RANK #556 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 21 NJ · POP 521,012
1YR FORECAST: +2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, a significant landmark within Passaic County, showcases the area's industrial past and natural beauty. Located in northeastern New Jersey, Passaic County offers a blend of urban and scenic mountain communities, bordering New York State to the north. Commute times to New York City from towns like Little Falls and Clifton range from 45 to 55 minutes by NJ Transit rail, with major highways also providing access for drivers. The county features over 16,000 acres of open space, including parks, trails, and recreational facilities, with areas like Ramapo Mountain State Forest and Norvin Green State Forest offering extensive outdoor recreation opportunities.
Life in Passaic County offers diverse communities, with many residents owning their homes. The county's economy is supported by various sectors, including healthcare, retail trade, and manufacturing. Immigrants play a role in the local economy, particularly in manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and construction. Recent economic development efforts include revitalization projects in cities like Paterson and Passaic, with investments aimed at commercial and residential improvements. The county also focuses on improving transportation options, including an on-demand microtransit program in Clifton and Passaic, to enhance connectivity for residents.
Passaic County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.7% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 21.2x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Passaic County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Passaic Eastside Transit-Oriented Development Strategy (Market Street improvements, mixed-use infill, new arena)
City of Passaic
|
$750M | Planned |
|
Sycamore Totowa Data Center
Sycamore
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Gas-Fired Power Plant
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission
|
$232M | Under Construction |
|
Dundee Island Park Redevelopment & Pedestrian Rail Bridge Rehabilitation
Passaic County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Passaic County scores 44/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#556). Median household income is $87,522 and job growth is running at +2.0%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Passaic County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $459,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,621/month on average.
Passaic County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.0% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +4.7% over the past 12 months.
Not particularly — 1.94% of Passaic County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.