Census Data for Jersey City ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2012 and it gives Jersey City a population of 254,441 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, giving Jersey City a population of 247,597 people.
The city of Jersey City is located in Hudson County. The 2010 Census gave Hudson County a population of 634,266 people. This means that Jersey City had 39.04% of the county's total population, making it Hudson's most populous community.
At the same time, New Jersey had a population of 8,791,894 people, meaning that Jersey City had 2.82% of the total population of New Jersey - making it the state's 2nd most populous community.
When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Jersey City, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this is called a sampling area (or a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
Things like the population, area and housing for Jersey City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Jersey City might be slightly different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau if you need precision.
The 2010 Census shows that the sample polygon for Jersey City has a total area of 21.08 square miles [54.6 km²]. Of this total, 14.79 square miles [38.3 km²] is land, with the balance (29.82%) being water (6.29 square miles [16.3 km²]).
Hudson County has a land area of 46.19 square miles [119.6 km²]. At 14.79 square miles [38.3 km²], Jersey City has 32.03% of the county's total land area.
Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually at the center of the polygon). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
Lat: 40°43'19" N (or 40.72° N)
Lon: -74°3'55" W (or -74.07° W)
More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Population Density ...
Using the population (247,597 people) and land area (14.79 square miles [38.3 km²]) values from the 2010 Census, Jersey City had a population density of 11,745 people per square mile [4,534 people/km²].
In comparison, the 2000 Census shows Jersey City had a population of 240,055 people and a land area of 14.92 square miles [38.6 km²]. This gives a population density of 11,370 people per square mile [4,390 people/km²]
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Jersey City had 108,720 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 247,597 people, this averages 2.28 people per Housing Unit.
The 2010 Census shows Jersey City had a land area of 14.79 square miles [38.3 km²]. This translates to 5,157 Housing Units per square mile [1,991 housing units/km²].
From the Census of 2000: Jersey City had 93,648 Housing Units, a population of 240,055 people and a land area of 14.92 square miles [38.6 km²]. This gives a density of 2.56 people per Housing Unit and 4,435 Housing Units per square mile [1,712 housing units/km²].
NOTE: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2000 and the 2010 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Jersey City and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Population Rings for Jersey City ...
To help identify the number of people who live in Jersey City and the surrounding area, we have drawn concentric rings centered on Jersey City. We counted the number of communities within each ring and summed their populations.<4>
|5 mi [8 km]||9||841,440||+2.05%|
|10 mi [16 km]||16||9,504,181||+1.94%|
|15 mi [24 km]||26||9,931,309||+1.89%|
|20 mi [32 km]||67||10,612,475||+1.84%|
|25 mi [40 km]||111||12,291,442||+1.71%|
|30 mi [48 km]||145||13,225,290||+1.68%|
US Census QuickFacts ...
The Census Bureau has created documents containing demographic information called QuickFacts. Although they don't create QuickFacts for all communities, they do have one for Jersey City. Not only does the QuickFact have details about Jersey City, it also contains a comparison between Jersey City and the state of New Jersey.
Click here for the Jersey City QuickFact (QF-3436000).
Census-to-Census Observations ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Jersey City, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Jersey City. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
There is only a very minor difference in the sampling area given between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census.
The 2010 Census shows that the total area for Jersey City was 21.08 square miles [54.6 km²]. Of this total, 14.79 square miles [38.3 km²] is land, with the balance (29.82%) being water (6.29 square miles [16.3 km²]).
The 2000 Census shows a total area of 21.11 square miles [54.7 km²]. Of this total, 14.92 square miles [38.6 km²] is land, with the balance (29.39%) being water (6.2 square miles [16 km²]).
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Jersey City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Jersey City.
For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
Lat: 40.711417° (or 40°42'41" N)
Lon: -74.064760° (or -74°3'53" W)
For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
Lat: 40.722102° (or 40°43'19" N)
Lon: -74.065385° (or -74°3'55" W)
The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 3,899 feet to the south<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#885264) to Jersey City. This identifier also marks a GSP point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Jersey City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
Lat: 40.711491° (or 40°42'41" N)
Lon: -74.064586° (or -74°3'52" W)
The GSP location given for the 2010 Census lies 55.1 feet to the southwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Jersey City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Jersey City.
State & Place Code: 34/36000 (New Jersey / Jersey City)
Misc. Census Codes ...
Jersey City is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Jersey City.
|<1>||Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2012.|
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|<2>||Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020.|
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|<3>||A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway).|
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|<4>||The communities in our count are those provided by the 2010 Census, so keep in mind that our population rings will only include the people living in those communities. Smaller communities usually don't participate directly in the Census and therefore they won't be included. While our count is a close approximation, it shouldn't be considered as a complete or accurate count.|
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|<5>||The calculated bearing (or the angle) to the 2010 Census location is 182 degrees.|
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|<6>||The calculated bearing (or the angle) to the GNIS point is 119 degrees.|