NEW REPORT: How New Jersey’s Population Changed Since 2010 and What it Means for Redistricting

For Immediate Release

August 18, 2021 – New Jersey’s population is growing larger and more diverse, with big implications for redistricting, according to a new report by New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP).

The report, How New Jersey’s Population Changed Since 2010 and What it Means for Redistricting, uses detailed data released last week by the Census Bureau to highlight changes in the state’s population by racial/ethnic group and geography to gain a better understanding of how the state’s redistricting can best serve and represent its residents.

The report includes interactive maps outlining the population changes in New Jersey at the county, congressional district, and legislative district levels.

The report’s key findings include:

• Latinx/Hispanic and Asian populations drove New Jersey’s population growth since 2010:
  • New Jersey’s Latinx/Hispanic populations grew by 447,000, or 29 percent
  • New Jersey’s Asian/Asian-American populations grew by 223,000, or 31 percent.
• Most of New Jersey’s population gain over the last decade was concentrated in counties closest to New York City, as well as in Lakewood and surrounding areas in Ocean County:
  • Hudson County grew by 14.3 percent
  • Ocean County grew by 10.5 percent 
  • Essex County grew by 10.2 percent
• Congressional Districts 4 (Lakewood), 8 (Jersey City), 9 (Paterson), and 10 (Newark) grew faster than the statewide rate, while District 2 (Atlantic City) will have to add population to maintain equality across districts
• The five legislative districts that grew the fastest were District 30 (Lakewood), Districts 31 and 33 (Jersey City), and Districts 28 and 29 (Newark).

“It’s not enough to say that New Jersey is growing more diverse. There’s also growth within diversity and racial and ethnic categories themselves which will require appropriate policy response and engagement,” said NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen, author of the report. “As more data is released, New Jersey’s population must be accurately represented with a proportional and fair voice.”

“This new Census data confirms what we already knew: New Jersey’s population is growing, despite claims that residents are ‘fleeing in droves,’” said NJPP President Brandon McKoy. “Seeing how racial and ethnic diversity is changing in the state, it’s more crucial than ever that New Jersey’s population is fairly and accurately represented by its government.”

Read the full report here.

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New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) is a nonpartisan think tank that drives policy change to advance economic, social, and racial justice through evidence-based, independent research, analysis, and advocacy.