Harrison, NJ

This town of 23,216 residents needs 3,413 more housing units over the next five years. Harrison is part of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

Housing snapshot

Population
23,216 (2026)
Households
9,942
Median household income
$103,223 (2026)
Typical home value
$575,513
Owner-occupied
20%
Five-year housing need
3,413 units

Comparison to other New Jersey municipalities

Harrison: $103,223 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$46K >$255K
Harrison: 0.5 jobs to household ratio
<0.11 >2.52
Harrison: Permits since 2021 represent 9.7% of housing
<0% >12.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $575,513, typical home prices in Harrison, NJ are close to the New Jersey average of $576,578. Harrison, NJ's median household income of $103,223 falls well short of what is needed to afford the typical home, leaving a gap of about $57,994.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Harrison, NJ has a population of roughly 20,369 and is one of the faster-growing communities in its state, adding residents at 3.4% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Harrison, NJ is one of the faster-growing communities in New Jersey, adding households at 3.4% per year and totaling roughly 9,942 households.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Harrison, NJ is relatively mixed, with attached single-family and 2-4 unit multifamily as the most common type at 41%. Harrison, NJ is a heavily renter-occupied market, with just 20% of households owning their home.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Harrison, NJ needs 3,413 new units over the next 5 years.

2,938
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
29.6%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 9,942 in 2026 to 12,880 in 2031.
475
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
43
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 0.9 per 1,000 units.
30
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
197
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 5.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
184
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 5.4%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
21
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.21%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
3,413
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
683
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
33.9%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
6.8%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?