Lakewood, NJ — More than 5,400 babies were born in Lakewood in 2024, keeping the Ocean County township at the top of New Jersey for births for the fourth consecutive year and accounting for over 5% of all newborns statewide. New data from the New Jersey Department of Health shows 5,420 births in Lakewood alone out of 101,357 total across the state, underscoring the community’s rapid growth and unusually young population.
Neighboring Jackson Township is now seeing the ripple effects, setting its own record with 1,236 births—a 167% increase since 2018—as families continue moving out of Lakewood in search of more affordable housing.
Growth concentrated in one community
Lakewood’s birth totals continue to outpace much larger cities, including Newark and Jersey City, despite having a smaller geographic footprint. The township now accounts for more than half of all births in Ocean County, highlighting how concentrated population growth has become in the area.
Much of that growth is driven by Lakewood’s Orthodox Jewish community, which makes up a large majority of residents and is known for higher-than-average family sizes. With population estimates exceeding 140,000 and nearly half of residents under 18, the township’s demographic structure naturally produces sustained high birth rates.
Migration reshapes neighboring towns
As housing demand intensifies in Lakewood, nearby towns—especially Jackson—are absorbing much of the overflow. The sharp rise in births there reflects a broader migration pattern of young families relocating while maintaining ties to Lakewood’s schools, religious institutions, and economy.
This shift is beginning to reshape the demographic and infrastructure needs of surrounding communities, particularly in education, transportation, and healthcare services.
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Key Points
• Lakewood recorded 5,420 births in 2024, leading New Jersey for the fourth straight year
• Township accounts for over 5% of all births statewide and more than half in Ocean County
• Jackson births surged 167% since 2018, driven by migration from Lakewood
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Strain and planning challenges
The sustained surge in births presents ongoing challenges for local and county officials. School systems, transporation, pediatric healthcare, housing, and public services must scale quickly to keep up with population growth that shows no sign of slowing.
A long-term demographic trend
Statewide, New Jersey recorded just over 100,000 births in 2024, but the distribution is increasingly uneven. Lakewood’s outsized share reflects a broader demographic reality: growth is not happening evenly across cities but is instead concentrated in specific communities with younger populations.
That imbalance could have long-term implications for regional planning, funding allocation, and political representation as population centers continue to shift.
What comes next
With birth rates remaining high and migration continuing into neighboring towns, officials expect Lakewood to remain the state’s leader in births for the foreseeable future. The key question is how quickly infrastructure and services—both in Lakewood and surrounding municipalities—can adapt to keep pace.
The latest figures confirm the trend is ongoing, with no indication of a slowdown in either births or regional population growth.
