County facts · Population growth · October 24, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in New Jersey, 2020 to 2025
New Jersey's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in New Jersey? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, New Jersey went from about 9,289,024 to 9,548,215 residents, a change of +259,191 (+2.8%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Ocean County (+5.7%), and it also added the most people (+36,418).
Each table links the county's Platbookmapper page and its official parcel viewer, so you can go from the growth numbers straight to the property lines.
New Jersey growth at a glance
- Counties: 21
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +259,191 residents (+2.8%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +41,861 (+0.4%)
- Grew: 20 of 21 · Lost residents: 1
- Fastest growing by percent: Ocean County (+5.7%); most people added: Ocean County (+36,418)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 7 of 21
The 10 fastest growing New Jersey counties by percent
| # | County | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean County | 637,328 | 673,746 | +36,418 | +5.7% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 2 | Union County | 575,332 | 601,863 | +26,531 | +4.6% | county web map |
| 3 | Burlington County | 461,873 | 481,439 | +19,566 | +4.2% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 4 | Essex County | 862,775 | 896,379 | +33,604 | +3.9% | ArcGIS Map Viewer |
| 5 | Gloucester County | 302,282 | 312,638 | +10,356 | +3.4% | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 6 | Somerset County | 345,349 | 356,486 | +11,137 | +3.2% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 7 | Mercer County | 387,334 | 399,289 | +11,955 | +3.1% | county web map |
| 8 | Warren County | 109,630 | 112,953 | +3,323 | +3.0% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 9 | Morris County | 509,293 | 524,251 | +14,958 | +2.9% | county web map |
| 10 | Sussex County | 144,235 | 148,063 | +3,828 | +2.7% | county web map |
These 10 added about 171,676 people combined. The median county changed by +2.3%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean County | +36,418 | +5.7% | 673,746 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 2 | Essex County | +33,604 | +3.9% | 896,379 | ArcGIS Map Viewer |
| 3 | Union County | +26,531 | +4.6% | 601,863 | county web map |
| 4 | Bergen County | +21,298 | +2.2% | 977,026 | county web map |
| 5 | Middlesex County | +20,110 | +2.3% | 883,335 | NJ Parcels and MOD-IV Composite layer in ArcGIS Map Viewer (imagery basemap) |
| 6 | Burlington County | +19,566 | +4.2% | 481,439 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 7 | Morris County | +14,958 | +2.9% | 524,251 | county web map |
| 8 | Camden County | +12,299 | +2.3% | 535,799 | county web map |
| 9 | Mercer County | +11,955 | +3.1% | 399,289 | county web map |
| 10 | Somerset County | +11,137 | +3.2% | 356,486 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
The top 10 account for about 80% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean County | +12,167 | +17,870 | +6,842 | +36,418 |
| Union County | +11,995 | −28,653 | +42,676 | +26,531 |
| Burlington County | +863 | +9,911 | +8,877 | +19,566 |
| Essex County | +16,366 | −47,831 | +64,626 | +33,604 |
| Gloucester County | −384 | +8,646 | +2,071 | +10,356 |
In 3 of these 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Burlington County: +0.8% (+3,917)
- Ocean County: +0.8% (+5,351)
- Essex County: +0.6% (+5,138)
- Morris County: +0.6% (+2,896)
- Hudson County: +0.5% (+4,005)
4 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
1 of New Jersey's 21 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. It is:
- Cape May County: −2.0% (−1,864, now about 93,390)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in New Jersey
- New Jersey county GIS websites by viewer
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All New Jersey counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 24, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.