The Most Crowded Cities in NJ
If you’ve ever lived in or around New Jersey, it’s no surprise that it is the most densely populated state in the country. While this fact may not be all too surprising, it might shock you to hear that there are three cities in the Garden State that are more densely populated than New York City. If you’ve ever walked around Times Square during rush hour, you know the kind of congestion we’re talking about. While you might not picture New Jersey when you think of city hustle and bustle, its growing cities are definitely a force to be reckoned with population-wise. If you’re planning on moving to New Jersey anytime soon, take a look to see which spots make our list for the most crowded cities in NJ.
To gather this information, we pulled together a list of the most densely populated cities based on data from NJ.com and mapping data from the New Jersey Geographic Information. To get these results, the total land area was divided by the 2010 Census population of the town to find out how much land area is available per person.
1. Guttenberg, Hudson County
Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Upper West Side of Manhattan, this NJ city tops the list as the most densely populated. With a total population of 11,176 and an area of 0.19 square miles, this city only has 482.4 square feet per person.
2. Union City, Hudson County
Due to its proximity to Manhattan, this ever-growing city comes in at #2 on the list. With a total population of 66,455 and only 1.28 square miles, the square feet per person here is a mere 540.8.
3. West New York, Hudson County
Coming in at just under 1 total square mile (0.99 to be exact), this city is so small it doesn’t even have its own fire department. This doesn’t stop its population from increasing though. In 2010 the total population was 49,708, reflecting an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 Census. With so many people in such a small area, and a total of 557.3 square feet per person, it’s no surprise at how this city came in at #3 on the list.
4. Hoboken, Hudson County
This major transportation hub, located on the Hudson Waterfront, is known for its picturesque water views and its convenience to neighboring Manhattan. With so many people trying to escape Manhattan’s skyrocketing rent prices, this NJ city has seen a huge influx of residents over the past decade. Its total population in 2010 was 50,005, which is a 29.6% increase from the 2000 Census. With only 1.23 square miles, and only 691.2 square feet per person, this city comes in at #4 on our list.
5. Cliffside Park Borough, Bergen County
This Bergen County borough is another ever-growing city. With a total population of 23,594 and only 0.95 total square miles, it’s the fifth most densely populated city in New Jersey. While still a jump from many of the cities in Hudson County, the total square feet per person is still small at 1,130.
6. Passaic, Passaic County
Located north of Newark on the Passaic River, this city is the tenth most densely populated municipality in the entire United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781 with only 1,294 square feet per person, keeping its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey.
