CountyScore

Gloucester County

New Jersey · NJ

#15 in New Jersey
48.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Gloucester County, New Jersey

Gloucester County lags behind national average

Gloucester County's composite score of 41.4 falls below the national median of 50.0 by over 8 points, ranking it in the bottom third of U.S. counties. A strong income profile is undermined by high taxes and moderate housing costs.

Below-average within New Jersey

Gloucester County scores 41.4, falling short of New Jersey's state average of 45.0 and ranking in the lower half of the state's 21 counties. It underperforms most peers despite having respectable income fundamentals.

Solid income profile is a strength

Gloucester County's income score of 50.5 and median household income of $102,807 represent its best asset, exceeding national norms by roughly 22%. This suggests a workforce with real earning power and career stability.

Taxes are an outsized burden

Gloucester County's tax score of just 23.3 and effective tax rate of 2.809% are the most punitive in this group, severely dampening the benefit of higher incomes. Cost score of 52.7 reflects moderate housing expense, and safety, health, and school data are unavailable.

For high earners willing to pay taxes

Gloucester County suits affluent professionals and dual-income families with strong earning power who can absorb high tax rates. It's less appealing to middle-income families or those seeking tax efficiency.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax23.3Cost52.7SafetyComing SoonHealth78.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome50.5Risk13.4WaterComing Soon
🏛23.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠52.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼50.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤78.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡13.4
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Gloucester County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Suffolk County
New York
48.3
Median income: $128,329
Middlesex County
New Jersey
48.4
Median income: $109,028
Lake County
Illinois
48.5
Median income: $108,917
Salem County
New Jersey
48.6
Median income: $78,412
Mercer County
New Jersey
47.8
Median income: $96,333

Deep Dives

Gloucester County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Gloucester County

via TaxByCounty

Gloucester taxes run notably high

Gloucester County's effective tax rate of 2.809% sits well above the national median of 1.56%, placing it in the top 15% of counties nationwide. Residents pay $7,964 annually on median homes of $283,500—nearly three times the national average tax despite home values only slightly above national norm.

Among New Jersey's highest-taxed counties

Gloucester County's 2.809% effective rate ranks among the top five in New Jersey—27% higher than the state average of 2.211%. The median annual tax of $7,964 is just below the state median of $8,512, reflecting Gloucester's significant tax burden.

Higher than most peers in region

Gloucester's 2.809% rate exceeds Atlantic (2.475%), Burlington (2.419%), Cumberland (2.455%), and Cape May (1.325%), but trails only Camden (3.075%) among South Jersey counties. It represents one of the region's more demanding tax environments.

Your annual tax bill here

A Gloucester County homeowner with the median property value of $283,500 pays $7,964 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, that climbs to $8,147, translating to approximately $679 monthly—a substantial burden for typical households.

Assessment challenges pay dividends

Gloucester County's high tax burden makes assessment appeals especially valuable—a successful challenge reducing your rate by just 5% saves nearly $400 annually. Many Gloucester homeowners have discovered overassessments through professional reviews and recovered significant tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Gloucester County

via CostByCounty

Gloucester County delivers best rental affordability statewide

Gloucester County residents spend just 17.3% of household income on rent, beating the national average of 18.5% while earning $102,807 annually. This combination—strong middle-class income paired with relatively low rent burden—makes Gloucester one of New Jersey's most balanced housing markets.

New Jersey's best overall rental affordability

Gloucester County's 17.3% rent-to-income ratio ranks best in New Jersey, outperforming even Bergen County's 18.1% and the state average of 19.1%. The county's $1,480 median rent sits below state average while median household income reaches $102,807—a rare convergence of affordability and earnings.

More affordable than Burlington despite higher rents

Gloucester's $1,480 median rent runs $189 above Burlington's $1,669 yet achieves superior affordability (17.3% vs 19.0% ratio) thanks to $102,807 income versus Burlington's $105,271. The modest income difference translates into meaningful affordability advantage for Gloucester renters.

Balanced burden for renters and moderate for homeowners

Gloucester renters spend $1,480 monthly (17.3% of income) while homeowners average $1,875 (21.9%), among the state's most sustainable ratios. The county's median home value of $283,500 combined with strong incomes creates manageable ownership pathways for most households.

