1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Middlesex County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $111,549. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in New Jersey before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Middlesex County
- How much Middlesex County households make
- What it costs to live in Middlesex County
- The Middlesex County job picture
- The communities that make up Middlesex County
- Regional comparison for Middlesex County
- Debt-to-income at Middlesex County's medians
- Who lives in Middlesex County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Middlesex County
- Lender oversight for Middlesex County
- Steps before you apply in Middlesex County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Middlesex County
Middlesex County is home to about 871,290 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 2nd most populous of 21 county-level areas in New Jersey. Land area is 309 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2,817 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. New Brunswick is the biggest of its 51 Census places, at roughly 56,345 people (6% of the county total).
How much Middlesex County households make
The median household income in Middlesex County is $111,549; statewide it is $103,556, so Middlesex County runs 8% above New Jersey as a whole. That places it 7th among New Jersey's 21 county-level areas.
| Band | Middlesex County | Compared with New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.1% | -2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 30.8% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.8% | +2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 22.3% | +0.7 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 55% have six-figure incomes. 8.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.7%). None of these numbers decides a Middlesex County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Middlesex County
A typical Middlesex County rental runs $1,871 a month including utilities, which is 9% above New Jersey. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $462,900, or 4.1 years of median income. 64% of Middlesex County households own their home and 36% rent. Median construction year: 1974.
| Measure | Middlesex County | New Jersey | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,871/mo | $1,720/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $462,900 | $454,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 32% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 3% | 7% | n/a |
The Middlesex County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 16%. The survey's unemployment rate for Middlesex County averages 6.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). 25% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 18% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.0% of the total (11.1% statewide).
| Sector | Middlesex County | Compared with New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +1.4 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Middlesex County
51 Census places fall mainly inside Middlesex County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 549,736 residents, leaving about 37% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $248,875 at the median in Deans, $37,411 in Clearbrook. Rent is cheapest in Spotswood ($1,079) and steepest in Brownville ($2,375). Names with links open a city guide. The other 50 places are covered here.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | city | 56,345 | $65,810 | $1,814 | 4 mi |
| Perth Amboy | city | 55,855 | $61,977 | $1,688 | 9 mi |
| Sayreville | borough | 45,838 | $99,979 | $1,711 | 5 mi |
| Old Bridge | CDP | 28,236 | $111,996 | $1,459 | 5 mi |
| Carteret | borough | 25,496 | $96,862 | $2,032 | 14 mi |
| South Plainfield | borough | 24,473 | $130,239 | $2,107 | 9 mi |
| Woodbridge | CDP | 20,756 | $104,926 | $2,091 | 10 mi |
| Iselin | CDP | 19,551 | $109,500 | $2,113 | 10 mi |
| Colonia | CDP | 18,587 | $122,713 | $2,047 | 12 mi |
| Avenel | CDP | 17,121 | $101,670 | $1,906 | 12 mi |
| South River | borough | 16,124 | $96,147 | $1,675 | 2 mi |
| Princeton Meadows | CDP | 15,561 | $131,213 | $2,010 | 11 mi |
| Metuchen | borough | 15,144 | $158,052 | $2,078 | 7 mi |
| Highland Park | borough | 15,121 | $104,694 | $1,873 | 4 mi |
Regional comparison for Middlesex County
Six nearby counties, 14 to 25 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Middlesex County; Somerset County is highest at $140,374 and Essex County lowest at $80,789. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County | - | $111,549 | $1,871/mo | 64% |
| Somerset County, NJ | 14 mi | $140,374 | $2,033/mo | 74% |
| Union County, NJ | 16 mi | $103,202 | $1,730/mo | 57% |
| Richmond County, NY | 16 mi | $98,333 | $1,733/mo | 68% |
| Monmouth County, NJ | 17 mi | $124,845 | $1,827/mo | 76% |
| Mercer County, NJ | 19 mi | $100,645 | $1,623/mo | 62% |
| Essex County, NJ | 25 mi | $80,789 | $1,531/mo | 45% |
Debt-to-income at Middlesex County's medians
Here is the Middlesex County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $9,296 a month: gross income for a household at the Middlesex County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,871 uses 20%
- Under a 35% cap, $3,254 total minus rent leaves $1,383
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $2,312 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Middlesex County's.
Who lives in Middlesex County, in numbers
46% of Middlesex County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Middlesex County | New Jersey | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.6% | 43.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 9.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 7.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | 11.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 9.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.7% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Middlesex County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 14.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Middlesex County
A few patterns in the Middlesex County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 25% of Middlesex County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Higher earners. 55% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Lender oversight for Middlesex County
Middlesex County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The New Jersey guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Middlesex County
Quick steps for Middlesex County:
- Price the Middlesex County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in New Jersey.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
Is Middlesex County a high-income county?
Its $111,549 median ranks 7th of 21 New Jersey counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Middlesex County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,871 against $1,720 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Middlesex County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, Old Bridge, Carteret and 46 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Middlesex County or elsewhere in New Jersey, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Middlesex County residents?
The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance licenses consumer lenders in New Jersey; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.