There are two New Jerseys,
characterized by economic extremes

Two New Jerseys: One State of Inequity

Not only are New Jersey’s racial economic inequities immense on the state level overall – but we see them across all of our counties when it comes to homeownership, income, poverty, health insurance coverage and digital access

Funding New Jersey’s Future With Baby Bonds

Read the Institute’s report to discover how a robust baby bonds program will help close New Jersey’s devastating racial wealth gap.

The Two New Jerseys: By the Numbers

Black Homeownership Matters

Black homeownership matters. Homeownership inequity is a primary driver of the racial wealth gap in New Jersey – one of the highest in the nation. Unfortunately, Black New Jerseyans lack the same access to homeownership and wealth gains from homeownership afforded to white people in the state. Today, just 38.4% of Black New Jersey households own homes compared to 75.9% of white New Jersey households. In addition, the typical white family in New Jersey has $132,000 in home equity, while the typical Black family rents so they have $0 in housing wealth.

Making the Two New Jerseys One

The report reveals that New Jersey is one of the most prosperous states in the nation, but is, at the same time, characterized by some of the starkest racial and economic inequities.

Repairing the Cracks

This report explores the stark racial inequities in the Garden State before the COVID-19 pandemic and how the ensuing public health crisis has compounded them.

Erasing New Jersey’s Red Lines

The report shines a light on how generations of structural racism in housing have led to the gaping racial wealth gap in the Garden State, and offers bold proposals to address the problem.

Freed From Debt

The report aims to chart the path forward for students in the Garden State, with a particular eye toward supporting Black and other students of color who were already bearing the disproportionate brunt of student loans before the pandemic began.