The 10 New Jersey Cities With The Largest Black Population For 2026


The most African American cities in New Jersey are East Orange and Salem for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About RoadSnacks
Last Updated: April 19, 2026

Most African American cities in New Jersey research summary. We used Saturday Night Science to analyze New Jersey’s most recent Census data to determine the blackest cities in New Jersey based on the percentage of Black residents. Here are the results of our analysis:

  • The city with the largest African American population in New Jersey is East Orange based on the most recent Census data.

  • East Orange is 77.96% Black.

  • The least African American city in New Jersey is Little Silver.

  • Little Silver is 0.0% Black.

  • New Jersey is 12.2% Black.

  • New Jersey is the 16th blackest state in the United States.

Cities With Highest Black Population In New Jersey Map

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The Black community is one of the fastest-growing communities in America this decade.

Roughly 42 million people identifying as Black or African American live in the United States, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in New Jersey is 1,136,658 – at 12.2% of the total population of New Jersey.

The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census’s race and ethnicity definition. Most scholars and historians agree that increasing diversity in America is a good thing.

We agree.

But how has the increase in the black population impacted New Jersey? Which cities and towns in New Jersey have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?

We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in New Jersey with the largest African American population in 2026:

Most African American Places In New Jersey

  1. East Orange
  2. Salem
  3. Newark
  4. Trenton
  5. Roselle
  6. Camden
  7. Burlington
  8. Lindenwold
  9. Plainfield
  10. Somerdale

What’s the blackest city in New Jersey? The city with the largest Black population in New Jersey for 2026 is East Orange. See if East Orange ranked as one of the most african american places in America.

And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in New Jersey or the most diverse places in New Jersey.

The 10 Blackest Cities In New Jersey For 2026

1. East Orange

East Orange, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 70,090
% African American: 77.96%
# Of African American Residents: 54,644
Percent Change Since 2010: -3.02%
More on East Orange: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

2. Salem

Salem, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 5,322
% African American: 57.14%
# Of African American Residents: 3,041
Percent Change Since 2010: -0.23%
More on Salem: Data | Movers

3. Newark

Newark, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Jamaalcobbs at English Wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 310,178
% African American: 44.77%
# Of African American Residents: 138,868
Percent Change Since 2010: 0.19%
More on Newark: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

4. Trenton

Trenton, NJ

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 90,338
% African American: 40.03%
# Of African American Residents: 36,163
Percent Change Since 2010: -13.46%
More on Trenton: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

5. Roselle

Roselle, NJ

Source: Flickr User jerm1386 | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 22,646
% African American: 39.74%
# Of African American Residents: 8,999
Percent Change Since 2010: -16.94%
More on Roselle: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

6. Camden

Camden, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Yann | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 71,496
% African American: 38.31%
# Of African American Residents: 27,387
Percent Change Since 2010: -22.81%
More on Camden: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

7. Burlington

Burlington, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User User:Magicpiano | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 9,993
% African American: 36.69%
# Of African American Residents: 3,666
Percent Change Since 2010: 16.9%
More on Burlington: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

8. Lindenwold

Lindenwold, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Famartin | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 21,719
% African American: 33.13%
# Of African American Residents: 7,195
Percent Change Since 2010: 28.39%
More on Lindenwold: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

9. Plainfield

Plainfield, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Dreamyunicorn123 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 55,236
% African American: 32.52%
# Of African American Residents: 17,962
Percent Change Since 2010: -27.81%
More on Plainfield: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

10. Somerdale

Somerdale, NJ

Source: Wikipedia User Famartin | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 5,581
% African American: 31.95%
# Of African American Residents: 1,783
Percent Change Since 2010: 123.99%
More on Somerdale: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers

Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In New Jersey With The Largest Black Population For 2026

We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across New Jersey.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2020-2024 American Community Survey data from the US Census.

Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:

  • Hispanic or Latino
  • White alone*
  • Black or African American alone*
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
  • Asian alone*
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
  • Some other race alone*
  • Two or more races*
* Not Hispanic or latino

Our particular column of interest was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people in New Jersey. That left us with 188 cities.

We then calculated the percentage of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 78.0% to 0.0%.

Finally, we ranked each city based on the percentage of the Black population, with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. East Orange took the distinction of being the most Black, while Little Silver was the least African American city.

We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the cities in New Jersey with the largest African American population.

Read on for more information on how the cities in New Jersey ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

Summary: Black Populations Across New Jersey

If you’re looking for a breakdown of African American populations across New Jersey according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.

