New Jersey · GEOID 34029

Ocean County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 654,362 · 296,357 housing units

Median household income

$89,863

State $104,663

Median home value

$398,400

State $467,052

Median gross rent

$1,755

State $1,721

Homeownership rate

80.7%

State 63.8%

Renter cost-burden rate

58.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

29.4%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.9%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

17.7%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.43

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Ocean County	New Jersey
Population	654,362	9,343,809
Population density (per sq. mi.)	1,041.50	—
Median household income	$89,863	$104,663
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$140,600	—
Households	243,843	—
Average household size	2.65 people	—
Owner-occupied	80.7%	63.8%
Renter-occupied	19.3%	36.2%
Race	83.3% White · 3.0% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Ocean County compared with New Jersey.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

34.4% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 43.6%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	17.4%	$67,287	$1,682	$219,446
1 earner	30.1%	$84,099	$2,102	$282,026
2 earners	38.2%	$138,615	$3,465	$484,953
3+ earners	14.3%	$182,135	$4,553	$646,949

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

243,843

Average size: 2.65 people

Households with children

62,318

25.6% of households

Per-capita income

$44,947

Poverty rate: 8.8%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

80.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 63.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 84.3% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 9.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

47.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,981.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $398,400.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,755.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 52,514 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 3.5% · For rent 2.9% · Seasonal 75.9% · Other 15.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

8.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 91.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

13.5%

39,863 units of 296,357 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.8%

8,195 units of 296,357 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$71,890

100% MHI$89,863

120% MHI$107,836

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Ocean County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$76,000	$86,850	$108,550
100% AMI	$98,420	$112,480	$140,600
120% AMI	$118,100	$135,000	$168,700

HUD FMR Area: Monmouth-Ocean, NJ HUD Metro FMR Area. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

58.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (33.0% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

29.4% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Ocean County.

Covered employment

189,913

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

15,959

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$57,452

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	43,973	$61,088	$196,371	−$202,029	$1,527
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	27,147	$42,950	$128,855	−$269,545	$1,074
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	20,455	$53,378	$167,672	−$230,728	$1,334
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	18,334	$28,464	$74,933	−$323,467	$712
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	11,155	$72,467	$238,727	−$159,673	$1,812
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	10,609	$83,078	$278,225	−$120,175	$2,077
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	9,137	$86,126	$289,571	−$108,829	$2,153
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	8,670	$55,798	$176,680	−$221,720	$1,395
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	8,034	$37,740	$109,462	−$288,938	$944
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	5,973	$70,261	$230,516	−$167,884	$1,757
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	5,422	$34,015	$95,596	−$302,804	$850
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	4,960	$57,452	$182,836	−$215,564	$1,436
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	4,623	$74,177	$245,092	−$153,308	$1,854
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	3,973	$72,945	$240,507	−$157,893	$1,824
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	3,439	$90,021	$304,069	−$94,331	$2,251
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	1,225	$110,331	$379,670	−$18,730	$2,758
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,025	$94,400	$320,369	−$78,031	$2,360
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	953	$51,266	$159,810	−$238,590	$1,282
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	536	$97,440	$331,685	−$66,715	$2,436
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	187	$42,479	$127,102	−$271,298	$1,062
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	83	$107,890	$370,584	−$27,816	$2,697