Gloucester County: South Jersey's sweet spot for families

Families earning $100,000+ seeking balanced rents, accessible homeownership, and reasonable tax burdens should prioritize Gloucester County—New Jersey's top rental affordability ranking proves it. The county's Delaware River proximity, Philadelphia job market access, and below-state-average home values combine to offer genuine suburban value.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Gloucester County

via IncomeByCounty

Gloucester significantly exceeds national average

Gloucester County's median household income of $102,807 surpasses the national median of $74,755 by 37.6%, placing it among America's higher-income counties. This strong performance reflects Gloucester's position as a suburban hub with stable employment and professional services concentrated in the region.

Among New Jersey's most prosperous counties

Gloucester's $102,807 income nearly matches New Jersey's state average of $100,891, ranking it among the state's most consistently affluent counties. The county's economic stability and low unemployment make it one of the state's most desirable residential areas.

Outearns most regional peers substantially

Gloucester's $102,807 median exceeds Atlantic ($76,819), Essex ($76,712), Camden ($86,384), and Cape May ($88,046), trailing only the hyper-affluent Bergen ($123,715). The county's performance positions it as a reliable middle-to-upper-income destination in the South Jersey region.

Best housing affordability in the region

Gloucester boasts the state's lowest rent-to-income ratio at 17.3%, meaning households retain maximum flexibility for savings and discretionary spending. The median home value of $283,500 requires roughly 2.8 years of gross household income—the most achievable homeownership threshold among peer counties.

Stable income enables consistent wealth building

Gloucester households earning above $100,000 should maximize retirement contributions, build diversified investment portfolios, and establish real estate equity aggressively. The county's affordability and stable employment create ideal conditions for families to achieve financial independence and multi-generational wealth transfer.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Gloucester County

via HealthByCounty

Gloucester County exceeds national health

At 77.1 years, Gloucester County's life expectancy surpasses the U.S. average of 76.1 by a year but trails New Jersey's 78.5-year state average by 1.4 years. With 14.5% reporting poor or fair health, the county sits slightly above national but below state wellness benchmarks.

Solid middle-tier health outcomes

Gloucester County ranks solidly in New Jersey's middle tier for life expectancy at 77.1 years, 1.4 years below the state average. Its 14.5% poor/fair health rate reflects balanced economic conditions and reasonable healthcare access across most of the county.

Healthier than southern peers

Gloucester County's 77.1-year life expectancy outpaces Atlantic County (75.7) and Cape May (76.6) but trails Burlington County (78.9) and significantly lags Bergen County (81.9). With 53 primary care providers and 164 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, the county faces modest provider density challenges.

Lowest uninsured rate in region

Just 5.0% of Gloucester County residents lack health insurance—tied for the lowest in New Jersey and 2.5 points below the state average. With 53 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, most residents enjoy consistent access to preventive and routine care.

Maintain your health coverage

If you're among the small uninsured population in Gloucester County, NJ's marketplace offers affordable plans with subsidies based on income. Visit NJ.gov/HealthCoverage or call 1-855-877-NJ-HELP to explore options that work for your family.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Gloucester County

via RiskByCounty

Gloucester County: moderate risk below average

Gloucester County scores 86.64 on the composite risk scale, placing it below the national average with a relatively moderate overall disaster risk rating. The county's lower score reflects reduced but still meaningful exposure to multiple natural hazards.

Gloucester below New Jersey average

At 86.64, Gloucester County sits below New Jersey's state average composite risk of 90.81, making it one of the state's lower-risk counties. This positions Gloucester among New Jersey's safer communities in terms of disaster exposure.

Gloucester safer than surrounding counties

Gloucester County (86.64) has substantially lower risk than Camden County (93.23) to the north and Cape May County (91.03) to the east, making it a safer zone in southern New Jersey. All three counties share some flood exposure, but Gloucester's overall vulnerability is noticeably lower.

Gloucester's primary hazard threats

Hurricane risk (83.73) and earthquake risk (89.31) are Gloucester's highest hazards, though both remain below the state average in intensity. Flood risk (87.91) and wildfire risk (79.68) present secondary concerns, while tornado risk (69.56) is comparatively lower than in many other New Jersey counties.

Insurance strategy for Gloucester

While Gloucester faces lower overall risk than many New Jersey counties, flood insurance should still be considered—particularly if your property is in a low-lying or waterfront area. Review your homeowners policy to ensure it covers hurricane wind and water damage appropriate to your location.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.