PlainCities

Census tract · Essex County

Census Tract 178, Essex County, New Jersey

Census Tract 178, GEOID 34013017800, in Essex County, New Jersey, entirely within West Orange Township. 3,606 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±547); the 2020 Census counted 3,686.

Residents, 2020-2024

3,606

±547 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 3,686

Median household income

$84,632

±$24,701 (90% margin)
Essex County: $80,789

Median home value

$450,000

±$93,086 (90% margin)
Essex County: $524,100

Median gross rent

$1,588

±$200 (90% margin)
Essex County: $1,531

Where is Census Tract 178?

Census Tract 178 is one of 211 census tracts in Essex County, New Jersey. It covers 0.24 square miles of land, 15,358 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 34013017800, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).

Places Census Tract 178 lies in (share of its 2020 census blocks)
PlaceShare of the tract
West Orange Township100%
Census Tract 178 (marked with a dot) in Essex County, New Jersey. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.
175177179183186189 178 0.5 mi
Census Tract 178 (shaded) and the tracts that border it, numbered. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024 cartographic boundary file, 1:500,000.

6 census tracts border Census Tract 178: Tract 175 ($112,885), Tract 177 ($75,274), Tract 179 ($182,849), Tract 183 ($61,102), Tract 186 ($36,068) and Tract 189 ($61,503). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.

Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Census Tract 178?

The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 178's population at 3,606 (±547) in 1,172 households; the 2020 Census counted 3,686 residents and 1,318 housing units.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 178West Orange TownshipEssex CountyNew Jersey
Total population3,606±54748,585863,0029,343,809
Households1,172±13717,166319,7883,507,701
Average household size3.05±0.362.792.632.62
Housing units1,254±12517,870336,9623,791,354

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Census Tract 178?

The median resident of Census Tract 178 is 36.8 years old; 17.9% are under 18 and 12.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 42.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 30.6%. 43.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureTract 178West Orange TownshipEssex CountyNew Jersey
Median age36.8±4.541.037.740.1
Under 18 years17.9%±4.3 pts21.5%23.6%21.8%
65 years and over12.4%±4.0 pts17.9%14.2%17.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)42.2%±10.2 pts22.4%25.2%22.5%
White alone, not Hispanic20.2%±7.6 pts40.4%27.3%50.9%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic30.6%±8.1 pts26.8%35.4%12.2%
Asian alone, not Hispanic4.9%±4.4 pts5.2%6.0%10.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.2 pts0.1%0.1%0.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.2 pts0.0%0.0%0.0%
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.0%±1.2 pts4.0%4.6%3.5%
Some other race alone, not Hispanic1.2%±1.5 pts1.0%1.4%0.8%
Born outside the United States43.2%±9.6 pts26.4%30.1%23.9%
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)52.6%±10.3 pts32.7%37.8%33.1%
Civilian veterans (age 18+)0.6%±0.5 pts2.8%2.6%3.7%
With a disability6.4%±3.0 pts8.7%12.2%10.8%
No health insurance coverage18.5%±6.5 pts7.7%11.9%7.5%
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)81.5%±6.8 pts91.1%86.7%90.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)25.8%±6.8 pts52.6%39.1%43.6%
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)8.9%±4.4 pts23.2%16.9%17.6%
Lived in the same house a year earlier95.7%±2.4 pts90.5%89.3%90.4%

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 Census Tract 178 earn?

Half of the 1,172 households in Census Tract 178 earn less than $84,632 a year (±$24,701), against $80,789 across Essex County: 80th highest of the county's 197 tracts with a reliable estimate.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 178West Orange TownshipEssex CountyNew Jersey
Median household income$84,632±$24,701$129,753$80,789$103,556
Mean household income$101,735±$15,542$175,750$131,513$143,363
Per capita income$34,234±$5,162$63,229$49,449$54,253
People below the poverty line9.2%±7.5 pts7.4%14.6%9.7%
Children under 18 below the poverty line7.4%±8.0 pts9.1%19.0%13.0%
Households receiving SNAP7.6%±4.9 pts6.0%14.8%9.1%
Households with a computer95.0%±3.8 pts97.0%95.4%95.9%
Households with a broadband subscription93.9%±3.7 pts94.1%90.4%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 Census Tract 178?

Owners occupy 37.5% of Census Tract 178's occupied homes and renters 62.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $450,000 by its owner (±$93,086). The median renter pays $1,588 a month including utilities, and 34.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 178West Orange TownshipEssex CountyNew Jersey
Median home value (owner-occupied)$450,000±$93,086$557,300$524,100$454,400
Median gross rent$1,588±$200$1,897$1,531$1,720
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent34.0%±14.4 pts44.8%46.1%42.7%
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$3,458±$596$3,567$3,322$2,829
Owner-occupied homes37.5%±10.0 pts69.2%44.9%63.8%
Renter-occupied homes62.5%±10.0 pts30.8%55.1%36.2%
Housing units1,254±12517,870336,9623,791,354
Single-family detached homes19.9%±5.6 pts53.4%33.3%52.6%
Mobile homes0.0%±3.5 pts0.3%0.2%0.9%
Built 2020 or later0.0%±3.5 pts0.0%0.7%1.1%
Built 2010 to 20191.0%±1.5 pts4.5%5.3%6.2%
Built 1939 or earlier40.6%±9.7 pts24.8%29.1%17.4%
Households with no vehicle10.9%±5.7 pts6.8%21.0%11.1%

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 Census Tract 178 get to work?

57.8% of Census Tract 178's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 29.6 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 178West Orange TownshipEssex CountyNew Jersey
In the labor force (age 16+)70.7%±5.4 pts68.5%66.4%66.4%
Unemployment rate9.1%±6.2 pts6.0%8.7%6.3%
Drove alone to work57.8%±11.9 pts53.9%52.7%62.2%
Carpooled3.3%±2.8 pts4.9%7.9%7.7%
Public transportation13.6%±6.9 pts12.5%15.8%8.1%
Walked6.4%±6.9 pts1.3%3.0%2.6%
Worked from home3.0%±2.5 pts23.3%16.1%16.8%
Mean travel time to work29.6 min±3.934.4 min33.6 min30.5 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

How does Census Tract 178 compare with the other tracts in Essex County?

Among Essex County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 178 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).

Census Tract 178's rank among the tracts of Essex County
MeasureIn Essex County
Population126th of 210
Residents per square mile101st of 211
Median household income80th of 197
Per capita income102nd of 209
Median home value86th of 192
Median gross rent109th of 196
Bachelor's degree or higher105th of 198
Median age119th of 210
Owner-occupied share95th of 194

The tracts next to it on Essex County's income ladder

Median household income, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractRankMedian household incomeResidents
Tract 15577th$86,696±$13,234 · within the margin of this tract4,232
Tract 4778th$85,189±$45,210 · within the margin of this tract4,911
Tract 14679th$85,046±$17,127 · within the margin of this tract4,923
Tract 17880th$84,632±$24,7013,606
Tract 10381st$84,570±$26,360 · within the margin of this tract4,472
Tract 14582nd$83,283±$19,237 · within the margin of this tract3,878
Tract 8083rd$83,208±$18,151 · within the margin of this tract2,629

"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 178?

3 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 178 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.

A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections