Counties with the most veterans in New Jersey
There are roughly 17.5 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 35%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in New Jersey using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2023 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Wyoming are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,142 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#21. Hudson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 1.8% (10,289 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 65
--- Korean War: 641
--- Vietnam War: 3,011
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,888
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,619
#20. Essex County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 2.7% (17,386 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 372
--- Korean War: 843
--- Vietnam War: 5,190
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,465
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,438
#19. Passaic County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 2.8% (10,892 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 211
--- Korean War: 994
--- Vietnam War: 4,171
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,116
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,262
#18. Union County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 2.8% (12,426 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 538
--- Korean War: 763
--- Vietnam War: 4,691
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,803
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,941
#17. Bergen County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 3.2% (24,300 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 851
--- Korean War: 2,453
--- Vietnam War: 8,572
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,301
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,774
#16. Middlesex County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 3.2% (21,751 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 280
--- Korean War: 1,849
--- Vietnam War: 7,582
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,018
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,698
#15. Morris County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 3.5% (14,313 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 219
--- Korean War: 1,653
--- Vietnam War: 5,011
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,225
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,359
#14. Somerset County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 3.5% (9,498 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 391
--- Korean War: 787
--- Vietnam War: 3,139
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,298
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,034
#13. Mercer County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 3.6% (10,657 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 238
--- Korean War: 726
--- Vietnam War: 3,614
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,933
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,111
#12. Monmouth County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.2% (21,179 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 462
--- Korean War: 1,954
--- Vietnam War: 8,421
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,250
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,003
#11. Hunterdon County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.6% (4,774 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 54
--- Korean War: 222
--- Vietnam War: 1,758
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 931
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 725
#10. Cumberland County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.8% (5,587 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 208
--- Korean War: 472
--- Vietnam War: 1,916
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,034
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 950
#9. Sussex County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.9% (5,740 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 102
--- Korean War: 282
--- Vietnam War: 2,339
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 816
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,103
#8. Camden County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5% (20,169 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 235
--- Korean War: 1,006
--- Vietnam War: 6,812
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,103
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,413
#7. Atlantic County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.5% (11,959 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 260
--- Korean War: 543
--- Vietnam War: 4,486
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,758
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,336
#6. Warren County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.6% (4,997 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 35
--- Korean War: 400
--- Vietnam War: 1,861
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 575
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 924
#5. Gloucester County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.2% (14,927 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 153
--- Korean War: 990
--- Vietnam War: 5,802
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,748
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,926
#4. Ocean County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.4% (31,269 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 528
--- Korean War: 3,128
--- Vietnam War: 13,388
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,875
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 5,149
#3. Salem County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.5% (3,306 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 66
--- Korean War: 178
--- Vietnam War: 1,366
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 628
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 586
#2. Burlington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.8% (24,622 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 259
--- Korean War: 1,648
--- Vietnam War: 8,258
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 6,447
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 6,404
#1. Cape May County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (5,794 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 67
--- Korean War: 580
--- Vietnam War: 2,405
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 993
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 520
