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Census 2025 estimates · CMS September 2026 · CDC 2020

Senior housing development in New Jersey

New Jersey had 767,236 residents aged 75 and older in July 2025, +18.7% since April 2020 (US +23.4%), and 206,230 aged 85 and older (+5.2%). Its 348 certified nursing homes hold 50,998 beds, 247.3 for every 1,000 people 85 and older, more than the US ratio of 222.6. Certificate of need for nursing home beds: yes; for assisted living: yes.

Age 75+ (2025)
767,236
Growth since 2020
+18.7%
Nursing beds per 1,000 aged 85+
247.3
Assisted living beds per 1,000 aged 75+
27.9

Demand: the older population

Age groupApril 2020July 2025ChangeUS change
75 and older646,525767,236+18.7%+23.4%
85 and older196,051206,230+5.2%+11.3%

Nationally, the Census Bureau's 2023 projections have the 75+ population growing 21% from 2025 to 2030 and the 85+ population 59% from 2025 to 2035. The bureau publishes those projections for the US only, not by state.

Supply: licensed beds

SettingBedsPer 1,000 aged 75+Per 1,000 aged 85+Source
Nursing homes (Medicare or Medicaid certified)50,99866.5247.3CMS, September 2026
Residential care / assisted living21,40027.9103.8CDC survey, 2020

US: 222.6 nursing beds and 170.1 assisted living beds per 1,000 aged 85+. Assisted living beds are CDC's 2020 survey estimate, its latest with state detail, set against 2025 population, so the ratio understates any supply added since.

Certificate of need

Nursing home beds
Yes
Assisted living
Yes
Notes
NJ DOH approved "a new 115-bed Assisted Living Residence" under N.J.A.C. 8:33-5.1(a)(4) expedited review.

From NCSL's certificate of need table (updated April 29, 2025, covering January 2025) with later changes checked on state sites on October 24, 2026. "Not listed" means NCSL does not name assisted living, not that it is exempt. Confirm with the state health planning agency before relying on it. HUD requires a state CON for nursing home beds where the state has one (Handbook 4232.1, 2.5.EE).

Counties

The 21 counties with the most residents aged 75+, with certified nursing home beds per 1,000 aged 85+.

CountyAge 75+Since 2020Share of populationAge 85+Nursing homesBeds per 1,000 aged 85+
Bergen County87,479+16.9%9%26,08329191.4
Ocean County76,403+13.2%11.3%19,75932233.2
Middlesex County65,450+20.3%7.4%17,75025217.3
Monmouth County59,833+21.1%9.2%15,76532257.5
Essex County54,302+17.1%6.1%14,36532346
Morris County48,340+19.7%9.2%14,33221215
Burlington County42,381+21.4%8.8%11,49117210.5
Camden County41,542+19.9%7.8%10,60621309.9
Union County39,568+15.0%6.6%10,79423299.2
Hudson County38,697+17.0%5.3%10,61615229.3
Passaic County37,780+17.6%7.1%10,19519283.9
Mercer County29,565+18.7%7.4%7,89016268.3
Somerset County29,386+22.2%8.2%8,60515221.4
Atlantic County25,856+22.8%9.3%6,31210269
Gloucester County24,508+24.3%7.8%5,6799225.6
Cape May County13,347+21.7%14.3%3,0247276.5
Hunterdon County12,975+31.3%9.8%3,4214122.2
Sussex County12,261+23.5%8.3%2,6075204.1
Cumberland County11,529+12.7%7.3%3,0016400.5
Warren County10,231+19.0%9.1%2,5396262.3
Salem County5,803+14.0%8.8%1,3964367.5

Fastest growth in the 75+ population

  1. Hunterdon County: +31.3% (12,975)
  2. Gloucester County: +24.3% (24,508)
  3. Sussex County: +23.5% (12,261)
  4. Atlantic County: +22.8% (25,856)
  5. Somerset County: +22.2% (29,386)
  6. Cape May County: +21.7% (13,347)
  7. Burlington County: +21.4% (42,381)
  8. Monmouth County: +21.1% (59,833)
  9. Middlesex County: +20.3% (65,450)
  10. Camden County: +19.9% (41,542)

Counties with at least 2,000 residents aged 75+.

Fewest nursing beds per 1,000 aged 85+

  1. Hunterdon County: 122.2 (418 beds, 3,421 aged 85+)
  2. Bergen County: 191.4 (4,991 beds, 26,083 aged 85+)
  3. Sussex County: 204.1 (532 beds, 2,607 aged 85+)
  4. Burlington County: 210.5 (2,419 beds, 11,491 aged 85+)
  5. Morris County: 215 (3,082 beds, 14,332 aged 85+)
  6. Middlesex County: 217.3 (3,857 beds, 17,750 aged 85+)
  7. Somerset County: 221.4 (1,905 beds, 8,605 aged 85+)
  8. Gloucester County: 225.6 (1,281 beds, 5,679 aged 85+)
  9. Hudson County: 229.3 (2,434 beds, 10,616 aged 85+)
  10. Ocean County: 233.2 (4,607 beds, 19,759 aged 85+)

Counties with at least 1,000 residents aged 85+.

HUD Section 232 construction in New Jersey

Since fiscal 2001 HUD has insured 27 new construction or substantial rehabilitation loans on care facilities in New Jersey (7 assisted living, 20 nursing homes), $336.5 million of original principal, 3 of them since fiscal 2016.

  • FY2022: Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Toms River, nursing home, $11.1 million
  • FY2017: Rose Garden Nursing & Rehab Center, Toms River, nursing home, $11.1 million
  • FY2017: Alaris Health at The Atrium, Jersey City, assisted living, $11.8 million

Planning a building in New Jersey? Model the budget, lease-up and a HUD 232 construction loan.

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Sources: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 county population estimates; CMS Nursing Home Provider Information (September 2026); CDC/NCHS National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study (2020); HUD Office of Healthcare Programs endorsement database (data run 07/08/2026); NCSL. Absorption is operated by Janover Capital LLC and is not affiliated with any of them. Methodology.