1st Advantage MortgageIn Passaic County, New Jersey, the typical household earns $87,522 a year and the typical rent is $1,621. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Passaic County, NJ: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Passaic County
- Income in Passaic County compared with New Jersey
- Housing costs in Passaic County
- Passaic County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- People and households in Passaic County
- Local borrowing considerations for Passaic County
- Debt-to-income at Passaic County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Passaic County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Passaic County, NJ: the basics
Passaic County is home to about 521,012 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 9th most populous of 21 county-level areas in New Jersey. It covers 186 square miles of land, or about 2,799 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 24 places in the county (13 incorporated, 11 census-designated); the largest is Paterson, with about 158,735 residents, or 30% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Passaic County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. Manufacturing stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Passaic County averages 8.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Only 13.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Passaic County workers | vs New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | -2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +1.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Passaic County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Passaic County compared with New Jersey
At $87,522, the typical Passaic County household income is 33% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 17th of 21.
| Household income | Passaic County | vs New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.7% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.0% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.1% | -5.5 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 44% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.0% of Passaic County residents in poverty, against 9.7% across New Jersey. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.466 here. A household earning below the $87,522 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Passaic County
A typical Passaic County rental runs $1,621 a month including utilities, which is 6% below New Jersey. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 32% spend half or more. With a median value of $459,500, a typical Passaic County house costs 5.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 53% of Passaic County households own their home and 47% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1956.
| Home costs | Passaic County | New Jersey | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,621/mo | $1,720/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $459,500 | $454,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 41% | 32% | n/a |
With renters making up 47% of households, many Passaic County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Passaic County towns compared
24 Census places fall mainly inside Passaic County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 485,053 residents, leaving about 7% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,125 in Prospect Park to $213,103 in Packanack Lake. Median rent ranges from $1,372 in Oak Ridge to $3,501 in Packanack Lake. None of the 24 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson | city | 158,735 | $55,997 | $1,548 | 11 mi |
| Clifton | city | 89,379 | $98,237 | $1,711 | 14 mi |
| Passaic | city | 70,002 | $55,371 | $1,465 | 15 mi |
| Hawthorne | borough | 19,628 | $110,237 | $1,830 | 9 mi |
| Preakness | CDP | 18,520 | $133,205 | $1,918 | 8 mi |
| Woodland Park | borough | 13,355 | $98,845 | $1,839 | 12 mi |
| Ringwood | borough | 11,657 | $152,414 | $1,750 | 5 mi |
| Wanaque | borough | 11,206 | $113,175 | $1,778 | 1 mi |
| Pompton Lakes | borough | 11,047 | $124,454 | $1,845 | 2 mi |
| Totowa | borough | 10,959 | $113,563 | $2,072 | 10 mi |
| Oak Ridge | CDP | 10,954 | $121,875 | $1,372 | 10 mi |
| Haledon | borough | 8,980 | $95,870 | $1,750 | 9 mi |
| North Haledon | borough | 8,778 | $125,313 | $2,369 | 8 mi |
| Bloomingdale | borough | 7,716 | $127,500 | $1,753 | 2 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 13 to 24 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $80,789 in Essex County to $137,326 in Morris County; 5 of these neighbors top Passaic County's median. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic County | - | $87,522 | $1,621/mo | 53% |
| Bergen County, NJ | 13 mi | $124,884 | $1,914/mo | 65% |
| Rockland County, NY | 16 mi | $109,959 | $1,901/mo | 68% |
| Essex County, NJ | 17 mi | $80,789 | $1,531/mo | 45% |
| Morris County, NJ | 18 mi | $137,326 | $1,904/mo | 74% |
| Sussex County, NJ | 22 mi | $116,186 | $1,585/mo | 84% |
| Hudson County, NJ | 24 mi | $91,795 | $1,894/mo | 31% |
People and households in Passaic County
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Passaic County | All of New Jersey | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.9% | 43.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | 9.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | 7.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 13.9% | 11.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 9.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.0% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Passaic County
Based on the Passaic County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 12% of Passaic County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Higher earners. 44% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Rent squeeze. 57% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Debt-to-income at Passaic County's medians
Here is the Passaic County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,294 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,621 uses 22%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,296 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Passaic County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Passaic County resident can confirm its license with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The New Jersey guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Passaic County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in New Jersey.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Jersey guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Passaic County household make?
About $87,522 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the New Jersey median.
How much is rent in Passaic County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,621 a month; 57% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Paterson?
Yes, along with the other 23 Census places in Passaic County, such as Clifton, Passaic, Hawthorne.
Does living in Passaic County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Passaic County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Passaic County residents?
The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance licenses consumer lenders in New Jersey; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.