State of growing: 14 New Jersey towns where population is growing the fastest

Ryan Forgosh
Updated ·3 min read
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Construction continues for homes along Prospect Avenue in Lakewood Thursday, January 3, 2019.
Construction continues for homes along Prospect Avenue in Lakewood Thursday, January 3, 2019.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nowhere in New Jersey has been growing as fast as Ocean County.

U.S. Census data released last week showed while New Jersey's population has remained mostly flat, Ocean County grew by nearly 3 percent — the largest increase in the state. Four of the five fastest growing towns in New Jersey are in Ocean.

Lakewood, which has been the fastest growing town in New Jersey for decades, retained its title. But seven other Ocean County towns, like Brick, Toms River and Jackson, also bucked state trends and experienced significant population growth.

Overall in New Jersey, urban population centers like Newark in Essex County and Jersey City in Hudson County, lost population since 2020, the data shows. Suburban and rural communities saw the most significant growth.

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Ocean County's rapid growth makes it the 85th fastest growing county in the United States, according to the U.S. Census. The next fastest growing county in New Jersey is Gloucester County, which ranked 240th.

Here are the 14 towns where the population has increased by the most since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. Lakewood Township

The population in Lakewood Township in Ocean County was 139,506 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 4,122, or 3.04 percent.

2. Toms River Township

The population in Toms River Township in Ocean County was 98,326 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 2,688, or 2.81 percent.

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3. Cherry Hill Township

The population in Cherry Hill Township in Camden County was 76,723 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 2,125, or 2.85 percent.

4. Brick Township

The population in Brick Township in Ocean County was 75,651 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 1,906, or 2.58 percent.

5. Jackson Township

The population in Jackson Township in Ocean County was 60,207 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 1,558, or 2.66 percent.

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6. Evesham Township

The population in Evesham Township in Burlington County was 48,255 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 1,485, or 3.18 percent.

7. Raritan Borough

The population in Raritan Borough in Somerset County was 9,123 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 1,302, or 16.65 percent.

8. Mount Laurel Township

The population in Mount Laurel Township in Burlington County was 45,901 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 1,186, or 2.65 percent.

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9. Stafford Township

The population in Stafford Township in Ocean County was 29,881 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 1,149, or 4 percent.

10. Old Bridge Township

The population in Old Bridge Township in Middlesex County was 67,738 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 1,004, or 1.5 percent.

11. Berkeley Township

The population in Berkeley Township in Ocean County was 44,748 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 934, or 2.13 percent.

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12. Manchester Township

The population in Manchester Township in Ocean County was 46,070 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 894, or 1.98 percent.

13. Lacey Township

The population in Lacey Township in Ocean County was 29,632 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 884, or 3.07 percent.

14. Union Township

The population in Union Township in Union County was 60,620 in July 2022. Since July 2020, the population increased by 793, or 1.33 percent.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ocean County towns see major population growth. See the top 14 in NJ