City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Union Beach, NJ

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

5,722
Residents
$128,400
Median income
$452,900
Median home
$2,328
Median rent (state)

Union Beach - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Union Beach lands in the 90th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

90th
percentile, household income
82nd
percentile, home value
90th
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: Union Beach, NJ

Union Beach is a small town in New Jersey, home to 5,722 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Union Beach brings in $128,400 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Union Beach's housing stock carries a median value of $452,900, and the median resident age is 43.7 years. About 33.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 77.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 11 residential building permits were authorized in Union Beach (Construction Slowdown), down 63% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts New Jersey at 108.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,328 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Jersey run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

5,722 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$128,400 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Union Beach compare to other US cities?

Here's how Union Beach stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 90% higher than other cities
Home value 82% pricier than other cities
Median rent 90% 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 Union Beach'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.

90thIncome percentile

90th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Union Beach's home value compares nationally

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

$452,900 18th percentile more affordable than 18% 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%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Union Beach $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 - Union Beach, NJ Union Beach, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Union Beach, 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 Union Beach, NJ median $128,400/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%
Union Beach, 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 Union Beach, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 33.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 77.1%

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

Population
5,722
Median Income
$128,400
Median Home Value
$452,900
Median Age
43.7
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
77.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
33.6%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,690 residents5,700 residents5,710 residents5,720 residents5,730 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,702 residents 5,708 residents ▲ +0.1%
Union Beach's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
11
housing units authorized
Single-Family
11
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 30
2020 22
2021 28
2022 21
2023 14
2024 11

Permit volume decreased 63% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.5%
Carpool
10.3%
Public Transit
6.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.9%
Other
1.3%

Based on 3,603 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 Union Beach sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,328/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Rutgers University-Busch Campus
5,747 people
Jamesburg
5,763 people
Franklin Center
5,770 people
Norwood
5,668 people
Towaco
5,627 people
Belmar
5,861 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Union Beach's 5,722 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ware, MA
5,723 people
Washingtonville, NY
5,723 people
Spring Ridge, MD
5,720 people
Abingdon, MD
5,727 people
Pontotoc, MS
5,717 people
International Falls, MN
5,728 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Union Beach's $128,400 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Manhattan, IL
$128,375 median income
West Alton, MO
$128,438 median income
Stanford, IN
$128,356 median income
Greenville, IN
$128,348 median income
Niskayuna, NY
$128,346 median income
Bondurant, IA
$128,341 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Union Beach, 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 Union Beach, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.5% 10.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16.2% White 80.5% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 2.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.6% Two or more races 10.3% 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 Union Beach 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
Union Beach (this city) 5,722 $128,400
Rutgers University-Busch Campus 5,747 $118,750
Jamesburg 5,763 $117,719
Franklin Center 5,770 $138,643
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Union Beach, NJ?

What is the population of Union Beach, NJ? +

Union Beach, NJ counts 5,722 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Union Beach, NJ? +

Median annual household income in Union Beach runs $128,400, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Union Beach? +

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

The median home value in Union Beach is $452,900, 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

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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.