Census-designated place · New Jersey
Watsessing, New Jersey
Watsessing, census-designated place, in Essex County, New Jersey. Watsessing had 8,232 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±765). GEOID 3477750.
Residents, 2020-2024
8,232
±765 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 8,078
Median household income
$103,378
±$15,211 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$435,400
±$19,595 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$2,026
±$140 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Watsessing and what county is it in?
Watsessing is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Essex County, New Jersey. It covers 0.6 square miles of land, 13,050 residents per square mile in 2020.
Watsessing is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Watsessing lies entirely within Bloomfield 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 Watsessing, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Watsessing's population at 8,232 (±765). The 2020 Census counted 8,078 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Watsessing is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Watsessing | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,232 ±765 | 863,002 | – |
| Households | 3,626 ±317 | 319,788 | – |
| Average household size | 2.25 ±0.17 | 2.63 | – |
| Housing units | 3,677 ±322 | 336,962 | – |
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 Watsessing?
The median resident of Watsessing is 36.4 years old; 14.8% are under 18 and 12.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 29.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 29.5%. 29.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Watsessing | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 ±4.0 | 37.7 | – |
| Under 18 years | 14.8% ±2.9 pts | 23.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.6% ±3.1 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Male | 49.4% ±3.5 pts | 48.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 23.1% ±5.9 pts | 25.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 29.5% ±6.4 pts | 27.3% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 29.6% ±6.8 pts | 35.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 7.9% ±3.4 pts | 6.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.2% ±2.8 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±2.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 29.6% ±6.0 pts | 30.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 35.5% ±6.7 pts | 37.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.1% ±1.3 pts | 2.6% | – |
| With a disability | 10.1% ±2.9 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.4% ±2.6 pts | 11.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.4% ±2.7 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 53.0% ±3.8 pts | 39.1% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.7% ±4.3 pts | 16.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.4% ±6.4 pts | 89.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.5% ±2.1 pts | 1.7% | – |
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 Watsessing earn?
Half of Watsessing's 3,626 households earn less than $103,378 a year (±$15,211), against $80,789 in Essex County and $103,556 in New Jersey. 7.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Watsessing | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,378 ±$15,211 | $80,789 | – |
| Mean household income | $129,295 ±$16,014 | $131,513 | – |
| Per capita income | $57,189 ±$6,345 | $49,449 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 7.5% ±4.0 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.2% ±7.4 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.8% ±2.5 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.4% ±2.2 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.8% ±3.2 pts | 90.4% | – |
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 Watsessing?
Owners occupy 31.9% of Watsessing's occupied homes and renters 68.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $435,400 by its owner (±$19,595). The median renter pays $2,026 a month including utilities, and 33.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Watsessing | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $435,400 ±$19,595 | $524,100 | – |
| Median gross rent | $2,026 ±$140 | $1,531 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.5% ±9.7 pts | 46.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,048 ±$301 | $3,322 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 31.9% ±6.1 pts | 44.9% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 68.1% ±6.1 pts | 55.1% | – |
| Housing units | 3,677 ±322 | 336,962 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.4% ±2.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.8% ±1.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 25.4% ±5.2 pts | 33.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.3% ±2.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 16.4% ±4.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 37.7% ±6.3 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.3% ±4.8 pts | 21.0% | – |
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 Watsessing work and get to work?
49.7% of Watsessing's workers drive alone and 26.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.2%.
| Measure | Watsessing | Essex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 83.0% ±3.3 pts | 66.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% ±2.1 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 49.7% ±6.5 pts | 52.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8% ±5.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 12.4% ±4.1 pts | 15.8% | – |
| Walked | 2.8% ±1.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 26.7% ±5.6 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 33.6 min ±2.6 | 33.6 min | – |
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 Watsessing?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Watsessing, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $104,722 (Tract 156) to $107,891 (Tract 157).
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 Watsessing) · Census block assignment files
How does Watsessing compare with other places in New Jersey?
Watsessing ranks 470th 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) | 351st | 787 |
| Residents per square mile | 24th | 787 |
| Median household income | 470th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 356th | 785 |
| Median home value | 395th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 217th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 238th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 287th | 780 |
| Median age | 712th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 758th | 777 |
| Work from home | 117th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 200th | 787 |
Watsessing's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare Watsessing 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 Watsessing?
9 of the 57 figures for Watsessing 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 Watsessing 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.