Assets
Asset poverty rate: 21.50%
Average college graduate debt: $31,818
Unbanked households: 5%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 5%
Food insecurity: 8.60%
Minimum wage: $12.00
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 98,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 144,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 7.90%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 14.70%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 21.20%
Poverty rate: 9.20%
Unemployment rate: 3.50%
Education
High school graduation rate: 90.90%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 89.20%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 62%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 40.80%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 6%
Family
Children in foster care: 4,430
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18: 180,965
Percent of children in immigrant families: 40%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 30%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 10%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 1.81%
People experiencing homelessness: 9,662
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 316,900
Percent renters: 36%
Total housing units: 3,761,229
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 210
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 513
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 22,657
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 331,000
EITC recipients: 576,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 30,200
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 162,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 235,503
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 891,875
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 131,798
Participants in all Head Start programs: 15,464
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 12%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: 25,000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: 126,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: 240,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 24%
Senior poverty rate: 8.80%
Women in poverty: 10.00%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key New Jersey policies and a link to an organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports