Edison, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08820
Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 39,590
- 1,475/sq mi High-density area
- $171,363
- Median income Above-median income area
- $630,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 71.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Edison pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 2%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 8%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,475
- people per sq mi
- 76%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08820 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 08820 (Edison, NJ) rose +14.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 257.4 in 2023 to 294.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08820 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Edison, Middlesex County, New Jersey, with 39,590 residents across 26.8 square miles, a density of 1,475 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08820 skews affluent, with a median household income of $171,363 (40% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $66,131. The poverty rate is 3.0%, with unemployment at 4.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $630,200 (22% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while 75.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,081.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 71.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is 42 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 08820 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 08820
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Edison, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08820.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
329 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
244 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 93
Accommodation and food services
93 establishments
- Retail trade 86
Retail trade
86 establishments
- Wholesale trade 76
Wholesale trade
76 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 08820, Edison, 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
39,590
Population
26.8
Area (sq mi)
1,475
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08820?
42.9
Median Age
50.0%
Male
50.0%
Female
57.1%
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?
$171,363
Median Household Income
+40% vs state ZIP avg
$66,131
Per Capita Income
3.0%
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Unemployment Rate
42.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08820 ranks nationally
Edison, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$171,363 Top 2% higher than 98% 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
13,458housing units
13,458
Total Housing Units
13,181
Occupied Units
277
Vacant Units
3.01
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$630,200
Median Home Value
+22% vs state ZIP avg
$2,081
Median Rent
1983
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
+14.3%
YoY Change (2024)
294
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+194%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08820 have increased 14.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +194% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 198 |
| 2021 | +5.6% | 209 |
| 2022 | +11.5% | 233 |
| 2023 | +10.3% | 257 |
| 2024 | +14.3% | 294 |
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 1,143 business establishments in ZIP 08820, employing approximately 13,336 people with a combined annual payroll of $818,786,000.
1,143
Businesses
13,336
Employees
$818.8M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 329 | 28.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 244 | 21.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 93 | 8.1% |
| Retail trade | 86 | 7.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 76 | 6.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 54 | 4.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 47 | 4.1% |
| Construction | 43 | 3.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 40 | 3.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 35 | 3.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 26 | 2.3% |
| Educational services | 22 | 1.9% |
| Information | 18 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 17 | 1.5% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 0.7% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 3 | 0.3% |
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 08820 vs 08840 →
ZIP 08820 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 07060
Plainfield (07060)
44,998 residents
- 08817
Edison (08817)
44,621 residents
- 08820
Edison (08820)
39,590 residents
- 07076
Scotch Plains (07076)
23,480 residents
- 07080
South Plainfield (07080)
23,377 residents
- 08830
Iselin (08830)
18,459 residents
- 07067
Colonia (07067)
18,036 residents
- 08840 16,558
Metuchen (08840)
16,558 residents
- 08837 15,847
Edison (08837)
15,847 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08820 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08820 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 07023
Fanwood (07023)
$195,529 median income
- 07076
Scotch Plains (07076)
$183,655 median income
- 08820
Edison (08820)
$171,363 median income
- 08840
Metuchen (08840)
$146,635 median income
- 07080
South Plainfield (07080)
$130,205 median income
- 07067
Colonia (07067)
$122,713 median income
- 08817
Edison (08817)
$110,808 median income
- 08830
Iselin (08830)
$109,500 median income
- 08837
Edison (08837)
$102,605 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08820 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08840 | Metuchen, NJ | 16,558 | 2.4 mi |
| 07080 | South Plainfield, NJ | 23,377 | 2.6 mi |
| 08830 | Iselin, NJ | 18,459 | 2.6 mi |
| 07076 | Scotch Plains, NJ | 23,480 | 3.9 mi |
| 07067 | Colonia, NJ | 18,036 | 2.9 mi |
| 07023 | Fanwood, NJ | 7,318 | 4.6 mi |
| 08837 | Edison, NJ | 15,847 | 4.5 mi |
| 08817 | Edison, NJ | 44,621 | 4.5 mi |
| 07062 | Plainfield, NJ | 12,949 | 4.2 mi |
| 07060 | Plainfield, NJ | 44,998 | 4.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08820, 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 (39,590 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 08820 in?
ZIP code 08820 (Edison) 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 08820?
ZIP code 08820 in Edison, NJ has a population of 39,590 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08820?
The median household income in ZIP 08820 is $171,363, which is 125% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08820?
The median home value in ZIP 08820 is $630,200, which is 127% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08820?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08820 is Asian at 72.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08820?
ZIP code 08820 has 1,143 business establishments employing approximately 13,336 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08820?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08820 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (329), Health care and social assistance (244), Accommodation and food services (93). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08820?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08820 increased by 14.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 194%. 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 08820?
In ZIP code 08820, 82.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 71.7% 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 08820?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08820 is 42.3 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 08820?
In ZIP code 08820, approximately 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08820?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08820 is 3.0% 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 08820's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08820 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Edison, NJ ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.