The blackest cities in New Jersey are East Orange, Salem, Newark, Trenton, Roselle, Camden, Burlington, Lindenwold, Plainfield, and Somerdale.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least African American places in New Jersey:

  1. Little Silver
  2. Carlstadt
  3. Manasquan

For more New Jersey reading, check out:

African American Population By City In New Jersey

Rank City Population African American Population % African American
1 East Orange 70,090 54,644 77.96%
2 Salem 5,322 3,041 57.14%
3 Newark 310,178 138,868 44.77%
4 Trenton 90,338 36,163 40.03%
5 Roselle 22,646 8,999 39.74%
6 Camden 71,496 27,387 38.31%
7 Burlington 9,993 3,666 36.69%
8 Lindenwold 21,719 7,195 33.13%
9 Plainfield 55,236 17,962 32.52%
10 Somerdale 5,581 1,783 31.95%
11 Paulsboro 6,248 1,996 31.95%
12 Rahway 30,109 9,277 30.81%
13 Pleasantville 20,712 6,294 30.39%
14 Asbury Park 15,295 4,540 29.68%
15 Atlantic City 38,632 11,341 29.36%
16 Linden 44,192 11,947 27.03%
17 Pine Hill 10,802 2,793 25.86%
18 Bridgeton 27,001 6,774 25.09%
19 Clayton 8,921 1,989 22.3%
20 North Plainfield 22,809 5,050 22.14%
21 Paterson 158,735 35,041 22.08%
22 Woodbury 10,042 2,126 21.17%
23 Englewood 29,638 5,800 19.57%
24 Jersey City 294,078 56,559 19.23%
25 Carteret 25,496 4,753 18.64%
26 Hackensack 46,057 8,328 18.08%
27 Haledon 8,980 1,599 17.81%
28 Millville 27,511 4,785 17.39%
29 Berlin 7,539 1,190 15.78%
30 Glassboro 23,717 3,691 15.56%
31 Phillipsburg 15,299 2,229 14.57%
32 Elizabeth 137,302 20,002 14.57%
33 South River 16,124 2,171 13.46%
34 Bayonne 71,553 8,589 12.0%
35 Matawan 9,710 1,133 11.67%
36 New Brunswick 56,345 6,558 11.64%
37 Prospect Park 6,319 729 11.54%
38 Sayreville 45,838 5,280 11.52%
39 Palmyra 7,485 862 11.52%
40 Somerville 13,410 1,517 11.31%
41 Vineland 61,006 6,623 10.86%
42 Wildwood 5,130 549 10.7%
43 Long Branch 32,530 3,476 10.69%
44 Eato 13,575 1,432 10.55%
45 Elmwood Park 21,412 2,217 10.35%
46 Absecon 9,170 948 10.34%
47 Clementon 5,410 553 10.22%
48 Somers Point 10,515 1,049 9.98%
49 South Plainfield 24,473 2,375 9.7%
50 Keansburg 9,719 937 9.64%
51 Roselle Park 14,093 1,352 9.59%
52 Florham Park 13,564 1,282 9.45%
53 Gloucester City 11,509 1,085 9.43%
54 Newton 8,369 775 9.26%
55 Bogota 9,360 861 9.2%
56 Ridgefield Park 13,235 1,172 8.86%
57 Collingswood 14,205 1,194 8.41%
58 Stratford 7,018 522 7.44%
59 Runnemede 8,355 619 7.41%
60 Morristown 20,453 1,513 7.4%
61 Lodi 26,082 1,917 7.35%
62 Hight 5,920 422 7.13%
63 Bound Brook 12,219 867 7.1%
64 South Amboy 9,989 706 7.07%
65 Bergenfield 28,450 1,970 6.92%
66 Passaic 70,002 4,789 6.84%
67 Wood-Ridge 10,218 693 6.78%
68 Bellmawr 11,737 784 6.68%
69 Union Beach 5,707 349 6.12%
70 Perth Amboy 55,855 3,367 6.03%
71 Summit 22,705 1,342 5.91%
72 Freehold 12,507 715 5.72%
73 East Rutherford 10,313 574 5.57%
74 Secaucus 21,778 1,165 5.35%
75 Garfield 32,783 1,753 5.35%
76 Franklin Lakes 11,084 586 5.29%
77 Totowa 10,959 576 5.26%
78 Middlesex 14,645 765 5.22%
79 West Long Branch 8,586 448 5.22%
80 Ventnor City 9,265 483 5.21%
81 Montvale 8,901 464 5.21%
82 Kenilworth 8,401 434 5.17%
83 Washington 7,334 367 5.0%
84 New Milford 16,995 849 5.0%
85 Dunellen 7,911 391 4.94%
86 Red Bank 12,862 629 4.89%
87 Tinton Falls 19,361 919 4.75%
88 Metuchen 15,144 715 4.72%
89 Kearny 40,614 1,905 4.69%
90 Boonton 8,854 415 4.69%
91 Caldwell 9,003 421 4.68%
92 River Edge 12,091 564 4.66%
93 Maywood 10,093 461 4.57%
94 Guttenberg 11,754 505 4.3%
95 Keyport 7,171 304 4.24%
96 Wanaque 11,206 463 4.13%
97 Hackett 10,140 415 4.09%
98 Paramus 26,568 1,079 4.06%
99 North Arlington 16,461 658 4.0%
100 Raritan 8,368 331 3.96%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

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