Poverty and living standards in New Jersey, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 9.2% of people in New Jersey lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 864,015 people; joint 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in New Jersey gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for New Jersey was 9.1% (795,676 people), so the rate is up 0.1 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in New Jersey?
11.8% of children under 18 in New Jersey were in poverty in 2024, about 237,170 children; joint 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 11.8% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in New Jersey?
The Gini index of household income inequality in New Jersey was 0.4714 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 20th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in New Jersey are cost-burdened?
52.2% of renting households in New Jersey spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 26.1% spent half or more; the 30% share is 14th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in New Jersey get food stamps?
9.1% of households in New Jersey (322,338) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 42% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 61% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in New Jersey?
An average of 827,628 people in New Jersey received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 0.0% on fiscal 2024 (827,227), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in New Jersey?
SNAP benefits paid in New Jersey totaled $1.9 billion in fiscal 2025, an average of $194.49 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 13th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in New Jersey?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 13,714 people experiencing homelessness in New Jersey, up 7.5% on 2024 (12,762) and up 54.8% on 2019 (8,862); 13th largest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in New Jersey sleep outside?
Of those counted in New Jersey in January 2025, 11,728 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,986 (14.5%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 10th lowest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in New Jersey?
The January 2025 count in New Jersey included 4,555 people in families with children, 2,794 children under 18, 1,937 chronically homeless individuals and 538 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in New Jersey are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 9.8% of households in New Jersey were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; joint 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC and statistically lower than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in New Jersey getting worse?
3.2% of households in New Jersey had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 8.4% in 2018-20 and 11.4% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +1.4 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow New Jersey compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
New Jersey ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Colorado | 9.6% |
| 46 | Minnesota | 9.3% |
| 47 | Vermont | 9.3% |
| 48 | New Jersey | 9.2% |
| 49 | Maryland | 9.2% |
| 50 | Utah | 8.4% |
| 51 | New Hampshire | 7.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
New Jersey ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Maine | 12.3% |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 12.2% |
| 35 | South Dakota | 11.9% |
| 36 | New Jersey | 11.8% |
| 37 | Virginia | 11.8% |
| 38 | Montana | 11.7% |
| 39 | North Dakota | 11.7% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
New Jersey ranks 20 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | New Mexico | 0.4722 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 0.4721 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 0.4717 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 0.4714 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 0.4711 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | 0.4696 |
| 23 | Virginia | 0.4691 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
New Jersey ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Arizona | 52.4% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 52.4% |
| 13 | Oregon | 52.3% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 52.2% |
| 15 | New York | 51.5% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 51.5% |
| 17 | Maryland | 51.5% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
New Jersey ranks 37 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Tennessee | 9.4% |
| 35 | Missouri | 9.3% |
| 36 | Virginia | 9.2% |
| 37 | New Jersey | 9.1% |
| 38 | Arkansas | 9.0% |
| 39 | Colorado | 8.9% |
| 40 | Indiana | 8.6% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
New Jersey ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Alaska | 10.4% |
| 38 | Virginia | 10.0% |
| 39 | Colorado | 9.9% |
| 40 | New Jersey | 9.8% |
| 41 | Iowa | 9.8% |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 9.7% |
| 43 | Hawaii | 9.6% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
New Jersey ranks 13 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Arizona | 15,259 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 14,834 |
| 12 | Illinois | 14,576 |
| 13 | New Jersey | 13,714 |
| 14 | Georgia | 12,284 |
| 15 | Ohio | 12,196 |
| 16 | Michigan | 10,155 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
New Jersey ranks 42 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Wyoming | 18.3% |
| 40 | Michigan | 16.9% |
| 41 | District of Columbia | 15.5% |
| 42 | New Jersey | 14.5% |
| 43 | Illinois | 14.2% |
| 44 | Maryland | 12.7% |
| 45 | Maine | 11.6% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
New Jersey ranks 14 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Massachusetts | 1,087,752 |
| 12 | Washington | 902,996 |
| 13 | Arizona | 889,563 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 827,628 |
| 15 | Louisiana | 818,438 |
| 16 | Virginia | 817,733 |
| 17 | Oregon | 770,894 |
More on New Jersey: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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