Bottom line: Montclair has been the more racially diverse municipality over the last 20+ years. Boonton has grown more diverse — chiefly through Hispanic/Latino growth and a visible Asian population — but Montclair retains the broader multiracial balance, driven by its much larger Black population and a less White-dominant profile.
More balanced racial composition, a larger Black population share, comparable multiracial share, and a long-standing identity as an integrated suburb.
Boonton's White share fell from about 83.0% in 2000 to about 70.3% non-Hispanic White in 2020–2024 QuickFacts.
Its Hispanic/Latino share rose from 6.9% in 2000 to 12.9% in 2020–2024 QuickFacts, with Census 2020 listing 16.0%.
| Measure | Montclair ~2000 | Montclair current | Boonton ~2000 | Boonton current |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population scale | ~39,000 | 40,341 (ACS 2024 5-yr) | 8,496 (Census 2000) | 8,854 (ACS 2024 5-yr) |
| White / White non-Hisp. | 57.13% WNH (2000 table) | 57.1% WNH | 83.00% White (2000) | 70.3% WNH |
| Black share | 31.29% Black NH (2000) | 18.6% Black alone | 4.00% Afr. Am. (2000) | 5.2% Black alone |
| Asian share | 3.11% Asian NH (2000) | 5.4% Asian alone | 7.8% Asian (2000) | 6.9% Asian alone |
| Hispanic / Latino | Below 2020 share; passed 10% | 10.6% Hisp/Latino | 6.9% (2000) | 12.9% QF · 16.0% Census 2020 |
| Core pattern | Multiracial suburban identity with a historically large Black population and rising Hispanic / Asian / multiracial shares. | Smaller town, historically far Whiter, now more mixed through Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial growth. | ||
Less dominated by a single racial group, with a much larger Black population share. Diversity is not just "how many non-White residents," but how evenly groups are represented.
Boonton slightly exceeds Montclair on foreign-born share and on language other than English at home. This is where its diversity is more visible than people expect.
More than four times Boonton's population. A larger base usually supports more institutions, businesses, social scenes, and neighborhood-level variation.
Montclair has more diversity overall. Boonton has become more diverse over the last two decades, but Montclair remains the stronger answer when diversity means a racially and ethnically mixed community rather than a mostly White town with growing minority populations.
One-sentence version → Montclair is more diverse in structure; Boonton is more diverse than it used to be.
Primary current data: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Montclair Township and Boonton Town, covering 2020–2024 race, Hispanic/Latino, foreign-born, language, housing, and education. Montclair QuickFacts lists 58.6% White alone, 18.6% Black alone, 5.4% Asian alone, 14.1% two or more races, 10.6% Hispanic/Latino, 57.1% White alone not Hispanic/Latino, and 13.4% foreign-born. Boonton QuickFacts lists 71.6% White alone, 5.2% Black alone, 6.9% Asian alone, 14.1% two or more races, 12.9% Hispanic/Latino, 70.3% White alone not Hispanic/Latino, and 14.4% foreign-born.
Population & local profile: Census Reporter ACS 2024 5-year profiles list Montclair at 40,341 residents and Boonton at 8,854 residents.
Historical baseline: Census 2000 and 2020 summary figures checked against published municipal demographic summaries citing U.S. Census tables. Boonton's 2000 entry lists 83.00% White, 4.00% African American, 7.8% Asian, 2.84% two or more races, and 6.9% Hispanic/Latino. Montclair's 1990–2020 race/ethnicity table lists 2000 White non-Hispanic at 57.13%, Black non-Hispanic at 31.29%, and Asian non-Hispanic at 3.11%.
census.gov/quickfacts → Montclair Township
census.gov/quickfacts → Boonton Town
censusreporter.org → Montclair Township, Essex County NJ
censusreporter.org → Boonton Town, Morris County NJ
Data caveat: QuickFacts race categories and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity overlap, because Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity that may include any race. For clean historical comparison, "White alone, not Hispanic/Latino" is the better indicator than "White alone."