Newark
RANK #560 / 996 NAT · #12 / 21 NJ · POP 853,374
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Branch Brook Park in Newark, home to the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the United States, offers a distinctive landmark within Essex County. Located in northeastern New Jersey, the county is part of the New York metropolitan area. Many towns, such as Montclair, Maplewood, and South Orange, offer direct train service to Manhattan, with commutes ranging from 30 to 45 minutes. The county features a mix of urban centers and affluent suburbs, with diverse communities and a significant park system, including the South Mountain Reservation.
Life in Essex County offers varied experiences, from the urban energy of Newark to the suburban comfort of towns like Bloomfield and West Orange. The county's public schools are generally above average, with 90% of K-12 students attending them. The economy is diverse, with growth in sectors like financial activities, healthcare, and professional and business services. Major employers include institutions in financial services, logistics, and technology.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2022). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Newark Energy Center
Brookfield Asset Management (operated by Hartree Partners LP)
|
$700M | Operating |
|
NJ Hospital Site Redevelopment
Unknown
|
$350M | Under Construction |
|
Lionsgate Newark Studio
Lionsgate/Great Point Studios
|
$125M | Under Construction |
|
Essex County Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various (e.g., Dimension Energy LLC)
|
$50M | Operating/Under Construction |
|
DataBank - Downtown Newark
DataBank
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Essex County scores 43/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#560). Median household income is $73,785 and job growth is running at +2.2%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Essex County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $466,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,404/month on average.
Employers in Essex County are hiring — job growth of +2.2% — but the population is close to flat (+0.1% YoY). Home values moved +3.7% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.47% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Essex County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.