1st Advantage MortgageAbout 85% of Hunterdon County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $141,715. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Hunterdon County
- Renting and owning in Hunterdon County
- Paychecks and income spread in Hunterdon County
- Employment and commuting in Hunterdon County
- The counties around Hunterdon County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Hunterdon County
- What a median Hunterdon County budget can carry
- Hunterdon County households compared
- Reading the Hunterdon County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Hunterdon County residents
- More guides for Hunterdon County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Hunterdon County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hunterdon County's population at 130,160; only 17 of New Jersey's 21 county-level areas are larger. It covers 428 square miles of land, or about 304 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan area. Flemington is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 4,896 people (4% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Hunterdon County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,687 in Hunterdon County versus $1,720 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $517,200, about 3.6 times the median household income. 85% of Hunterdon County households own their home and 15% rent. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Hunterdon County | New Jersey | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,687/mo | $1,720/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $517,200 | $454,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 32% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hunterdon County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Paychecks and income spread in Hunterdon County
The median household income in Hunterdon County is $141,715; statewide it is $103,556, so Hunterdon County runs 37% above New Jersey as a whole. In the state ranking that is 1st of 21.
| Income band | Share in Hunterdon County | Difference from New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 9.4% | -7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 24.7% | -7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.5% | +3.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 32.4% | +10.7 pts |
Some 9% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 66% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 4.0% of Hunterdon County residents in poverty, against 9.7% across New Jersey. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.443 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $141,715 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Hunterdon County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 12% locally and 8% for New Jersey. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.6% in Hunterdon County. About 69% drive to work alone and 28% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.3% of the total (11.1% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Hunterdon County workers | vs New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.1% | +4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hunterdon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The counties around Hunterdon County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 28 miles). Somerset County leads the group on income ($140,374), Northampton County trails ($89,184), and Hunterdon County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Pennsylvania. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Hunterdon County resident follows New Jersey rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunterdon County | - | $141,715 | $1,687/mo | 85% |
| Somerset County, NJ | 15 mi | $140,374 | $2,033/mo | 74% |
| Bucks County, PA | 19 mi | $114,764 | $1,605/mo | 78% |
| Warren County, NJ | 21 mi | $100,869 | $1,409/mo | 75% |
| Mercer County, NJ | 22 mi | $100,645 | $1,623/mo | 62% |
| Northampton County, PA | 24 mi | $89,184 | $1,395/mo | 71% |
| Morris County, NJ | 28 mi | $137,326 | $1,904/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Hunterdon County
17 Census places fall mainly inside Hunterdon County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 32,721 residents, leaving about 75% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $168,043 at the median in Annandale, $67,222 in Hampton. Median rent ranges from $1,125 in Hampton to $2,662 in Annandale. Live in one of these Hunterdon County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flemington | borough | 4,896 | $69,978 | $1,532 | 5 mi |
| Lambertville | city | 4,153 | $109,733 | $1,438 | 14 mi |
| White House Station | CDP | 3,963 | $110,483 | $1,931 | 8 mi |
| High Bridge | borough | 3,580 | $112,467 | $1,831 | 7 mi |
| Clinton | town | 2,789 | $141,146 | $1,881 | 5 mi |
| Glen Gardner | borough | 1,916 | $101,974 | $1,890 | 9 mi |
| Frenchtown | borough | 1,752 | $97,917 | $1,761 | 8 mi |
| Lebanon | borough | 1,675 | $110,104 | $2,171 | 7 mi |
| Annandale | CDP | 1,568 | $168,043 | $2,662 | 6 mi |
| Milford | borough | 1,166 | $71,806 | $1,523 | 9 mi |
| Hampton | borough | 1,020 | $67,222 | $1,125 | 10 mi |
| Ringoes | CDP | 934 | $84,545 | $1,837 | 10 mi |
| Califon | borough | 930 | $128,194 | $1,781 | 11 mi |
| Bloomsbury | borough | 841 | $92,500 | $1,500 | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Hunterdon County budget can carry
Here is the Hunterdon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Hunterdon County: $11,810
- 14% goes to median rent ($1,687)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $3,391 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,687, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Hunterdon County households compared
College graduates make up 57% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 2.8%, against 7.5% for New Jersey.
| Residents | Hunterdon County | New Jersey | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 40.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 57.4% | 43.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.7% | 9.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.8% | 7.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 11.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.8% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.0% | 9.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.6% |
| 60+ min | 14.8% |
Reading the Hunterdon County data as a borrower
What the Hunterdon County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 28% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hunterdon County budgets.
- Older households. A 46.1 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 66% of Hunterdon County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Hunterdon County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Jersey borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Hunterdon County residents
Consumer lenders serving Hunterdon County are licensed by the state, not the county; in New Jersey that is the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: New Jersey guide.
More guides for Hunterdon County
For statewide rules and data, see the New Jersey guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Hunterdon County?
$141,715 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $103,556 for New Jersey. It ranks 1st of 21 in the state.
How much is rent in Hunterdon County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,687 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Hunterdon County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 85% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Flemington?
Yes, along with the other 16 Census places in Hunterdon County, such as Lambertville, White House Station, High Bridge.
Are Hunterdon County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.