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.

Independence, NJ Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

5,476

Median Agei

47.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

83.1%4,552

Hispanic/Latino

10.6%580

Two or More

3.1%171

Asian

2.3%125

Black

0.9%48

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

1.7%71

High School Diploma

27.5%1,149

Some College (<1 yr)

4%169

Some College (1+ yr)

9.5%398

Associate's Degree

9.7%407

Bachelor's Degree

30.1%1,260

Master's Degree

12.9%539

Doctorate

0.2%8

HS or Higher

95.6%

BA or Higher

43.2%

Graduate+

13.1%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$350,400

Median Renti

$1,596

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

80.8%1,943

Renter-Occupied

19.2%461

Total Units

2,488

Homeownership

80.8%

Vacancy Rate

3.4%

Home Values

Under $50K

1.9%36

$100K–$150K

2.3%44

$150K–$200K

4.9%95

$200K–$300K

29.1%566

$300K–$500K

45.7%887

$500K–$1M

16.2%315

Rent Distribution

$1,000–$1,250

$1,250–$1,500

188

$1,500–$2,000

112

$2,000+

140

Year Built

2000–2009

3.6%90

1990–1999

38.7%964

1980–1989

17.8%443

1970–1979

11%274

1960–1969

5.8%145

1950–1959

8%199

1940–1949

0.7%18

1939 or earlier

14.3%355

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

51.2%1,230

Fuel Oil

30%720

Electricity

14.2%342

Bottled/LP Gas

2.4%58

Wood

2.2%54

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$101,282

Mean Household Incomei

$129,776

Per Capita Incomei

$57,117

Poverty Ratei

3.5%

Unemploymenti

4.3%

Labor Forcei

2,972

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

1.2%30

$15K–$20K

0.9%21

$20K–$25K

1.7%41

$30K–$35K

5.5%132

$35K–$40K

3.2%78

$40K–$45K

5.4%130

$45K–$50K

3%72

$50K–$60K

7.4%178

$60K–$75K

10.4%251

$75K–$100K

10.4%249

$100K–$125K

19.2%461

$125K–$150K

10.3%247

$150K–$200K

9.5%229

$200K+

11.9%285

Ancestry & Heritage

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

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

4929%

By Region

Top Countries

India

Poland

Philippines

United Kingdom

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

2,821

Avg. Commutei

32.2 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

2,843

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

235(5.1% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96.7%Insured

3.3%Uninsured