The 10 New Jersey Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2024


The most African American cities in New Jersey are East Orange and Salem for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About RoadSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

Most African American cities in New Jersey research summary. We used Saturday Night Science to analyze New Jersey’s most recent Census data to determine the blackest cities in New Jersey based on the percentage of Black residents. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The city with the largest African American population in New Jersey is East Orange based on the most recent Census data.

  • East Orange is 79.13% Black.

  • The least African American city in New Jersey is Little Silver.

  • Little Silver is 0.0% Black.

  • New Jersey is 12.4% Black.

  • New Jersey is the 16th blackest state in the United States.

Cities With Highest Black Population In New Jersey Map

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The Black community is one of the fastest-growing communities in America this decade.

Roughly 42 million people identifying as Black or African American live in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in New Jersey is 1,147,770 – at 12.4% of the total population of New Jersey.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. Most scholars and historians agree that increasing diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted New Jersey? Which cities and towns in New Jersey have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in New Jersey with the largest African American population in 2024:

What’s the blackest city in New Jersey? The city with the largest Black population in New Jersey for 2024 is East Orange. See if East Orange ranked as one of the most african american places in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in New Jersey or the most diverse places in New Jersey.

The 10 Blackest Cities In New Jersey For 2024

1. East Orange

East Orange, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 68,879
% African American: 79.13%
# Of African American Residents: 54,507
Percent Change Since 2010: -3.27%
More on East Orange: Data | Cost Of Living

2. Salem

Salem, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 5,285
% African American: 58.69%
# Of African American Residents: 3,102
Percent Change Since 2010: 1.77%
More on Salem: Data

3. Newark

Newark, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Jamaalcobbs at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 307,355
% African American: 45.37%
# Of African American Residents: 139,440
Percent Change Since 2010: 0.6%
More on Newark: Data | Cost Of Living

4. Roselle

Roselle, NJ

Source: Flickr User jerm1386 | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 22,500
% African American: 44.41%
# Of African American Residents: 9,993
Percent Change Since 2010: -7.76%
More on Roselle: Data | Cost Of Living

5. Trenton

Trenton, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 90,055
% African American: 44.18%
# Of African American Residents: 39,787
Percent Change Since 2010: -4.79%
More on Trenton: Data | Cost Of Living

6. Camden

Camden, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Yann | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 71,799
% African American: 39.26%
# Of African American Residents: 28,186
Percent Change Since 2010: -20.56%
More on Camden: Data | Cost Of Living

7. Paulsboro

Paulsboro, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 6,195
% African American: 38.47%
# Of African American Residents: 2,383
Percent Change Since 2010: 21.15%
More on Paulsboro: Data | Cost Of Living

8. Pleasantville

Pleasantville, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 20,562
% African American: 35.97%
# Of African American Residents: 7,397
Percent Change Since 2010: -14.37%
More on Pleasantville: Data | Cost Of Living

9. Plainfield

Plainfield, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Dreamyunicorn123 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 54,358
% African American: 34.97%
# Of African American Residents: 19,011
Percent Change Since 2010: -23.59%
More on Plainfield: Data | Cost Of Living

10. Asbury Park

Asbury Park, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Lhcollins | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 15,245
% African American: 34.07%
# Of African American Residents: 5,194
Percent Change Since 2010: -40.39%
More on Asbury Park: Data | Cost Of Living

Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In New Jersey With The Largest Black Population For 2024

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across New Jersey.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • White alone*
  • Black or African American alone*
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
  • Asian alone*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
  • Some other race alone*
  • Two or more races*
* Not Hispanic or latino

Our particular column of interest was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people in New Jersey. That left us with 188 cities.

We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 79.1% to 0.0%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of the Black population, with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. East Orange took the distinction of being the most Black, while Little Silver was the least African American city.

We updated this article for 2024. This is our tenth time ranking the cities in New Jersey with the largest African American population.

Read on for more information on how the cities in New Jersey ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

Summary: Black Populations Across New Jersey

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across New Jersey according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

The blackest cities in New Jersey are East Orange, Salem, Newark, Roselle, Trenton, Camden, Paulsboro, Pleasantville, Plainfield, and Asbury Park.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in New Jersey:

  1. Little Silver
  2. Old Tappan
  3. Wharton

For more New Jersey reading, check out:

African American Population By City In New Jersey

Rank City Population African American Population % African American
1 East Orange 68,879 54,507 79.13%
2 Salem 5,285 3,102 58.69%
3 Newark 307,355 139,440 45.37%
4 Roselle 22,500 9,993 44.41%
5 Trenton 90,055 39,787 44.18%
6 Camden 71,799 28,186 39.26%
7 Paulsboro 6,195 2,383 38.47%
8 Pleasantville 20,562 7,397 35.97%
9 Plainfield 54,358 19,011 34.97%
10 Asbury Park 15,245 5,194 34.07%
11 Burlington 9,833 3,196 32.5%
12 Bridgeton 26,895 8,646 32.15%
13 Lindenwold 21,337 6,737 31.57%
14 Rahway 29,664 9,117 30.73%
15 Atlantic City 38,487 11,510 29.91%
16 Linden 43,478 11,929 27.44%
17 Pine Hill 10,698 2,889 27.01%
18 Somerdale 5,524 1,435 25.98%
19 Paterson 157,864 37,119 23.51%
20 Englewood 29,109 6,559 22.53%
21 North Plainfield 22,695 4,817 21.22%
22 Clayton 8,801 1,808 20.54%
23 Woodbury 9,981 2,006 20.1%
24 Jersey City 287,899 57,250 19.89%
25 Hackensack 45,758 9,011 19.69%
26 Clementon 5,312 1,035 19.48%
27 Glassboro 23,014 3,897 16.93%
28 Elizabeth 135,665 22,033 16.24%
29 Prospect Park 6,299 1,005 15.95%
30 Carteret 25,161 3,924 15.6%
31 Millville 27,523 4,118 14.96%
32 Palmyra 7,437 1,066 14.33%
33 Haledon 8,945 1,282 14.33%
34 New Brunswick 55,718 7,706 13.83%
35 Collingswood 14,135 1,719 12.16%
36 Long Branch 31,932 3,879 12.15%
37 Berlin 7,489 908 12.12%
38 Sayreville 45,136 5,378 11.92%
39 Freehold 12,498 1,485 11.88%
40 Vineland 60,796 7,196 11.84%
41 Matawan 9,546 1,115 11.68%
42 Phillipsburg 15,206 1,771 11.65%
43 South Plainfield 24,273 2,757 11.36%
44 Newton 8,370 927 11.08%
45 Somerville 12,467 1,361 10.92%
46 Bayonne 70,497 7,317 10.38%
47 Somers Point 10,482 1,079 10.29%
48 Lodi 25,969 2,542 9.79%
49 Manville 10,892 1,064 9.77%
50 Roselle Park 13,964 1,342 9.61%
51 Bogota 8,940 840 9.4%
52 Keansburg 9,761 865 8.86%
53 South Amboy 9,336 786 8.42%
54 Bergenfield 28,223 2,325 8.24%
55 Absecon 9,086 746 8.21%
56 Wildwood 5,164 420 8.13%
57 Morristown 20,126 1,632 8.11%
58 Red Bank 12,868 1,014 7.88%
59 Hight 5,864 459 7.83%
60 Eato 13,522 1,048 7.75%
61 Summit 22,555 1,669 7.4%
62 Runnemede 8,307 608 7.32%
63 Stratford 6,962 490 7.04%
64 South River 16,081 1,128 7.01%
65 Tinton Falls 19,180 1,333 6.95%
66 Boonton 8,781 604 6.88%
67 Florham Park 12,790 851 6.65%
68 Metuchen 14,958 995 6.65%
69 Gloucester City 11,435 755 6.6%
70 Passaic 70,048 4,504 6.43%
71 Highland Park 14,996 963 6.42%
72 Hasbrouck Heights 12,080 762 6.31%
73 Elmwood Park 21,261 1,311 6.17%
74 Ridgefield Park 13,161 801 6.09%
75 Dover 18,426 1,103 5.99%
76 West Long Branch 8,547 474 5.55%
77 Perth Amboy 55,226 2,950 5.34%
78 Middlesex 14,525 774 5.33%
79 Woodland Park 13,291 708 5.33%
80 River Edge 12,022 627 5.22%
81 Beachwood 10,933 550 5.03%
82 Bound Brook 11,906 566 4.75%
83 Garfield 32,472 1,537 4.73%
84 Caldwell 8,897 421 4.73%
85 Dunellen 7,598 353 4.65%
86 Keyport 7,188 332 4.62%
87 Ventnor City 9,285 419 4.51%
88 Hawthorne 19,456 862 4.43%
89 Fanwood 7,723 339 4.39%
90 Maywood 10,040 434 4.32%
91 Washington 7,240 302 4.17%
92 Kenilworth 8,345 347 4.16%
93 Edgewater 14,394 595 4.13%
94 Bellmawr 11,677 481 4.12%
95 Totowa 10,975 448 4.08%
96 New Milford 16,888 689 4.08%
97 Harrison 19,217 782 4.07%
98 East Rutherford 10,020 397 3.96%
99 North Haledon 8,801 343 3.9%
100 Kearny 41,157 1,587 3.86%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

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