| Somerset County vs. New Jersey Comparative Trends Analysis: Population Growth and Change, 1969-2022 Introduction Somerset County: 2022 Population = 346,875 2022 Percent of State = 3.75% New Jersey: 2022 Population = 9,261,699 2022 Percent of U.S. = 2.78% Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy. The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of Somerset County with comparisons to New Jersey and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing Somerset County vs. New Jersey's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce. Figure 1. Figure 1 tracks Somerset County's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Somerset County's population rose from 195,059 in 1969 to 346,875 in 2022, for a net gain of 151,816, or 77.83%. NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities. Figure 2. Figure 2 traces New Jersey's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, New Jersey's population rose from 7,095,000 in 1969 to 9,261,699 in 2022, for a net gain of 2,166,699, or 30.54%. NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities. Figure 3. Another interesting and insightful way of comparing the population growth of Somerset County is to trace its individual percentage contributions to New Jersey's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 3. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than New Jersey's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly. In 1969, Somerset County's population totaled 2.75% of New Jersey's population, while in 2022 it equated to 3.75% thereby yielding a +1.00% share-shift. | | | | Population Share-Shift 2022 vs. 1969 | Share- Shift* | | 2022 | vs. | 1969 | | +1.00% | = | 3.75% | - | 2.75% |
| | | | |
Figure 4. Over the past five decades some counties have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 4 again traces the annual percent change in Somerset County's population since 1970, but this time they are overlayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022. During the 1970s, Somerset County's annual population growth rate averaged 0.39%. It averaged 1.57% throughout the 1980s, 2.17% throughout the 1990s, 0.91% in the 2000s, 0.69% in the 2010s, 0.23% thus far this decade (2020-2022). Tip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data. | | | | Somerset County: Population, 1969-2022 | | | | | | | 1969 | | 195,059 | 100.0 | N | 2.75 | 1970 | | 198,847 | 101.9 | 1.94 | 2.77 | 1971 | | 200,040 | 102.6 | 0.60 | 2.75 | 1972 | | 200,352 | 102.7 | 0.16 | 2.73 | 1973 | | 197,824 | 101.4 | -1.26 | 2.70 | 1974 | | 197,679 | 101.3 | -0.07 | 2.69 | 1975 | | 199,171 | 102.1 | 0.75 | 2.71 | 1976 | | 199,601 | 102.3 | 0.22 | 2.72 | 1977 | | 199,573 | 102.3 | -0.01 | 2.72 | 1978 | | 200,807 | 102.9 | 0.62 | 2.73 | 1979 | | 202,838 | 104.0 | 1.01 | 2.75 | 1980 | | 203,660 | 104.4 | 0.41 | 2.76 | 1981 | | 205,395 | 105.3 | 0.85 | 2.77 | 1982 | | 206,893 | 106.1 | 0.73 | 2.78 | 1983 | | 209,400 | 107.4 | 1.21 | 2.80 | 1984 | | 211,806 | 108.6 | 1.15 | 2.82 | 1985 | | 214,352 | 109.9 | 1.20 | 2.83 | 1986 | | 219,603 | 112.6 | 2.45 | 2.88 | 1987 | | 226,352 | 116.0 | 3.07 | 2.95 | 1988 | | 233,013 | 119.5 | 2.94 | 3.02 | 1989 | | 236,945 | 121.5 | 1.69 | 3.07 | 1990 | | 241,464 | 123.8 | 1.91 | 3.11 | 1991 | | 245,810 | 126.0 | 1.80 | 3.15 | 1992 | | 250,680 | 128.5 | 1.98 | 3.18 | 1993 | | 256,834 | 131.7 | 2.45 | 3.23 | 1994 | | 262,243 | 134.4 | 2.11 | 3.27 | 1995 | | 267,163 | 137.0 | 1.88 | 3.31 | 1996 | | 272,872 | 139.9 | 2.14 | 3.35 | 1997 | | 280,195 | 143.6 | 2.68 | 3.41 | 1998 | | 287,065 | 147.2 | 2.45 | 3.46 | 1999 | | 293,770 | 150.6 | 2.34 | 3.51 | 2000 | | 298,761 | 153.2 | 1.70 | 3.54 | 2001 | | 301,671 | 154.7 | 0.97 | 3.55 | 2002 | | 305,255 | 156.5 | 1.19 | 3.57 | 2003 | | 307,902 | 157.9 | 0.87 | 3.58 | 2004 | | 310,424 | 159.1 | 0.82 | 3.60 | 2005 | | 312,617 | 160.3 | 0.71 | 3.61 | 2006 | | 314,993 | 161.5 | 0.76 | 3.64 | 2007 | | 317,128 | 162.6 | 0.68 | 3.65 | 2008 | | 318,856 | 163.5 | 0.54 | 3.66 | 2009 | | 321,564 | 164.9 | 0.85 | 3.67 | 2010 | | 324,498 | 166.4 | 0.91 | 3.68 | 2011 | | 328,185 | 168.2 | 1.14 | 3.70 | 2012 | | 330,919 | 169.7 | 0.83 | 3.70 | 2013 | | 334,077 | 171.3 | 0.95 | 3.72 | 2014 | | 335,967 | 172.2 | 0.57 | 3.72 | 2015 | | 337,841 | 173.2 | 0.56 | 3.72 | 2016 | | 339,746 | 174.2 | 0.56 | 3.73 | 2017 | | 341,992 | 175.3 | 0.66 | 3.73 | 2018 | | 343,708 | 176.2 | 0.50 | 3.73 | 2019 | | 344,494 | 176.6 | 0.23 | 3.72 | 2020 | | 344,725 | 176.7 | 0.07 | 3.72 | 2021 | | 346,331 | 177.6 | 0.47 | 3.74 | 2022 | | 346,875 | 177.8 | 0.16 | 3.75 |
Source: Calculations by the New Jersey Regional Economic Analysis Project (NJ-REAP) with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis November 2023 REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN | | | | |
Tip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data. | | | | New Jersey: Population, 1969-2022 | | | | | | | 1969 | | 7,095,000 | 100.0 | N | 3.52 | 1970 | | 7,190,282 | 101.3 | 1.34 | 3.53 | 1971 | | 7,281,935 | 102.6 | 1.27 | 3.52 | 1972 | | 7,336,538 | 103.4 | 0.75 | 3.51 | 1973 | | 7,335,240 | 103.4 | -0.02 | 3.47 | 1974 | | 7,335,227 | 103.4 | 0.00 | 3.44 | 1975 | | 7,341,417 | 103.5 | 0.08 | 3.41 | 1976 | | 7,344,079 | 103.5 | 0.04 | 3.38 | 1977 | | 7,342,027 | 103.5 | -0.03 | 3.34 | 1978 | | 7,356,414 | 103.7 | 0.20 | 3.31 | 1979 | | 7,373,048 | 103.9 | 0.23 | 3.28 | 1980 | | 7,376,330 | 104.0 | 0.04 | 3.25 | 1981 | | 7,407,471 | 104.4 | 0.42 | 3.23 | 1982 | | 7,430,970 | 104.7 | 0.32 | 3.21 | 1983 | | 7,467,784 | 105.3 | 0.50 | 3.19 | 1984 | | 7,515,474 | 105.9 | 0.64 | 3.19 | 1985 | | 7,565,530 | 106.6 | 0.67 | 3.18 | 1986 | | 7,622,161 | 107.4 | 0.75 | 3.17 | 1987 | | 7,670,741 | 108.1 | 0.64 | 3.17 | 1988 | | 7,712,333 | 108.7 | 0.54 | 3.15 | 1989 | | 7,726,086 | 108.9 | 0.18 | 3.13 | 1990 | | 7,762,963 | 109.4 | 0.48 | 3.11 | 1991 | | 7,814,676 | 110.1 | 0.67 | 3.09 | 1992 | | 7,880,508 | 111.1 | 0.84 | 3.07 | 1993 | | 7,948,915 | 112.0 | 0.87 | 3.06 | 1994 | | 8,014,306 | 113.0 | 0.82 | 3.05 | 1995 | | 8,083,242 | 113.9 | 0.86 | 3.04 | 1996 | | 8,149,596 | 114.9 | 0.82 | 3.03 | 1997 | | 8,218,808 | 115.8 | 0.85 | 3.01 | 1998 | | 8,287,418 | 116.8 | 0.83 | 3.00 | 1999 | | 8,359,592 | 117.8 | 0.87 | 3.00 | 2000 | | 8,430,621 | 118.8 | 0.85 | 2.99 | 2001 | | 8,492,671 | 119.7 | 0.74 | 2.98 | 2002 | | 8,552,643 | 120.5 | 0.71 | 2.97 | 2003 | | 8,601,402 | 121.2 | 0.57 | 2.96 | 2004 | | 8,634,561 | 121.7 | 0.39 | 2.95 | 2005 | | 8,651,974 | 121.9 | 0.20 | 2.93 | 2006 | | 8,661,679 | 122.1 | 0.11 | 2.90 | 2007 | | 8,677,885 | 122.3 | 0.19 | 2.88 | 2008 | | 8,711,090 | 122.8 | 0.38 | 2.86 | 2009 | | 8,755,602 | 123.4 | 0.51 | 2.85 | 2010 | | 8,809,058 | 124.2 | 0.61 | 2.85 | 2011 | | 8,876,959 | 125.1 | 0.77 | 2.85 | 2012 | | 8,933,292 | 125.9 | 0.63 | 2.84 | 2013 | | 8,984,801 | 126.6 | 0.58 | 2.84 | 2014 | | 9,033,845 | 127.3 | 0.55 | 2.83 | 2015 | | 9,076,577 | 127.9 | 0.47 | 2.82 | 2016 | | 9,119,862 | 128.5 | 0.48 | 2.81 | 2017 | | 9,174,898 | 129.3 | 0.60 | 2.81 | 2018 | | 9,218,858 | 129.9 | 0.48 | 2.81 | 2019 | | 9,258,804 | 130.5 | 0.43 | 2.80 | 2020 | | 9,271,689 | 130.7 | 0.14 | 2.80 | 2021 | | 9,267,961 | 130.6 | -0.04 | 2.79 | 2022 | | 9,261,699 | 130.5 | -0.07 | 2.78 |
Source: Calculations by the New Jersey Regional Economic Analysis Project (NJ-REAP) with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis November 2023 REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN | | | | |
Tip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data. | | | | United States: Population, 1969-2022 | | | | | | 1969 | | 201,298,000 | 100.0 | N | 1970 | | 203,798,722 | 101.2 | 1.24 | 1971 | | 206,817,509 | 102.7 | 1.48 | 1972 | | 209,274,882 | 104.0 | 1.19 | 1973 | | 211,349,205 | 105.0 | 0.99 | 1974 | | 213,333,635 | 106.0 | 0.94 | 1975 | | 215,456,585 | 107.0 | 1.00 | 1976 | | 217,553,859 | 108.1 | 0.97 | 1977 | | 219,760,875 | 109.2 | 1.01 | 1978 | | 222,098,244 | 110.3 | 1.06 | 1979 | | 224,568,579 | 111.6 | 1.11 | 1980 | | 227,224,719 | 112.9 | 1.18 | 1981 | | 229,465,744 | 114.0 | 0.99 | 1982 | | 231,664,432 | 115.1 | 0.96 | 1983 | | 233,792,014 | 116.1 | 0.92 | 1984 | | 235,824,907 | 117.2 | 0.87 | 1985 | | 237,923,734 | 118.2 | 0.89 | 1986 | | 240,132,831 | 119.3 | 0.93 | 1987 | | 242,288,936 | 120.4 | 0.90 | 1988 | | 244,499,004 | 121.5 | 0.91 | 1989 | | 246,819,222 | 122.6 | 0.95 | 1990 | | 249,622,814 | 124.0 | 1.14 | 1991 | | 252,980,941 | 125.7 | 1.35 | 1992 | | 256,514,224 | 127.4 | 1.40 | 1993 | | 259,918,588 | 129.1 | 1.33 | 1994 | | 263,125,821 | 130.7 | 1.23 | 1995 | | 266,278,393 | 132.3 | 1.20 | 1996 | | 269,394,284 | 133.8 | 1.17 | 1997 | | 272,646,925 | 135.4 | 1.21 | 1998 | | 275,854,104 | 137.0 | 1.18 | 1999 | | 279,040,168 | 138.6 | 1.15 | 2000 | | 282,162,411 | 140.2 | 1.12 | 2001 | | 284,968,955 | 141.6 | 0.99 | 2002 | | 287,625,193 | 142.9 | 0.93 | 2003 | | 290,107,933 | 144.1 | 0.86 | 2004 | | 292,805,298 | 145.5 | 0.93 | 2005 | | 295,516,599 | 146.8 | 0.93 | 2006 | | 298,379,912 | 148.2 | 0.97 | 2007 | | 301,231,207 | 149.6 | 0.96 | 2008 | | 304,093,966 | 151.1 | 0.95 | 2009 | | 306,771,529 | 152.4 | 0.88 | 2010 | | 309,378,433 | 153.7 | 0.85 | 2011 | | 311,841,632 | 154.9 | 0.80 | 2012 | | 314,344,331 | 156.2 | 0.80 | 2013 | | 316,735,375 | 157.3 | 0.76 | 2014 | | 319,270,047 | 158.6 | 0.80 | 2015 | | 321,829,327 | 159.9 | 0.80 | 2016 | | 324,367,742 | 161.1 | 0.79 | 2017 | | 326,623,063 | 162.3 | 0.70 | 2018 | | 328,542,157 | 163.2 | 0.59 | 2019 | | 330,233,102 | 164.1 | 0.51 | 2020 | | 331,511,512 | 164.7 | 0.39 | 2021 | | 332,031,554 | 164.9 | 0.16 | 2022 | | 333,287,557 | 165.6 | 0.38 |
Source: Calculations by the New Jersey Regional Economic Analysis Project (NJ-REAP) with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis November 2023 REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN | | | | |
| |