Lodi was incorporated as a borough on December 22, 1894, from portions of the now-defunct municipalities of Lodi Township and Saddle River Township, at the height of Bergen County's Boroughitis phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,971 people, 9,528 households, and 6,097 families residing in the borough. The population density was 10,590.6 people per square mile (4,095.2/km). There were 9,908 housing units at an average density of 4,377.4/sq mi (1,692.7/km). The racial makeup of the borough was 78.16% White, 3.55% African American, 0.17% Native American, 8.86% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.25% from other races, and 2.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.98% of the population.
There were 9,528 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $43,421, and the median income for a family was $51,959. Males had a median income of $38,781 versus $31,253 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,667. About 5.3% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
New Jersey Transit bus routes 144, 145, 148, 161, 164, 709, 712 and 780 serve Lodi.
Route 17, U.S. Route 46 pass through Lodi.