PlainZIP

South Orange, NJ · standard

ZIP Code 07079

Essex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

16,316
2,211/sq mi
$195,417
Median income
$866,600
Median home value
77.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

South Orange pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 1%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 4%
home value, US ZIPs
2,211
people per sq mi
65%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 07079 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 07079 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in South Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, home to 16,316 residents across 7.4 square miles, a density of 2,211 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 07079 skews affluent, with a median household income of $195,417 (60% above the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $84,795. Local economic indicators show a 6.0% poverty rate alongside 5.3% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $866,600 (68% above the state average) with median rent at $2,294 per month, and 65.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 77.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.5, and the average commute is 39 minutes. To put 07079 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Essex County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 07079

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in South Orange, NJ

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 07079.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 07079, South Orange, NJ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

16,316

Population

7.4

Area (sq mi)

2,211

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 07079?

37.5

Median Age

52.7%

Male

47.3%

Female

13.2%

Foreign-Born

White 62.5%
African American 17.3%
Asian 6.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.3%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$195,417

Median Household Income

+60% vs state

$84,795

Per Capita Income

6.0%

Poverty Rate

5.3%

Unemployment Rate

38.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 07079 ranks nationally

South Orange, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$195,417 Top 1% higher than 99% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Below this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Below this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 85.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 77.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,231

Total Housing Units

6,113

Occupied Units

118

Vacant Units

2.67

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 65.2%
Renter 34.8%

$866,600

Median Home Value

+68% vs state

$2,294

Median Rent

1946

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+3.6%

YoY Change (2024)

339

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+239%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 07079 have increased 3.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +239% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.6% 229
2021 +8.8% 249
2022 +14.7% 285
2023 +14.8% 328
2024 +3.6% 339

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 476 business establishments in ZIP 07079, employing approximately 6,799 people with a combined annual payroll of $269,817,000.

476

Businesses

6,799

Employees

$269.8M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 84 17.6%
Health care and social assistance 77 16.2%
Accommodation and food services 61 12.8%
Retail trade 45 9.4%
Other services (except public administration) 45 9.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 27 5.7%
Finance and insurance 25 5.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 22 4.6%
Information 19 4.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 18 3.8%
Construction 16 3.4%
Educational services 16 3.4%
Manufacturing 6 1.3%
Wholesale trade 6 1.3%
Transportation and warehousing 4 0.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 07079 vs 07040 →

ZIP 07079 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 07079 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 07079 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 07079 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
07040 Maplewood, NJ 23,876 1.4 mi
07106 Newark, NJ 31,298 1.6 mi
07052 West Orange, NJ 46,182 2.8 mi
07050 Orange, NJ 30,074 1.9 mi
07018 East Orange, NJ 28,322 2.3 mi
07111 Irvington, NJ 53,942 2.3 mi
07088 Vauxhall, NJ 3,606 2.5 mi
07083 Union, NJ 53,053 3.8 mi
07041 Millburn, NJ 6,868 2.8 mi
07103 Newark, NJ 32,698 3.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Essex County

07111 standard
Irvington, NJ
Pop: 53,942
07104 standard
Newark, NJ
Pop: 50,478
07003 standard
Bloomfield, NJ
Pop: 47,312
07105 standard
Newark, NJ
Pop: 46,983
07052 standard
West Orange, NJ
Pop: 46,182
07107 standard
Newark, NJ
Pop: 37,650

Related Areas

Essex County South Orange, NJ New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 07079 in? ▼
ZIP code 07079 (South Orange) is located in Essex County, New Jersey. Essex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/essex-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 07079? ▼
ZIP code 07079 in South Orange, NJ has a population of 16,316 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 07079? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 07079 is $195,417, which is 156% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 07079? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 07079 is $866,600, which is 212% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 07079? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 07079 is White at 62.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 07079? ▼
ZIP code 07079 has 476 business establishments employing approximately 6,799 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 07079? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 07079 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (84), Health care and social assistance (77), Accommodation and food services (61). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 07079? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 07079 increased by 3.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 239%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 07079? ▼
In ZIP code 07079, 85.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 77.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 07079? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 07079 is 38.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 07079? ▼
In ZIP code 07079, approximately 65.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 07079? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 07079 is 6.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.