New Jersey has country’s lowest remarriage rate, census shows

According to a U.S Census report, New Jersey now has the lowest remarriage rate in the country.  

In fact, the Census shows we have the lowest remarriage rate in the country, only 17 percent of men and 16 percent of women in Jersey between 2008 and 2012.

Rider University Sociologist Barry Truchil says we tend to be better educated, and that frequently positions many in a more stable economic place - thus fewer divorces.

"If the demographics of the people in New Jersey won't have that same amount of stress, then the problems that contribute to divorce may not be there," Truchil said. "There are a lot of social conditions that sort of affect when one marries."

Truchil said New Jersey, while it may be a state of suburbs with some pockets of cities, it is part of two metropolitan areas -- the New York area and the Philadelphia area -- and that is where the bulk of the population generally would be. He said some people in more densely populated areas are often better off economically.

"So if we look at the profile of those groups, it tends to be higher educated. They're probably higher in the social class, socioeconomic status level, which is reflected when you try to buy homes in a particular area," Truchil said.

Truchill also said people who are professional tend to marry later in life after first establishing their careers. He also said less financially stable individuals tend to marry earlier and have children sooner.

"Let's assume that then those people are marrying a little bit later, and marrying a little bit later will first of all probably lead to a lower divorce rate," Truchill said.

Ironically,  Truchil said, those at the bottom of the economic ladder in New Jersey may also stay married or not remarry because they cannot afford a change.

"Financial stress can be a cause for divorce," Truchil said. "But you can also argue that families, because they are struggling as it is, and if they both go separately, it would make it even harder for them to survive."