View the full Gloucester County Spotlight (PDF File)
Report Preview
Population
The population of Gloucester County increased by 2.1 percent from 2010 to 2015, from 288,888 to 291,479.
Race and Ethnicity
• White: 83.6%
• Black: 11.0%
• Asian: 3.0%
• Hispanic: 5.9%
• Two or more races: 2.1%
• Other: 2.2%
Registered Voters and Turnout
More than a third (37 percent) of Gloucester County’s registered voters are Democrats, 21 percent are Republicans and 42 percent are Unaffiliated. In both 2012 Gloucester County’s voter turnout (69 percent) was higher than the regions and New Jersey (both were 67 percent). The county’s and state’s 2016 turnout of 69 percent was higher than the region (68 percent).
Highest Level of Educational Attainment (people 25 years or older)
• Non High School Graduated: 8.5%
• High School Graduate: 34.7%
• Some College, No Degree: 17.6%
• Associate’s Degree: 9.6%
• Bachelor’s Degree: 19.7%
• Graduated or Professional Degree: 9.9%
Projected Employment Change by Sector, 2014-2024 (percent change)
Highest Increases:
• Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: 26.6%
• Construction: 25.5%
• Health care and Social Services: 17.3%
• Real Estate and Rental and Leasing: 15.4%
• Administrative and Waste Services: 13.6%
Largest Decreases:
• Information: -15.7%
• Education Services: -10.8%
• Manufacturing: -8.7%
• Government: -2.1%
Unemployment Rate
Gloucester County’s unemployment rate has seen a steady decline between 2014 and 2016, going from 7.3 to 4.3 percent. Comparably, the downward trend in unemployment rates matches that of the region (8.0 to 4.9 percent), New Jersey (6.7 to 4.1 percent), and the nation (6.2 to 4.9 percent). Gloucester County’s unemployment rate outpaced the region’s from 2014 to 2016.
Poverty Rate
The poverty rate in Gloucester County has dropped from 9.8 percent in 2013 to 7.2 percent in 2015. Gloucester County’s poverty rates from 2013 to 2015 were significantly lower than the region (12.1 to 11 percent) and New Jersey (11.4 to 10.8 percent).
Median Household Income (in current dollars)
The median household income for Gloucester County has increased between 2013 and 2015. The median household income in 2013 was $71,355 and increased to $79,704 in 2014. In 2015, the county saw a substantial drop to $77,565. Gloucester County’s median household income from 2013 to 2015 outpaced the average South Jersey county ($60,949, 62,689, and 64,059), and the state of New Jersey ($70,165, $71.919, and $72,222).
Crime
In 2014, Gloucester County outperformed the state in violent crime rate (1 to 3) but had a higher nonviolent (21.7 to 17.0) and total crime rate (29 to 20).
Land Use
In 2015, Gloucester County had a comparable share of residential parcels value as a percentage of total land value than the average New Jersey county (75.3 and 76.9 percent respectively). Also, the county had a substantially higher percent of non-residential parcel value compared to the average New Jersey county (21.6 compared to only 4.2 percent).
Housing Affordability (paying 30% or more of income on housing cost)
In 2015, Gloucester County had a comparable proportion of resident, both home-owners and renters, with a housing burden (those devoting 30 percent or more of their annual household income on housing costs) relative to both the South Jersey region and New Jersey (40.3, 40.1, and 43.6 percent respectively for homeowners, and 53.8, 55.8, and 53.9 percent respectively for renters).
Median Housing Value
In 2015, Gloucester County had a comparable proportion of resident, both home-owners and renters, with a housing burden (those devoting 30 percent or more of their annual household income on housing costs) relative to both the South Jersey region and New Jersey (40.3, 40.1, and 43.6 percent respectively for homeowners, and 53.8, 55.8, and 53.9 percent respectively for renters).
Property Tax
The average property tax for Gloucester County was $6,079.65 in 2013, and increased in 2014 to $6,232.48 and to 6,464.97 in 2015. The average property tax in the South Jersey region increased every year between 2013 and 2015 ($5,373.66, $5,534.44, and $5,662.40). The rate for New Jersey in 2013 was $7,408.36, and increased to $7,592.25 in 2014 and $8,353.45 in 2015.
Housing Occupancy
Gloucester County has a 94 percent occupancy rate with 88 percent of its units owner-occupied and 20 percent renter-occupied.
Kids Count Rankings
From 2015 to 2016 Gloucester County dropped from 11th to 12th in percentage of births to girls 10-19 and from 8th to 9th in infant mortality rate among New Jersey counties. The county moved up from 20th to 19th in child poverty rates and ranked 10 in both 2015 and 2016 in juvenile arrest rate. Gloucester County’s overall Kids Count ranking improved for 10th to 9th from 2013 to 2016.
County Health Rankings
Health Outcomes Rankings
In the category of Health Outcomes Rankings (based on variables used to determine length and quality of life) Gloucester County was ranked 13th in 2014 before falling to 16th in 2015 and 2016.
Health Factors Rankings
In the category of Health Factors Rankings (based on variables used to determine health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment) Gloucester County was ranked 13th from 2014 to 2016.
Social and Economic Factors Rankings
In the category of Social and Economic Factors Rankings (based on high school graduation, some college, unemployment, children in poverty, income inequality, children in single-parent households, social association, violent crime, and injury deaths) Gloucester County was ranked 10th from 2014 to 2016.