1st Advantage MortgageIn Sussex County, New Jersey, the typical household earns $116,186 a year and the typical rent is $1,585. 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
- Sussex County by the numbers
- Rent, home values and ownership in Sussex County
- What Sussex County households earn
- How Sussex County residents earn a living
- Places inside Sussex County
- Sussex County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Sussex County's medians
- Reading the Sussex County data as a borrower
- Sussex County households compared
- Four steps for Sussex County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Sussex County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sussex County by the numbers
With an estimated 145,807 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Sussex County ranks 17th of 21 in New Jersey for population. Land area is 518 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 281 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area. Of the 17 Census places inside Sussex County, Hopatcong leads by population with about 14,565; 9 of the 17 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Sussex County
A typical Sussex County rental runs $1,585 a month including utilities, which is 8% below New Jersey. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $369,400, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 84%.
| Home costs | Sussex County | New Jersey | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,585/mo | $1,720/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $369,400 | $454,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 32% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.7% | 0.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 7% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
What Sussex County households earn
The median household income in Sussex County is $116,186; statewide it is $103,556, so Sussex County runs 12% above New Jersey as a whole. Only 5 New Jersey counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Sussex County | Difference from New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.5% | -5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.2% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.5% | +6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.8% | -0.8 pts |
About 11% of households earn under $35,000, while 57% clear $100,000. 5.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.7%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.416 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Sussex County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Sussex County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Sussex County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Compared with New Jersey, the county leans toward construction (8% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 36% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Sussex County | Compared with New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sussex County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Sussex County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 42% of Sussex County residents live in one of the 17. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $74,338 in Vernon Center to $149,135 in Lake Mohawk. This guide covers each of the 17 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hopatcong | borough | 14,565 | $115,758 | $1,777 | 13 mi |
| Lake Mohawk | CDP | 9,508 | $149,135 | $1,989 | 9 mi |
| Newton | town | 8,369 | $76,221 | $1,442 | 7 mi |
| Franklin | borough | 4,968 | $92,744 | $1,381 | 6 mi |
| Highland Lakes | CDP | 3,852 | $109,000 | $2,169 | 12 mi |
| Stanhope | borough | 3,552 | $139,205 | $1,964 | 15 mi |
| Hamburg | borough | 3,308 | $86,975 | $1,685 | 6 mi |
| Byram Center | CDP | 2,188 | $132,857 | $1,526 | 14 mi |
| Ogdensburg | borough | 2,160 | $105,551 | $1,445 | 6 mi |
| Sussex | borough | 2,145 | $75,500 | $1,418 | 7 mi |
| Vernon Valley | CDP | 1,532 | $121,250 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Vernon Center | CDP | 1,503 | $74,338 | $1,494 | 10 mi |
| Crandon Lakes | CDP | 1,293 | $94,167 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Layton | CDP | 967 | $130,313 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Sussex County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Morris County at 21 miles out to Essex County at 34. Morris County leads the group on income ($137,326), Essex County trails ($80,789), and Sussex County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in New York and Pennsylvania. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Sussex County resident follows New Jersey rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County | - | $116,186 | $1,585/mo | 84% |
| Morris County, NJ | 21 mi | $137,326 | $1,904/mo | 74% |
| Passaic County, NJ | 22 mi | $87,522 | $1,621/mo | 53% |
| Pike County, PA | 22 mi | $81,323 | $1,378/mo | 87% |
| Warren County, NJ | 26 mi | $100,869 | $1,409/mo | 75% |
| Orange County, NY | 27 mi | $97,178 | $1,680/mo | 68% |
| Essex County, NJ | 34 mi | $80,789 | $1,531/mo | 45% |
Debt-to-income at Sussex County's medians
Here is the Sussex County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $9,682 a month: gross income for a household at the Sussex County median
- Less median rent of $1,585, which is 16% of it
- $1,901: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Sussex County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Sussex County data as a borrower
Where the Sussex County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 36% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Higher earners. 57% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 55% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Sussex County households compared
Degree holders: 40% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 3.8%, against 7.5% for New Jersey.
| Indicator | Sussex County | All of New Jersey | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 40.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.3% | 43.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 9.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 7.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 11.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 9.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Sussex County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.1% |
| 60+ min | 20.2% |
Four steps for Sussex County borrowers
Steps that save money for Sussex County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Sussex County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the New Jersey license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Sussex County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Sussex 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. Statewide data and rules: New Jersey guide.
Related local guides
The New Jersey guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sussex County a high-income county?
Its $116,186 median ranks 6th of 21 New Jersey counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Sussex County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,585 against $1,720 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Sussex County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 84% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Hopatcong?
Yes, along with the other 16 Census places in Sussex County, such as Lake Mohawk, Newton, Franklin.
Is the fit check different in Sussex County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.