Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, and Union Counties

Tables of selected demographics ››

Metropolitan Newark's population was estimated at 2.1 million in 2005, having expanded by a modest 2.2% from 2000. Its population is significantly more affluent and well-educated than the national average, though there is a good deal of variation, with pockets of poverty persisting in some of the large cities. The pharmaceuticals and communications industries have a significant presence in most of these counties. In addition, a number of these counties have a high concentration of air and motor freight transportation industries, due to their locational transportation advantages.

After booming in the 1990s, employment fell for most of 2001 and 2002, though less sharply than in nearby New York City. In 2003, employment rebounded in line with New Jersey overall, but has grown sluggishly in 2006 and the first half of 2007. House prices rose steadily and briskly, both through the 2001-to-2002 downturn and the ensuing expansion, but they have decelerated sharply in 2006 and 2007.

Office markets in this part of New Jersey have remained relatively slack, though there has been some strengthening recently: vacancy rates in northern New Jersey climbed to a cyclical high of nearly 18% as of mid-2004, evidently reflecting a combination of increased supply and sluggish demand from some of the areas key telecommunications and technology-related industries.

Essex County

In recent years, Essex County has seen no net population growth and only modest employment growth, despite a fair amount of infrastructure development (in both downtown Newark and at Newark Airport). One constraint on growth has been a shortage of buildable land, which evidently had a major effect on the residential real estate market, driving up home prices; the median house price climbed nearly 80% in the first half of the decade, reaching $374,000 in 2005.

Morris County

This county includes the city of Morristown, but otherwise can best be characterized as suburban in nature. Its population grew by 4% between 2000 and 2005, reaching 490,000 in 2005. Although less urban than neighboring Essex and Union Counties, Morris County has a sizable industry base; in fact the ratio of jobs to residents is among the highest in the state. With a high concentration of corporate headquarters, over a quarter of total payroll earnings go to management of companies, and nearly another 25% accrue to the county’s key industries: pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, insurance, and scientific and technical services.

Evidently reflecting the county’s preponderance of high-tech and managerial jobs, median household income is roughly 40% above the statewide figure and more than 80% above the national figure. Similarly, an extraordinary 49% of adults are college graduates. Morris County also has a somewhat unusual demographic mix: a well above average 8% of residents are Asian, but a below-average 10% are Hispanic, and just 3% are black.

Morris County registered modest job growth of about 1% per year during the first few years of the current expansion, but the pace picked up noticeably in 2006; despite sluggish overall job gains statewide, Morris County saw job growth exceed 2% in 2007. As in the rest of this metro area, home prices nearly doubled in the first half of this decade, with the median house price reaching $460,000 in 2005, based on the American Community Survey, which is among the highest in the state.

Union County

Along with Port Newark, Port Elizabeth forms a major transportation and distribution hub for the New York-New Jersey region. In addition, parts of Union County bordering Newark airport house a great deal of distribution industries. The pharmaceuticals industry also has a strong presence in Union County.

Hunterdon and Sussex Counties

These counties were almost entirely rural until the 1980s, when substantial development took place. Today, with just under 300 residents per square mile, Sussex and Warren are among the most sparsely populated counties in northern New Jersey and can still be characterized as primarily rural, but increasingly suburban. These counties saw their populations expand by slightly over 6% in the first half of the decade, to a combined level of slightly over 280,000 in 2005. With a very small employment base, both counties are predominantly residential. Median household income is moderately above the statewide average and well above the U.S. average in Sussex County, and is even higher in Hunterdon. Almost one in three Sussex County residents and more than half of Hunterdon County residents over the age of 25 have college degrees, well above the U.S. average.