Somerset County Information

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Division of Labor Market and Demographic Research
Bureau of Labor Market Information
Bernardsville

Peapack and Gladstone

Far Hills
Bernards
Bedminster

Watchung
Warren
North Plainfield
Green Brook
Bridgewater
Raritan
Branchburg Somerville Bound Brook
South Bound Brook
Manville

Hillsborough Millstone
Franklin

Montgomery

Rocky Hill

Somerset
Population & Demographic Facts County New Jersey

Population, 2000 Census 297,490 8,414,350

Population, July 1, 2006 estimate (Census Bureau) 324,186 8,724,560

Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 9.0% 3.7%

White persons, percent, 2005 estimate1 78.3% 76.6%

Black persons, percent, 2005 estimate1 8.8% 14.5%

American Indian and Alaskan Native persons, percent, 2005 estimate1 0.2% 0.3%

Asian persons, percent, 2005 estimate1 11.7% 7.2%

Native Hawaiian persons, percent, 2005 estimate1 0.0% 0.1%

Persons reporting two or more races, percent, 2005 estimate1 1.1% 1.3%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2005 estimate2 11.1% 15.2%

Male population, 2005 estimate 157,131 4,248,897

Female population, 2005 estimate 162,769 4,469,028

Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2005 26.0% 24.8%

Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2005 11.2% 13.0%

High school graduate or higher, 25 years and over (%), 2000 Census 89.6% 82.1%

Bachelor graduate or higher, 25 years and over (%), 2000 Census 46.5% 29.8%

Housing Units, 2005 estimate 119,260 3,443,981

Homeownership rate (%), 2000 Census 77.2% 65.6%

Single family homes (number), 2000 Census 84,073 2,080,235

Households, 2000 Census 108,984 3,064,645

Persons per household, 2000 Census 2.69 2.68

Family households, 2000 Census3 78,409 2,154,539

Per capita personal income, 2005 (BEA) $61,039 $43,831

Median household money income, 2004 $79,567 $57,338

Persons below poverty (%), 2004 4.3% 8.4%

4.1% 10.2%
Persons under 18 in poverty (%), 2004 4.1% 10.2%
 Somerset
Business and Industry Facts County New Jersey

Private sector establishments, 2005 9,900 266,480

Private sector employment by workplace, 2005 153,970 3,308,433

Private sector employment, percent change, 1995-2005 15.2% 11.3%

Labor Force (2006 annual average) 179,900 4,518,000

Employed Residents (2006 annual average) 173,700 4,309,000

Unemployed Residents (2006 annual average) 6,200 209,000

Unemployment Rate (%) (2006 annual average) 3.5% 4.6%

Manufacturers shipments ($1000), 2002 $4,433,873 $96,599,807

Retail sales ($1000), 2002 $4,423,052 $102,153,833

Retail sales per capita, 2002 $14,364 $11,910

Minority-owned firms, 2002 5,060 141,139

Women-owned firms, 2002 8,530 185,197

Housing units authorized by building permits, 2006 1,058 34,323

Federal funds and grants ($1000), 2004 $1,138,636 $55,264,350

Somerset
Geographic Facts County New Jersey

Land area (square miles) 304 7,417

Persons per square mile, 2000 Census 975 1,134

Edison, NJ
Metropolitan Statistical Area/Division Metro Division

Sources:
Population & Demographic Factsderived from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing; Small Area Income and
Poverty Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census; Population Division, U.S. Bureau of the Census; U.S.
Bureau of Economic Analysis

Business and Industry Facts derived from NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development; 2002 Economic
Census; 2002 Survey of Business Owners; U.S. Bureau of the Census, Manufacturing and Construction Division;
and Consolidated Federal Funds Report.
Geographic Facts derived from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, US Office of Management and Budget.
1
Includes persons reporting only one race.
2
Hispanics may be of any race, also are included in applicable race categories.
3
Family households consist of at least two persons who are related by birth, marriage or adoption.