PlainZIP

Dunellen, NJ · standard

ZIP Code 08812

Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

14,296
1,049/sq mi
$118,316
Median income
$442,900
Median home value
40.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Dunellen pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 10%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 17%
home value, US ZIPs
1,049
people per sq mi
75%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08812 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 08812 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Dunellen, Middlesex County, New Jersey, home to 14,296 residents across 13.6 square miles, a density of 1,049 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 08812 skews affluent, with a median household income of $118,316 (3% below the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $54,393. Local economic indicators show a 15.2% poverty rate alongside 5.6% unemployment. Median home value sits at $442,900 (14% below the state average), median rent at $1,866 a month, and owner-occupancy at 75.3%.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 40.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is 31 minutes. To put 08812 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Middlesex County, for a geography-aware comparison.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 08812

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Dunellen, NJ

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08812.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 08812, Dunellen, NJ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

14,296

Population

13.6

Area (sq mi)

1,049

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 08812?

42.9

Median Age

56.8%

Male

43.2%

Female

30.4%

Foreign-Born

White 50.9%
African American 4.1%
Asian 10.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 16.0%
Hispanic or Latino 34.5%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$118,316

Median Household Income

-3% vs state

$54,393

Per Capita Income

15.2%

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

31.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 08812 ranks nationally

Dunellen, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$118,316 Top 10% higher than 90% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 66.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

5,023

Total Housing Units

4,730

Occupied Units

293

Vacant Units

2.98

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.3%
Renter 24.7%

$442,900

Median Home Value

-14% vs state

$1,866

Median Rent

1960

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+13.2%

YoY Change (2024)

253

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+153%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 08812 have increased 13.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +153% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.7% 171
2021 +9.1% 187
2022 +16.2% 217
2023 +3.1% 224
2024 +13.2% 253

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 467 business establishments in ZIP 08812, employing approximately 5,443 people with a combined annual payroll of $220,787,000.

467

Businesses

5,443

Employees

$220.8M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 84 18.0%
Other services (except public administration) 61 13.1%
Accommodation and food services 54 11.6%
Construction 45 9.6%
Health care and social assistance 42 9.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 37 7.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 30 6.4%
Finance and insurance 23 4.9%
Transportation and warehousing 21 4.5%
Wholesale trade 19 4.1%
Real estate and rental and leasing 11 2.4%
Manufacturing 10 2.1%
Educational services 10 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 10 2.1%
Information 8 1.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 08812 vs 07063 →

ZIP 08812 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08812 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 08812 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 08812 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
07063 Plainfield, NJ 13,538 1.9 mi
08846 Middlesex, NJ 13,635 2.1 mi
07059 Warren, NJ 15,311 2.9 mi
08854 Piscataway, NJ 55,961 3.8 mi
07060 Plainfield, NJ 44,998 3.3 mi
08836 Martinsville, NJ 3,845 3.9 mi
07069 Watchung, NJ 6,157 3.7 mi
08805 Bound Brook, NJ 12,254 3.5 mi
07080 South Plainfield, NJ 23,377 3.8 mi
07980 Stirling, NJ 2,307 5.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County

08854 standard
Piscataway, NJ
Pop: 55,961
08901 standard
New Brunswick, NJ
Pop: 55,223
08861 standard
Perth Amboy, NJ
Pop: 53,099
08816 standard
East Brunswick, NJ
Pop: 46,298
08831 standard
Monroe Township, NJ
Pop: 45,620
08817 standard
Edison, NJ
Pop: 44,621

Related Areas

Middlesex County Dunellen, NJ New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 08812 in? ▼
ZIP code 08812 (Dunellen) is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Middlesex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/middlesex-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 08812? ▼
ZIP code 08812 in Dunellen, NJ has a population of 14,296 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08812? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 08812 is $118,316, which is 55% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08812? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 08812 is $442,900, which is 59% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08812? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 08812 is White at 50.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 34.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08812? ▼
ZIP code 08812 has 467 business establishments employing approximately 5,443 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08812? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08812 are: Retail trade (84), Other services (except public administration) (61), Accommodation and food services (54). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08812? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08812 increased by 13.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 153%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 08812? ▼
In ZIP code 08812, 66.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 08812? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08812 is 31.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08812? ▼
In ZIP code 08812, approximately 75.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08812? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08812 is 15.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.