USDA eligibility map: New Jersey
About 67.3% of New Jersey's area is in USDA-eligible rural areas, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA Rural Development's published eligibility map, the 51st highest share among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 3 of 21 counties have no ineligible area at all, and Bergen County, Essex County, Hudson County and Union County are entirely ineligible. 388 Census places in New Jersey lie mostly inside ineligible areas, including Paramus borough, Newark city, Jersey City city, Elizabeth city and Sayreville borough.
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USDA eligible area by county
The share of each county's area that is USDA eligible, and the places (cities, towns and census-designated places) at least half inside ineligible areas. These are estimates; check any single property with the lookup.
| county | Area eligible | Mostly ineligible places |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic County | 82.6% | Hammonton town, Atlantic City city, Pleasantville city, Somers Point city, Linwood city, Northfield city, Pomona CDP, Ventnor City city, and 2 more |
| Bergen County | 0% | Paramus borough, Franklin Lakes borough, Alpine borough, Oakland borough, Ridgewood village, Ramsey borough, Upper Saddle River borough, Fair Lawn borough, and 54 more |
| Burlington County | 87.6% | Moorestown-Lenola CDP, Ramblewood CDP, Marlton CDP, Palmyra borough, Bordentown city, Riverton borough |
| Camden County | 35.8% | Sicklerville CDP, Camden city, Springdale CDP, Pine Hill borough, Greentree CDP, Lindenwold borough, Cherry Hill Mall CDP, Berlin borough, and 33 more |
| Cape May County | 94.3% | Ocean City city, North Wildwood city, Wildwood city, Wildwood Crest borough, West Wildwood borough |
| Cumberland County | 76.1% | Vineland city, Millville city, Bridgeton city |
| Essex County | 0% | Newark city, Short Hills CDP, East Orange city, Roseland borough, North Caldwell borough, Upper Montclair CDP, Brookdale CDP, Essex Fells borough, and 7 more |
| Gloucester County | 75.0% | Glassboro borough, Williamstown CDP, Pitman borough, Woodbury city, Turnersville CDP, Westville borough, Woodbury Heights borough, Wenonah borough, and 2 more |
| Hudson County | 0% | Jersey City city, Kearny town, Secaucus town, Bayonne city, Hoboken city, Harrison town, West New York town, Union City city, and 2 more |
| Hunterdon County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Mercer County | 64.7% | Princeton, Trenton city, Hamilton Square CDP, Yardville CDP, Mercerville CDP, White Horse CDP, Groveville CDP, The College of New Jersey CDP |
| Middlesex County | 21.6% | Sayreville borough, South Plainfield borough, Old Bridge CDP, New Brunswick city, Perth Amboy city, Woodbridge CDP, Carteret borough, Monmouth Junction CDP, and 27 more |
| Monmouth County | 32.1% | Tinton Falls borough, Rumson borough, West Freehold CDP, Robertsville CDP, Eatontown borough, Lincroft CDP, Long Branch city, Morganville CDP, and 45 more |
| Morris County | 70.6% | Florham Park borough, Lincoln Park borough, Parsippany CDP, Towaco CDP, Whippany CDP, Pompton Plains CDP, Gillette CDP, Madison borough, and 16 more |
| Ocean County | 55.9% | Toms River CDP, Lakewood CDP, Crestwood Village CDP, Point Pleasant borough, Vista Center CDP, Beachwood borough, Pine Lake Park CDP, Beach Haven borough, and 24 more |
| Passaic County | 43.4% | Ringwood borough, Clifton city, Wanaque borough, Paterson city, Preakness CDP, Totowa borough, North Haledon borough, Hawthorne borough, and 11 more |
| Salem County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Somerset County | 40.3% | Martinsville CDP, Hillsborough CDP, Blackwells Mills CDP, Six Mile Run CDP, Franklin Center CDP, Somerset CDP, Watchung borough, Bridgewater Center CDP, and 26 more |
| Sussex County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Union County | 0% | Elizabeth city, Linden city, Westfield town, Summit city, Plainfield city, Mountainside borough, Rahway city, New Providence borough, and 11 more |
| Warren County | 99.0% | Phillipsburg town, Delaware Park CDP |
How USDA decides what is rural
The rural-area definition is section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490): open country and places not part of or associated with an urban area with up to 2,500 people, up to 10,000 if rural in character, or up to 20,000 outside a metropolitan statistical area with a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. Areas that lost rural status in the 1990 to 2020 censuses stay rural until 2030 census data arrive if they have 10,000 to 35,000 people and meet the same conditions. Income is a separate test, applied to the household by the lender and USDA.
For other address-level designations in New Jersey, the free census tract lookup shows the income level and QCT and DDA status, and New Jersey has 169 designated Opportunity Zone tracts (Opportunity Zone lookup).
Questions
Is New Jersey eligible for USDA loans?
Much of it is. About 67.3% of the state's area is outside USDA's ineligible areas (2,534 of about 7,757 square miles are ineligible). 3 counties are entirely eligible. Most people live in the larger towns, which are often ineligible, so check the specific address.
Which New Jersey counties have the least USDA eligible area?
Bergen County (0% eligible), Essex County (0% eligible), Hudson County (0% eligible), Union County (0% eligible), Middlesex County (21.6% eligible). The share is of land area, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA's map; eligibility is decided for each property.
Which New Jersey towns are not eligible for USDA loans?
Places USDA's map shows as mostly inside an ineligible area include Paramus borough, Newark city, Jersey City city, Elizabeth city, Sayreville borough, Tinton Falls borough, Sicklerville CDP and Martinsville CDP. The county table on this page lists every place that is mostly ineligible. Edges matter: part of a town, or land just outside it, can be on the other side of the line, so check the address.
How do I check a New Jersey address for USDA eligibility?
Enter the street address in the lookup on this page. It locates the address and checks it against USDA's published rural eligibility map. It is a screening: Rural Development makes the final determination on a complete application, and household income is a separate test (USDA's income eligibility tool).
When was the USDA eligibility map for New Jersey last updated?
The ineligible areas on USDA's map for New Jersey carry an effective date of July 25, 2023. USDA updates the map from ineligible-area changes sent in by its state offices. The statute keeps formerly rural areas of 10,000 to 35,000 people rural until data from the 2030 census arrive, if they still meet its conditions.
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Legal references
- 42 U.S.C. 1490, definition of rural area (Housing Act of 1949, section 520)
Areas are computed by HeritageDeed: estimates, not USDA figures. USDA's map is not a final determination; Rural Development decides on a complete application. HeritageDeed is not affiliated with USDA.
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