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Essex County vs Morris County, NJ: growth, jobs and income compared

Essex County and Morris County grew at the same rate between 2024 and 2025: +0.6% each. Essex County gained 5,138 residents and Morris County gained 2,896 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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Side by side

Essex County vs Morris County, NJ side by side: public federal figures
MeasureEssex CountyMorris County
Population2025896,379 Larger524,251
Population change2020–25+4.2% Higher+3.2%
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025−7.90.1 Higher
Private-sector job growth2018–23−0.4% Higher−1.2%
Median household income2020–24$80,789$137,326 Higher
Unemployment rate20256.3%4.4% Lower
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents20254.1 Higher2.5

The tag marks the stronger figure in each row: the higher one, or the lower one for the unemployment rate ("Larger" is only the head count). Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

The two counties share a border, and both are part of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area.

Each county in full

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Questions

Is Essex County or Morris County growing faster?

Essex County and Morris County grew at the same rate between 2024 and 2025: +0.6% each. Essex County gained 5,138 residents and Morris County gained 2,896 residents (Census Bureau population estimates).

Which has the higher median household income, Essex County or Morris County?

Morris County: $137,326, against $80,789 in Essex County (American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24).

Which has the lower unemployment rate, Essex County or Morris County?

Morris County: 4.4%, against 6.3% in Essex County (2025 annual average, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics).

Where they rank in the state

More comparisons

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.