East Brunswick, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08816
Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 46,298
- 868/sq mi High-density area
- $143,586
- Median income Above-median income area
- $522,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 58.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
East Brunswick pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 5%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 12%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 868
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08816 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 08816 (East Brunswick, NJ) rose +9.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 244.2 in 2023 to 268.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08816 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in East Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, with 46,298 residents across 53.3 square miles, a density of 868 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08816 skews affluent, with a median household income of $143,586 (18% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $61,061. The poverty rate is 5.8%, with unemployment at 4.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $522,700 (1% above the average New Jersey ZIP) and median rent is $2,044; 79.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 58.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.3, and the average commute is 36 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 08816 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 08816
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in East Brunswick, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08816.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
335 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
278 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
186 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
137 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 111
Accommodation and food services
111 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 08816, East Brunswick, 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
46,298
Population
53.3
Area (sq mi)
868
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08816?
41.3
Median Age
49.0%
Male
51.0%
Female
34.8%
Foreign-Born
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?
$143,586
Median Household Income
+18% vs state ZIP avg
$61,061
Per Capita Income
5.8%
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Unemployment Rate
36.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08816 ranks nationally
East Brunswick, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$143,586 Top 5% higher than 95% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
17,130housing units
17,130
Total Housing Units
16,715
Occupied Units
415
Vacant Units
2.94
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$522,700
Median Home Value
+1% vs state ZIP avg
$2,044
Median Rent
1976
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
+9.8%
YoY Change (2024)
268
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+168%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08816 have increased 9.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +168% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.5% | 172 |
| 2021 | +9.7% | 188 |
| 2022 | +14.3% | 215 |
| 2023 | +13.4% | 244 |
| 2024 | +9.8% | 268 |
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 1,670 business establishments in ZIP 08816, employing approximately 27,237 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,772,173,000.
1,670
Businesses
27,237
Employees
$1.8B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 335 | 20.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 278 | 16.6% |
| Retail trade | 186 | 11.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 137 | 8.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 111 | 6.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 99 | 5.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 94 | 5.6% |
| Construction | 89 | 5.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 81 | 4.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 70 | 4.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 55 | 3.3% |
| Educational services | 32 | 1.9% |
| Manufacturing | 29 | 1.7% |
| Information | 27 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 27 | 1.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 17 | 1.0% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.2% |
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 08816 vs 08850 →
ZIP 08816 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08901
New Brunswick (08901)
55,223 residents
- 08816
East Brunswick (08816)
46,298 residents
- 08831
Monroe Township (08831)
45,620 residents
- 08817
Edison (08817)
44,621 residents
- 08902
North Brunswick (08902)
41,153 residents
- 08872 18,811
Sayreville (08872)
18,811 residents
- 08882 16,008
South River (08882)
16,008 residents
- 08904 13,982
Highland Park (08904)
13,982 residents
- 08850 8,281
Milltown (08850)
8,281 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08816 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08816 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08816
East Brunswick (08816)
$143,586 median income
- 08850
Milltown (08850)
$141,601 median income
- 08902
North Brunswick (08902)
$121,071 median income
- 08817
Edison (08817)
$110,808 median income
- 08831
Monroe Township (08831)
$109,042 median income
- 08884
Spotswood (08884)
$104,702 median income
- 08904
Highland Park (08904)
$104,694 median income
- 08828
Helmetta (08828)
$98,952 median income
- 08872
Sayreville (08872)
$97,489 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08816 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08850 | Milltown, NJ | 8,281 | 1.8 mi |
| 08882 | South River, NJ | 16,008 | 2.3 mi |
| 08884 | Spotswood, NJ | 8,257 | 2.6 mi |
| 08828 | Helmetta, NJ | 2,178 | 3.5 mi |
| 08901 | New Brunswick, NJ | 55,223 | 4.1 mi |
| 08902 | North Brunswick, NJ | 41,153 | 3.8 mi |
| 08904 | Highland Park, NJ | 13,982 | 5.0 mi |
| 08817 | Edison, NJ | 44,621 | 6.1 mi |
| 08872 | Sayreville, NJ | 18,811 | 4.8 mi |
| 08831 | Monroe Township, NJ | 45,620 | 7.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08816, both outside NJ so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (46,298 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 08816 in?
ZIP code 08816 (East Brunswick) 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 08816?
ZIP code 08816 in East Brunswick, NJ has a population of 46,298 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08816?
The median household income in ZIP 08816 is $143,586, which is 88% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08816?
The median home value in ZIP 08816 is $522,700, which is 88% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08816?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08816 is White at 48.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 13.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08816?
ZIP code 08816 has 1,670 business establishments employing approximately 27,237 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08816?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08816 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (335), Health care and social assistance (278), Retail trade (186). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08816?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08816 increased by 9.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 168%. 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 08816?
In ZIP code 08816, 73.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 58.4% 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 08816?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08816 is 36.4 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 08816?
In ZIP code 08816, approximately 79.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08816?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08816 is 5.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 08816's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08816 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where East Brunswick, NJ ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.