Bergen County Divorce Statistics tell a story that most people don’t see until they’re living it. Divorce here often isn’t just emotional—it’s logistical and financial in a very Bergen County way.
When a marriage ends in a place with high housing costs, high commuting demands, and a wide range of incomes, the “standard divorce checklist” doesn’t always match reality. As a Bergen County family law firm, we’ve seen how local conditions influence everything: whether one spouse can afford to stay in the home, what co-parenting schedules actually work, and why support disputes can get complicated quickly.
What follows is a plain-English look at key Bergen County data—and what it typically means for someone considering divorce or already in the middle of one.
Bergen County Divorce Statistics: the local snapshot
The Bergen County government published an American Community Survey (ACS) trend report (2019–2023) that gives us a useful baseline for what families look like here today.
Bergen County’s total population is about 954,717.
There are about 353,307 households, and about 71.5% of those are family households.
Those big-picture numbers matter because “how many families” and “how they live” drives what the Family Court sees every day—especially around custody, support, and housing.
Kids are central in a lot of Bergen County family cases
In the ACS report, about 30.2% of households are family households with own children under 18 (about 106,668 households).
The report also shows about 114,261 households (32.3%) with one or more people under 18.
What that means for you: many Bergen County divorces are not just about ending a marriage—they’re about building a workable parenting plan that survives school schedules, activities, commutes, and two households.
In practice, this is where we see people get stuck: they’re trying to negotiate parenting time based on “what feels fair,” instead of “what can actually be executed every week.”
The single-parent household numbers point to real-world pressures
The same report breaks out households by type. In Bergen County, there are:
- Male householder, no spouse present: about 15,657 households (4.4%)
- Female householder, no spouse present: about 39,754 households (11.3%)
Those aren’t just statistics. They reflect the reality that many parents are running a household with one adult managing childcare, school communication, and the working world at the same time.
What that means for your case: custody schedules and support orders need to be built around practical capacity—not wishful thinking. Courts and judges tend to respect plans that are detailed, consistent, and child-focused.
Marital status data shows divorce is common—but not “rare” or “shameful”
The ACS report gives us marital status numbers for residents age 15+. It shows:
- Now married (except separated): about 429,867 people (54.3%)
- Divorced, not currently married: about 65,832 people (8.3%)
- Separated: about 10,904 people (1.4%)
Divorce isn’t a fringe event in Bergen County—it’s a normal (and often painful) life transition that many families go through.
What that means for you: you’re not “the only one.” And because the system sees these cases constantly, the court expects adults to approach divorce like a problem-solving process—even when the emotions are high.
Bergen County incomes are high—and that changes the divorce conversation
One number that jumps out in Bergen County is the share of households with very high income. The report shows about 100,384 households (28.4%) earning $200,000 or more.
There are also large bands at:
- $150,000 to $199,999: about 45,164 households (12.8%)
- $100,000 to $149,999: about 62,751 households (17.8%)
What that means for you: Bergen County divorces often involve complex income questions—bonuses, commissions, deferred comp, restricted stock, business income, multiple streams of compensation, and disputes about lifestyle.
This is also where people get blindsided: they assume support will be calculated “like a simple paycheck case,” but high incomes can raise issues around add-ons, deviations, and what documentation is needed to get a fair result.
Housing statistics explain why the marital home is often the battlefield
In Bergen County, about 65.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied (about 230,923 units).
And the median home value is reported around $593,200, with an average home value around $679,604 (2019–2023 estimates).
That is not a small detail. That’s often the entire economic center of a divorce.
What it means for you in real terms:
- If you want to keep the house, you may need to refinance—and qualify alone.
- If the house has significant equity, splitting it doesn’t always mean “sell tomorrow.” Sometimes it means structured buyouts, deferred sale agreements, or negotiating around other assets.
- If there are kids, housing stability often becomes part of the custody discussion, too.
In our experience, the sooner you get clarity on the home (value, mortgage balance, tax implications, affordability), the more control you keep over the divorce process.
Work patterns (commuting and remote work) affect parenting time more than people expect
The report shows about 79,320 workers (16.3%) worked at home, and the mean travel time to work is about 31 minutes.
In Bergen County, that looks like: early commutes, long days, and schedules that don’t always fit a neat “every other weekend” plan.
What that means for you: a parenting plan that ignores work reality is the plan most likely to collapse. When we draft custody and parenting time proposals, we usually build them around actual work hours, school drop-off logistics, and who can reliably cover sick days, snow days, and transportation.
Domestic violence numbers matter—even when your case isn’t “about DV”
Domestic violence doesn’t show up only in cases where people expect it. Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes it’s hidden behind “constant fighting,” “control over money,” or “I’m scared to say no.”
New Jersey’s Domestic Violence Act report (2018–2020) includes county-level data. For 2020, the report reflects Bergen County totals that include municipal court TROs issued (1,293) and Superior Court TROs issued (444), along with denied counts.
Those numbers are from a specific reporting period and they do change over time, but they’re a reminder: restraining orders and DV-related issues are not rare, and they can dramatically reshape a divorce case—especially around custody, parenting time, and communication.
And there’s a practical legal impact many people don’t know until it’s too late: New Jersey court guidance reflects that matters generally should not be referred to mediation of custody/parenting time when a temporary or final restraining order is in effect (with limited, specific exceptions in certain contexts).
What these Bergen County divorce statistics mean for you
If you’re reading this while contemplating divorce, here’s how we’d translate these stats into real-life strategy.
Expect the finances to matter early
High incomes and high housing values mean you should expect early requests for documentation. Get organized before the case forces you to—pay stubs, tax returns, mortgage statements, retirement accounts, and anything tied to bonuses or business income.
Don’t build your parenting plan on optimism alone
Because so many households include children and because work schedules are demanding, the best parenting plans are the ones you can actually run every week. “Flexible” is great—until it becomes conflict.
Safety concerns must be addressed, not minimized
If there’s intimidation, coercion, threats, stalking, or physical violence, it’s not “just a messy divorce.” It’s a safety issue that deserves legal guidance immediately.
Your Bergen County case benefits from local experience
Bergen County judges, court staff, and local expectations matter. Knowing how to present a case clearly and credibly—without turning it into a circus—often affects outcomes more than people realize.
How to contact Sammarro & Zalarick
If you’re considering divorce in Bergen County—or you’re already in the middle of a custody, support, or restraining order issue—our attorneys at Sammarro & Zalarick can help you understand your options and build a plan that fits your real life. Reach out to schedule a FREE confidential consultation. We’ll talk through what’s happening, what the court is likely to focus on, and the practical steps you can take now to protect your finances, your children, and your future.
Disclaimer: This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.