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PantryPath Research · Child Poverty Atlas

Child Poverty in
New Jersey

New Jersey's child poverty rate is 12.8% across 21 counties, meaning 253K children under 18 live in households below the federal poverty line. Use the interactive map below to see how poverty varies within the state.

12.8%

Child poverty rate (0–17)

253K

Children in poverty

9.7%

All-ages poverty

$99,716

Median income

New Jersey by county

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Toggle between five SAIPE metrics to see how poverty varies within New Jersey. Hover a county for its exact rate.

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Lower
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New Jersey at a glance

Children in poverty

253K

Ages 0–17

Child poverty rate

12.8%

Ages 0–17

5–17 poverty rate

12.4%

Title I allocator

All-ages poverty

9.7%

Entire population

Concentration

1.32×

Child ÷ all-ages

Median income

$99,716

Inflation-adjusted

County-level hotspots

Five-county rankings across 21 counties in New Jersey.

Highest child poverty

Ages 0–17, rate

  1. 1 Hudson County 22.9%
  2. 2 Cumberland County 21.9%
  3. 3 Passaic County 20.2%
  4. 4 Essex County 18.4%
  5. 5 Camden County 17.0%

Lowest child poverty

Ages 0–17, rate

  1. 1 Hunterdon County 4.3%
  2. 2 Morris County 5.1%
  3. 3 Somerset County 6.1%
  4. 4 Sussex County 6.1%
  5. 5 Bergen County 7.1%

Most children in poverty

Absolute count, ages 0–17

  1. 1 Essex County 36K
  2. 2 Hudson County 31K
  3. 3 Passaic County 24K
  4. 4 Ocean County 24K
  5. 5 Camden County 20K

Every county in New Jersey

All 21 counties across the five SAIPE metrics plus median income.

County Children 0–17 Ages 5–17 All ages Concentration Child count Median income
Atlantic County 15.8% 16.1% 11.9% 1.33× 8,804 $75,904
Bergen County 7.1% 7.0% 6.6% 1.08× 13,992 $116,157
Burlington County 8.1% 7.4% 6.8% 1.19× 7,689 $102,384
Camden County 17.0% 17.2% 12.3% 1.38× 19,982 $82,678
Cape May County 13.2% 13.3% 9.4% 1.40× 2,077 $81,007
Cumberland County 21.9% 19.0% 17.0% 1.29× 7,948 $64,240
Essex County 18.4% 18.6% 14.2% 1.30× 36,129 $80,005
Gloucester County 9.8% 9.6% 8.4% 1.17× 6,334 $96,965
Hudson County 22.9% 25.5% 15.2% 1.51× 30,978 $88,469
Hunterdon County 4.3% 4.1% 4.8% 0.90× 1,060 $136,407
Mercer County 13.1% 12.5% 10.6% 1.24× 10,790 $95,502
Middlesex County 10.1% 9.0% 8.6% 1.17× 18,263 $104,637
Monmouth County 8.0% 7.0% 6.7% 1.19× 10,573 $117,752
Morris County 5.1% 5.1% 4.8% 1.06× 5,325 $134,308
Ocean County 14.7% 14.3% 10.0% 1.47× 23,867 $85,239
Passaic County 20.2% 18.9% 13.9% 1.45× 23,968 $81,823
Salem County 15.0% 14.8% 10.6% 1.42× 2,125 $84,008
Somerset County 6.1% 5.7% 5.5% 1.11× 4,365 $140,242
Sussex County 6.1% 5.7% 5.4% 1.13× 1,720 $109,884
Union County 11.2% 10.9% 8.9% 1.26× 14,771 $100,031
Warren County 10.4% 10.3% 8.3% 1.25× 2,199 $98,857

Help for families in New Jersey

Free meals, WIC, SNAP, and nutrition help for children in low-income households.

Families & children guide

New Jersey SNAP benefits

State-by-state SNAP eligibility, apply online, benefit amounts, and coverage gaps.

New Jersey SNAP guide

Find a food pantry

Search New Jersey's verified pantries — by ZIP, city, or county.

New Jersey food pantries