Fastest growing cities in New Jersey
Population growth in the United States is slowing. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by just 7.4%—the lowest rate since the 1930s. Declining birth rates, an aging population, and fewer immigrants are all contributing to historically slow growth rates. But depending on where you are in the country, it might not always feel that way.
In every state, there were cities that experienced cumulative population gains over the course of the decade. But when you look at the growth rates from year to year, cities across the country are following a similar trajectory. Small, medium, and large cities all saw declining growth since 2016. Some of the largest cities—those with populations over 1 million—have actually seen a decrease in overall population, not just slower population growth.
Stacker compiled a list of the fastest-growing cities in New Jersey using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cities are ranked by the highest population growth from 2010 to 2020.
Many cities experienced their most significant growth within the first few years of the decade. Experts postulate that the housing bubble burst in tandem with economic hardships of the Great Recession pushed many people of home-buying age to the cities. A decade later, in the wake of the pandemic, the U.S. is in a similar position.
#20. West New York
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +4,511
--- #1,098 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.3%
--- #130 among cities in New Jersey, #9,201 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 52,912
--- #19 largest city in New Jersey, #808 largest city nationwide
#19. East Orange
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 4,685
--- #1,067 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 7.2%
--- #174 among cities in New Jersey, #10,287 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 69,612
--- #11 largest city in New Jersey, #570 largest city nationwide
#18. Fort Lee
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,030
--- #1,007 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 14.3%
--- #82 among cities in New Jersey, #7,176 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 40,191
--- #24 largest city in New Jersey, #1,087 largest city nationwide
#17. Perth Amboy
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,254
--- #964 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 10.5%
--- #110 among cities in New Jersey, #8,665 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 55,436
--- #16 largest city in New Jersey, #764 largest city nationwide
#16. Belle Mead
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,445
--- #930 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 4391.1%
--- #2 among cities in New Jersey, #4 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 5,569
--- #252 largest city in New Jersey, #6,099 largest city nationwide
#15. Plainfield
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,543
--- #919 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.3%
--- #103 among cities in New Jersey, #8,305 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 54,586
--- #18 largest city in New Jersey, #775 largest city nationwide
#14. Trenton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 5,690
--- #896 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 6.7%
--- #190 among cities in New Jersey, #10,574 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 90,871
--- #6 largest city in New Jersey, #389 largest city nationwide
#13. Harrison
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +5,881
--- #865 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 43.3%
--- #30 among cities in New Jersey, #2,603 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 19,450
--- #57 largest city in New Jersey, #2,317 largest city nationwide
#12. Monmouth Junction
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,123
--- #837 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 220.9%
--- #7 among cities in New Jersey, #271 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 8,895
--- #167 largest city in New Jersey, #4,451 largest city nationwide
#11. Secaucus
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +6,173
--- #833 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 38.6%
--- #33 among cities in New Jersey, #2,960 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 22,181
--- #48 largest city in New Jersey, #2,057 largest city nationwide
#10. Clifton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +7,520
--- #697 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.1%
--- #138 among cities in New Jersey, #9,315 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 90,296
--- #7 largest city in New Jersey, #393 largest city nationwide
#9. Blackwells Mills
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 8,775
--- #591 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 1257.2%
--- #4 among cities in New Jersey, #24 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 9,473
--- #155 largest city in New Jersey, #4,241 largest city nationwide
#8. Bayonne
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +9,659
--- #531 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 15.6%
--- #75 among cities in New Jersey, #6,797 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 71,686
--- #9 largest city in New Jersey, #543 largest city nationwide
#7. Hoboken
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +13,035
--- #377 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 27.5%
--- #45 among cities in New Jersey, #4,188 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 60,419
--- #15 largest city in New Jersey, #685 largest city nationwide
#6. Paterson
- 2010 to 2020 population change: 13,896
--- #348 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 9.5%
--- #121 among cities in New Jersey, #9,089 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 159,732
--- #3 largest city in New Jersey, #167 largest city nationwide
#5. Elizabeth
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +14,122
--- #339 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 11.5%
--- #102 among cities in New Jersey, #8,232 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 137,298
--- #4 largest city in New Jersey, #208 largest city nationwide
#4. Princeton
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +18,148
--- #244 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 144.8%
--- #11 among cities in New Jersey, #540 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 30,681
--- #30 largest city in New Jersey, #1,464 largest city nationwide
#3. Lakewood
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +19,593
--- #212 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 39.3%
--- #32 among cities in New Jersey, #2,892 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 69,398
--- #12 largest city in New Jersey, #574 largest city nationwide
#2. Newark
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +36,875
--- #81 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 13.4%
--- #89 among cities in New Jersey, #7,475 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 311,549
--- #1 largest city in New Jersey, #62 largest city nationwide
#1. Jersey City
- 2010 to 2020 population change: +49,192
--- #53 among all cities nationwide
- 2010 to 2020 percent population change: 20.2%
--- #58 among cities in New Jersey, #5,570 among all cities nationwide
- 2020 population: 292,449
--- #2 largest city in New Jersey, #71 largest city nationwide
