Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Elizabeth, NJ Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

137,302

Median Agei

35.8

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

67.4%92,543

Black

14.6%20,002

White

12.1%16,552

Two or More

3.2%4,354

Asian

1.7%2,366

Other

1.1%1,455

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%23

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%7

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3%2,668

High School Diploma

34.3%30,300

Some College (<1 yr)

5%4,379

Some College (1+ yr)

12.8%11,281

Associate's Degree

4.6%4,027

Bachelor's Degree

10.1%8,935

Master's Degree

3.3%2,939

Professional Degree

0.8%716

Doctorate

0.3%273

HS or Higher

74.2%

BA or Higher

14.6%

Graduate+

4.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$449,300

Median Renti

$1,523

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

25.6%11,794

Renter-Occupied

74.4%34,327

Total Units

48,976

Homeownership

25.6%

Vacancy Rate

5.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

5.2%617

$50K–$100K

2%234

$100K–$150K

0.6%69

$150K–$200K

1.1%133

$200K–$300K

12.4%1,457

$300K–$500K

40.9%4,818

$500K–$1M

36%4,251

$1M+

1.8%215

Rent Distribution

Under $500

1,707

$500–$750

919

$750–$1,000

1,670

$1,000–$1,250

5,690

$1,250–$1,500

6,349

$1,500–$2,000

9,764

$2,000+

7,473

Year Built

2020 or later

0.5%236

2010–2019

6.6%3,212

2000–2009

10.1%4,954

1990–1999

4.5%2,218

1980–1989

5.8%2,845

1970–1979

8.2%4,003

1960–1969

10.4%5,073

1950–1959

13.5%6,628

1940–1949

13.9%6,791

1939 or earlier

26.6%13,016

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

85.7%39,525

Electricity

9.6%4,450

Bottled/LP Gas

2%913

Fuel Oil

1.6%754

No Fuel

0.9%401

Other

0.2%78

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$66,555

Mean Household Incomei

$85,318

Per Capita Incomei

$28,969

Poverty Ratei

15.6%

Unemploymenti

7.7%

Labor Forcei

71,675

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.8%2,195

$10K–$15K

5%2,320

$15K–$20K

3.5%1,625

$20K–$25K

2.9%1,320

$25K–$30K

3.4%1,565

$30K–$35K

5%2,312

$35K–$40K

5%2,283

$40K–$45K

5.2%2,395

$45K–$50K

3.6%1,655

$50K–$60K

8%3,690

$60K–$75K

9.2%4,234

$75K–$100K

15.6%7,203

$100K–$125K

8.2%3,763

$125K–$150K

6%2,780

$150K–$200K

7.4%3,427

$200K+

7.3%3,354

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

3,242

Residentsi

5,763

Avg. Tenant Renti

$418/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

81 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing1,031 homes96% occupied$389/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers105 homes87% occupied$416/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8266 homes52% occupied$527/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC71 homes99% occupied$437/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $66,555/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $20K/yr

86.6%

Very low income$20K–$33K/yr

10.4%

Low income$33K–$53K/yr

2.3%

Moderate / aboveOver $53K/yr

0.7%

Who Receives This Housing

67.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

92.5% of subsidized households are minority

26% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

58.9% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

70,84251.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,980

Guatemala

1,292

Poland

282

India

253

Philippines

158

China

122

Germany

Korea

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

64,072

Avg. Commutei

26.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

66,091

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,437(1.4% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

75.8%Insured

24.2%Uninsured