County · New Jersey
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County, New Jersey. Passaic County had 531,624 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.2% since 2020, slower than New Jersey (+2.8%). It holds 28 places (13 cities, villages and boroughs, 3 towns and townships and 12 census-designated) and 120 census tracts. GEOID 34031.
Passaic County is one of the 22 counties of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
531,624
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 524,118 · ACS 2020-2024: 521,012
Median household income
$87,522
±$2,333 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$459,500
±$3,736 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$1,621
±$17 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
How many people live in Passaic County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 524,118 residents in Passaic County. The Census Bureau estimates 531,624 for July 1, 2025, up 1.2% since 2020, slower than New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 521,012 over 186 square miles of land.
| Measure | Passaic County | New Jersey | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 521,012 | 9,343,809 | +17,375 |
| Households | 178,936±778 | 3,507,701 | +13,507 |
| Average household size | 2.86±0.01 | 2.62 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 185,816±155 | 3,791,354 | +8,726 |
Passaic County's population since 2000
From 489,049 in 2000 to 531,624 in 2025: up 8.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Passaic County?
Passaic County holds 28 places: 13 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 3 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 12 census-designated places. The largest is Paterson with 161,793 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Paterson | 159,732 | $55,997 |
|---|---|---|
| Clifton | 90,296 | $98,237 |
| Passaic | 70,537 | $55,371 |
| Wayne Township | 54,838 | $153,056 |
| West Milford Township | 24,862 | $132,114 |
| Hawthorne | 19,637 | $110,237 |
| Preakness | 18,487 | $133,205 |
| Woodland Park | 13,484 | $98,845 |
| Little Falls Township | 13,360 | $123,307 |
| Ringwood | 11,735 | $152,414 |
| Wanaque | 11,317 | $113,175 |
| Pompton Lakes | 11,127 | $124,454 |
| Totowa | 11,065 | $113,563 |
| Haledon | 9,052 | $95,870 |
| North Haledon | 8,927 | $125,313 |
| Bloomingdale | 7,777 | $127,500 |
| Prospect Park | 6,372 | $53,125 |
| Packanack Lake | 6,261 | $213,103 |
| Upper Greenwood Lake | 3,687 | $111,466 |
| Singac | 3,602 | $104,519 |
| Great Notch | 3,289 | $162,101 |
| Pines Lake | 3,033 | $172,348 |
| Macopin | 2,199 | $139,864 |
| Montclair State UniversityGEOID 3447524 | 2,180 | not published |
| Hewitt | 1,912 | $189,188 |
| William Paterson University of New JerseyGEOID 3481365 | 1,417 | not published |
| Oak Ridge | 10,996 | $121,875 |
| NewfoundlandGEOID 3451420 | 1,145 | $138,385 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Passaic County?
The median resident of Passaic County is 38.1 years old; 23.6% are under 18 and 15.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 44.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 37.9%. 33.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Passaic County | New Jersey | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1±0.2 | 40.1 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 23.6% | 21.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.9%±0.1 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 44.3% | 22.5% | +2.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 37.9%±0.1 pts | 50.9% | −3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 9.7%±0.1 pts | 12.2% | −0.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.4%±0.1 pts | 10.0% | +0.3 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±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 | 2.0%±0.2 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 33.1%±0.6 pts | 23.9% | +2.5 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 51.3%±0.7 pts | 33.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.7%±0.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| With a disability | 9.6%±0.4 pts | 10.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 12.0%±0.5 pts | 7.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.9%±0.5 pts | 90.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 30.9%±0.7 pts | 43.6% | +2.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.5%±0.5 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.0%±0.2 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 Passaic County earn?
Half of Passaic County's 178,936 households earn less than $87,522 a year (±$2,333), against $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $85,765 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Passaic County | New Jersey | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,522±$2,333 | $103,556 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $117,469±$2,019 | $143,363 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,703±$662 | $54,253 | +$1,242 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.0%±0.8 pts | 9.7% | −2.7 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.3%±1.5 pts | 13.0% | −5.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.0%±0.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.5%±0.6 pts | 92.8% | – |
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 Passaic County?
Owners occupy 53.1% of Passaic County's occupied homes and renters 46.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $459,500 by its owner (±$3,736). The median renter pays $1,621 a month including utilities, and 48.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Passaic County | New Jersey | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $459,500±$3,736 | $454,400 | +$37,864 |
| Median gross rent | $1,621±$17 | $1,720 | +$30 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.4%±1.6 pts | 42.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,014±$44 | $2,829 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.1%±0.8 pts | 63.8% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 185,816±155 | 3,791,354 | +8,726 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.1%±0.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 41.6%±0.7 pts | 52.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.8%±0.9 pts | 17.4% | – |
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 Passaic County building?
Builders took permits for 585 new housing units across Passaic County in 2025 (134 single-family), 1.1 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Passaic County get to work?
65.0% of Passaic County's workers drive alone and 11.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 8.0%.
| Measure | Passaic County | New Jersey | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.2%±0.5 pts | 66.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 8.0%±0.5 pts | 6.3% | +3.5 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 65.0%±0.9 pts | 62.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4%±0.5 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 6.4%±0.5 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Walked | 4.0%±0.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.5%±0.5 pts | 16.8% | +8.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.5 min±0.4 | 30.5 min | −1.8 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 are Passaic County's census tracts?
Passaic County is divided into 120 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $19,347 (Tract 1828) to $215,539 (Tract 2462.02).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Passaic County compare with New Jersey's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 9th of 21 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 19th of 21 |
| Residents per square mile | 5th of 21 |
| Median household income | 17th of 21 |
| Median home value | 10th of 21 |
| Median gross rent | 12th of 21 |
| Poverty rate | 5th of 21 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19th of 21 |
| Median age | 18th of 21 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Passaic County 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.