in Linden in 2025 (13 in single-family houses), 1.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.9 across New Jersey.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Linden work and get to work?
69.2% of Linden's workers drive alone and 7.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 9.5%.
| Measure | Linden | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.8% ±1.8 pts | 69.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 9.5% ±1.8 pts | 6.5% | +2.3 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 69.2% ±3.6 pts | 60.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.2% ±2.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 6.5% ±1.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.5% ±1.1 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.3% ±1.8 pts | 14.2% | +5.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.5 min ±1.8 | 30.2 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 Linden?
10 census tracts lie mostly in Linden (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $66,006 (Tract 345) to $132,656 (Tract 348).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 353Union County | 6,610 | $74,607 |
| Tract 349Union County | 6,209 | $82,007 |
| Tract 348Union County | 5,133 | $132,656 |
| Tract 351Union County | 4,674 | $87,778 |
| Tract 346Union County | 4,398 | $97,829 |
| Tract 347Union County | 4,345 | $89,728 |
| Tract 345Union County | 4,066 | $66,006 |
| Tract 354Union County | 3,378 | $118,954 |
| Tract 352Union County | 2,738 | $75,972 |
| Tract 350Union County | 2,641 | $94,690 |
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 Linden) · Census block assignment files
How does Linden compare with other places in New Jersey?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Linden is the 903rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 20th-most populous of 323 in New Jersey.
Linden ranks 545th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 20th | 323 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 90th | 532 |
| Residents per square mile | 193rd | 787 |
| Median household income | 545th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 658th | 785 |
| Median home value | 424th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 393rd | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 142nd | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 695th | 780 |
| Median age | 550th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 636th | 777 |
| Work from home | 639th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 330th | 787 |
Linden's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Linden 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 Linden?
6 of the 57 figures for Linden 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 Linden 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' public schools in Linden.