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	20,455	$53,378	$167,672	−$230,728	$1,334
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	18,969	$69,766	$228,673	−$169,727	$1,744
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	17,110	$28,058	$73,422	−$324,978	$701
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	9,165	$40,004	$117,889	−$280,511	$1,000
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	9,137	$86,126	$289,571	−$108,829	$2,153
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	8,010	$49,529	$153,344	−$245,056	$1,238
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	7,963	$53,982	$169,920	−$228,480	$1,350
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	7,830	$76,559	$253,959	−$144,441	$1,914
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	7,774	$41,038	$121,738	−$276,662	$1,026
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	7,321	$71,621	$235,578	−$162,822	$1,791
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	7,194	$67,952	$221,921	−$176,479	$1,699
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	5,027	$34,077	$95,827	−$302,573	$852
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	4,504	$34,167	$96,162	−$302,238	$854
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	3,508	$30,047	$80,826	−$317,574	$751
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	3,277	$74,092	$244,776	−$153,624	$1,852
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	3,118	$75,306	$249,295	−$149,105	$1,883
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	2,832	$74,655	$246,872	−$151,528	$1,866
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	2,744	$46,985	$143,875	−$254,525	$1,175
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	2,570	$77,517	$257,525	−$140,875	$1,938
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	2,442	$29,541	$78,942	−$319,458	$739
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	2,313	$31,006	$84,395	−$314,005	$775
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	2,221	$114,741	$396,085	−$2,315	$2,869
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	2,052	$81,708	$273,125	−$125,275	$2,043
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	1,972	$45,174	$137,133	−$261,267	$1,129
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	1,970	$61,783	$198,958	−$199,442	$1,545
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,936	$32,852	$91,267	−$307,133	$821
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,852	$35,472	$101,019	−$297,381	$887
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	1,769	$68,264	$223,082	−$175,318	$1,707
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	1,590	$42,799	$128,293	−$270,107	$1,070
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	1,375	$81,978	$274,130	−$124,270	$2,049
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	1,225	$110,331	$379,670	−$18,730	$2,758
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,224	$34,135	$96,043	−$302,357	$853
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,221	$51,277	$159,851	−$238,549	$1,282
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	1,044	$84,374	$283,049	−$115,351	$2,109
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,014	$52,546	$164,575	−$233,825	$1,314
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	953	$51,266	$159,810	−$238,590	$1,282
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	918	$52,150	$163,100	−$235,300	$1,304
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	892	$68,391	$223,555	−$174,845	$1,710
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	863	$69,465	$227,553	−$170,847	$1,737
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	842	$100,619	$343,519	−$54,881	$2,515
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	707	$76,252	$252,816	−$145,584	$1,906
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	695	$67,646	$220,782	−$177,618	$1,691
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	628	$111,517	$384,085	−$14,315	$2,788
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	568	$72,031	$237,104	−$161,296	$1,801
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	536	$97,440	$331,685	−$66,715	$2,436
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	412	$88,235	$297,421	−$100,979	$2,206
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	396	$59,246	$189,514	−$208,886	$1,481
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	368	$82,827	$277,291	−$121,109	$2,071
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	358	$74,890	$247,746	−$150,654	$1,872
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	357	$32,362	$89,443	−$308,957	$809
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	348	$110,051	$378,628	−$19,772	$2,751
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	339	$55,266	$174,699	−$223,701	$1,382
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	322	$162,896	$575,335	+$176,935	$4,072
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	319	$65,473	$212,693	−$185,707	$1,637
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	316	$69,660	$228,279	−$170,121	$1,742
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	296	$75,150	$248,714	−$149,686	$1,879
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	292	$73,932	$244,180	−$154,220	$1,848
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	284	$80,781	$269,675	−$128,725	$2,020
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	178	$32,584	$90,269	−$308,131	$815
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	175	$66,759	$217,480	−$180,920	$1,669
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	138	$77,636	$257,968	−$140,432	$1,941
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	124	$117,080	$404,792	+$6,392	$2,927
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	115	$34,302	$96,664	−$301,736	$858
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	104	$97,050	$330,234	−$68,166	$2,426
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	102	$33,929	$95,276	−$303,124	$848
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	87	$56,817	$180,473	−$217,927	$1,420
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	85	$52,402	$164,039	−$234,361	$1,310
NAICS 114 Fishing, hunting and trapping NAICS 114	83	$49,177	$152,034	−$246,366	$1,229
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	71	$35,816	$102,300	−$296,100	$895
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	69	$74,081	$244,735	−$153,665	$1,852
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	62	$61,063	$196,278	−$202,122	$1,527
NAICS 487 Scenic and sightseeing transportation NAICS 487	45	$32,255	$89,045	−$309,355	$806
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	42	$78,631	$261,672	−$136,728	$1,966
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	37	$42,496	$127,165	−$271,235	$1,062
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	36	$60,090	$192,656	−$205,744	$1,502
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	22	$30,811	$83,669	−$314,731	$770
NAICS 315 Apparel manufacturing NAICS 315	21	$30,525	$82,605	−$315,795	$763
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	21	$65,660	$213,389	−$185,011	$1,642

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	166,040	430	0%	$17.85	$37,130	$107,191	$928
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	173,830	(20,260)	(10%)	$18.36	$38,180	$111,099	$955
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	48,780	5,310	12%	$19.24	$40,010	$117,911	$1,000
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	202,080	(122,840)	(38%)	$21.13	$43,950	$132,577	$1,099
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	183,030	(9,840)	(5%)	$21.88	$45,520	$138,421	$1,138
Tellers SOC 43-3071	15,820	(14,930)	(49%)	$22.90	$47,640	$146,313	$1,191
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	136,580	(63,410)	(32%)	$24.08	$50,080	$155,395	$1,252
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	79,480	(186,140)	(70%)	$24.43	$50,810	$158,113	$1,270
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	138,720	(10,490)	(7%)	$26.44	$55,000	$173,709	$1,375
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	108,700	16,050	17%	$29.26	$60,860	$195,522	$1,522
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	50,870	(6,470)	(11%)	$32.42	$67,440	$220,015	$1,686
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	65,100	7,740	13%	$33.18	$69,020	$225,896	$1,726
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	34,210	(11,240)	(25%)	$38.73	$80,560	$268,852	$2,014
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	3,850	(10,600)	(73%)	$39.57	$82,300	$275,329	$2,058
Electricians SOC 47-2111	36,550	(2,610)	(7%)	$42.63	$88,670	$299,040	$2,217
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	21,040	(3,870)	(16%)	$43.66	$90,820	$307,043	$2,271
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	14,960	3,130	26%	$44.43	$92,410	$312,962	$2,310
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	54,270	1,810	3%	$44.68	$92,940	$314,935	$2,324
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	98,900	9,350	10%	—	$96,400	$327,814	$2,410
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	197,740	28,270	17%	$57.50	$119,600	$414,172	$2,990

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 34029 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.