The second-most populous county in Garden State got a bit more crowded over the past four years
MIDDLESEX COUNTY -- While incomes and the housing markets in most counties in New Jersey have been slow to recover since the Great Recession, Middlesex County has rebounded slightly better than the rest of the state, specifically when it comes to population.
The second-most populous county in Garden State got a bit more crowded over the past four years, according to recent Census data.
As of last year, 48,343 new people called Middlesex County home, bringing the countywide population to 830,300. Only Hudson County added more residents over that time. Middlesex County's population increase of 6 percent was more than twice the state's growth.
Monroe Township saw the largest influx of residents, according to the data, which compared the populations between 2011 and 2015 to 2005 to 2009.
Monroe Mayor Gerald Tamburro credits a building boom in the 42-square-mile township with the increase 18 percent increase in population over that time.
"People want to come here to raise a family or retire," said Tamburro, citing lower taxes than surrounding towns and 10 retirement communities. "It's attractive for young and old people."
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New Brunswick also boosted its local population by 6,012, bringing the total number of city inhabitants to 56,338.
The tiny town of Helmetta saw a similar percentage increase, but only had 2,350 residents compared to Monroe's 42,000.
Only two towns in the county lost residents over that time, Cranbury and Jamesburg.
The chart below shows the population increase, by town, from the four years before the recession to the post-recession era of the county.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.