In Essex County, New Jersey, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Essex County, 31.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 98% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 82% of U.S. counties.
What drives Essex County's score
In Essex County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 95.3. Late payments on loans come next, at 76.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Essex County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Essex County does better than most counties on two measures: median household income ($84,900, 2024) and people with a disability (12.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 95.3 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent27.3% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income31.6% · fiscal year 202798th percentile
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- 76.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.6% · August 202581st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind8.4% · August 202585th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score43.7% · second quarter of 202662nd percentile
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- 71.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202689th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.1% · 2020 to 202452nd percentile
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- 60.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector25.5% · August 202558th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people159.8 · 202563rd percentile
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- 41.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.4% · 202451st percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.6% · 202447th percentile
- People with a disability12.2% · 2020 to 202416th percentile
- People without health insurance11.9% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$84,900 · 202414th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Essex County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Essex County, 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Essex County
New Jersey
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Essex County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 16.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Essex County, New Jersey, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 16.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Essex County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 9.8% in 2010 to 11.6% in 2011.
The share of households in Essex County getting SNAP food aid nearly doubled from 2009 to 2024, reaching 14.8%
High on the chart: 15.9% in 2016. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Essex County, New Jersey.
How Essex County has changed
Essex County's population had its largest drop, from 914,528 in 1974 to 858,841 in 1979.
Essex County's population fell 5% from 1969 to 2024, with its low point on the chart in 2009
Low on the chart: 781,943 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Essex County, New Jersey.
The number of jobs located in Essex County had its largest rise in the last span, from 310,190 in 2020 to 353,038 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Essex County fell 7% from 1990 to 2025, with its low point on the chart in 2020
Low on the chart: 310,190 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Essex County, New Jersey.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.3% | 2025 6.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 17.9% | 2024 13.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $30,321 | 2024 $84,900 |
The table uses 6.3% for 2025; the score uses 5.5% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Essex County's history
1683
Formed within East Jersey on March 7, 1683. Wikipedia
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 929,986. The 2020 Census counted 863,728, 93% of the peak. Census Bureau
2007
A flood in April 2007 did $4 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
Lightning in July 2009 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
A flash flood in September 2021 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2021
A flash flood in September 2021 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2026
Anheuser-Busch brewery closed January 2026. Wikipedia
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Since 1965
33 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Essex County, 9 of them for flooding. FEMA
Essex County beside its neighbors
Essex County scores higher than all five counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Essex County ranks 2nd of the six; Passaic County is highest, at 22.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, NJ | 82 | 13.4% | 16.3% |
| Passaic County, NJ | 72 | 12.1% | 22.2% |
| Hudson County, NJ | 61 | 14.7% | 13.3% |
| Union County, NJ | 56 | 9.7% | 13.5% |
| Bergen County, NJ | 25 | 6.7% | 11.1% |
| Morris County, NJ | 7 | 4.7% | 9.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Essex County the poorest county in New Jersey?
No, Essex County's poverty rate was 13.4% in 2024, 3rd highest of 21 in New Jersey (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Hudson County, at 14.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Essex County ranks 2nd of 21 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Essex County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling, Dba National Foundation for Debt Management
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Credit.org - New Jersey Branch
HUD-approved housing counselor
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New Jersey Citizen Action
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Services of New Jersey
Legal aid
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New Jersey county bar lawyer referral services (NJSBA list)
Lawyer referral
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Essex County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.