Poverty and living standards in Jersey City, New Jersey: official figures
15.6% of residents of Jersey City (45,566 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 259th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; New Jersey: 9.7%).
How many children live in poverty in Jersey City?
22.9% of children under 18 in Jersey City lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (13,068 children), 189th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; New Jersey: 13.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Jersey City?
By age, the poverty rate in Jersey City was 19.7% for children under 6 and 19.5% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Jersey City live in deep poverty?
24,373 people in Jersey City, 8.4% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 202nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Jersey City are cost-burdened?
44.4% of renting households in Jersey City spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (38,313 households), 99th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; New Jersey: 51.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Jersey City spend half their income on rent?
22.2% of renting households in Jersey City spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 177th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Jersey City are food insecure?
An estimated 18.4% of adults in Jersey City experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 274th highest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 14.2% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Jersey City compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Jersey City ranks 259 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 256 | Topeka | 15.7% |
| 257 | Bethlehem | 15.7% |
| 258 | High Point | 15.7% |
| 259 | Jersey City | 15.6% |
| 260 | St. Paul | 15.6% |
| 261 | Lancaster | 15.6% |
| 262 | Yuma | 15.5% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Jersey City ranks 189 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 186 | Westland | 23.1% |
| 187 | Grand Rapids | 23.0% |
| 188 | Amarillo | 23.0% |
| 189 | Jersey City | 22.9% |
| 190 | Lynchburg | 22.8% |
| 191 | Pompano Beach | 22.8% |
| 192 | Washington | 22.8% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Jersey City ranks 202 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 199 | Duluth | 8.4% |
| 200 | Norfolk | 8.4% |
| 201 | Hammond | 8.4% |
| 202 | Jersey City | 8.4% |
| 203 | Chicago | 8.3% |
| 204 | Corpus Christi | 8.3% |
| 205 | Grand Rapids | 8.3% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Jersey City ranks 725 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 722 | Wichita Falls | 44.5% |
| 723 | Green Bay | 44.5% |
| 724 | Topeka | 44.4% |
| 725 | Jersey City | 44.4% |
| 726 | Huntersville | 44.4% |
| 727 | Palo Alto | 44.4% |
| 728 | Jeffersonville | 44.3% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Jersey City ranks 274 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 271 | St. Cloud | 18.6% |
| 272 | Waterloo | 18.6% |
| 273 | Florissant | 18.6% |
| 274 | Jersey City | 18.4% |
| 275 | Lynchburg | 18.4% |
| 276 | Southaven | 18.4% |
| 277 | Greer | 18.4% |
More on Jersey City: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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