PlainZIP

Helmetta, NJ · standard

ZIP Code 08828

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

2,178
1,015/sq mi
$98,952
Median income
$355,000
Median home value
40.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Helmetta pairs an upper-quartile household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 20%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 26%
home value, US ZIPs
1,015
people per sq mi
64%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08828 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 08828 covers 2.1 square miles in Helmetta, Middlesex County, New Jersey (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,178 residents on file, a density of 1,015 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 08828 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $98,952 (19% below the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $53,951. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 7.4%. Median home value sits at $355,000 (31% below the state average), median rent at $2,144 a month, and owner-occupancy at 63.5%.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 40.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.2, and the average commute is 32 minutes. To put 08828 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 08828

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Helmetta, NJ

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08828.

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 08828, Helmetta, 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

2,178

Population

2.1

Area (sq mi)

1,015

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 08828?

39.2

Median Age

49.8%

Male

50.2%

Female

16.2%

Foreign-Born

White 69.2%
African American 10.5%
Asian 10.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.4%
Hispanic or Latino 9.5%

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?

$98,952

Median Household Income

-19% vs state

$53,951

Per Capita Income

3.7%

Poverty Rate

7.4%

Unemployment Rate

32.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 08828 ranks nationally

Helmetta, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$98,952 Top 20% higher than 80% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $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 67.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.5%

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

What does housing look like?

1,108

Total Housing Units

1,074

Occupied Units

34

Vacant Units

2.29

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 63.5%
Renter 36.5%

$355,000

Median Home Value

-31% vs state

$2,144

Median Rent

1984

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

-4.3%

YoY Change (2024)

257

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+157%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 08828 have decreased 4.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.0% 172
2021 +21.0% 208
2022 +12.9% 235
2023 +14.4% 269
2024 -4.3% 257

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 22 business establishments in ZIP 08828, employing approximately 102 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,952,000.

22

Businesses

102

Employees

$3.0M

Annual Payroll

4

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 4 18.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 4 18.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 3 13.6%
Other services (except public administration) 3 13.6%

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 08828 vs 08884 →

ZIP 08828 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 08828 ranks #0 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 08828 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 08828 ranks #9 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
08884 Spotswood, NJ 8,257 2.1 mi
08831 Monroe Township, NJ 45,620 3.5 mi
08816 East Brunswick, NJ 46,298 3.5 mi
08810 Dayton, NJ 8,401 3.7 mi
08850 Milltown, NJ 8,281 4.9 mi
08857 Old Bridge, NJ 39,898 5.0 mi
08882 South River, NJ 16,008 5.3 mi
08901 New Brunswick, NJ 55,223 7.4 mi
08902 North Brunswick, NJ 41,153 5.5 mi
08904 Highland Park, NJ 13,982 8.5 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 Helmetta, NJ New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 08828 in? ▼
ZIP code 08828 (Helmetta) 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 08828? ▼
ZIP code 08828 in Helmetta, NJ has a population of 2,178 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08828? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 08828 is $98,952, which is 30% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08828? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 08828 is $355,000, which is 28% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08828? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 08828 is White at 69.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08828? ▼
ZIP code 08828 has 22 business establishments employing approximately 102 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08828? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08828 are: Construction (4), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (4), Professional, scientific, and technical services (3). There are 4 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08828? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08828 decreased by 4.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 157%. 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 08828? ▼
In ZIP code 08828, 67.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.5% 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 08828? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08828 is 32.4 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 08828? ▼
In ZIP code 08828, approximately 63.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08828? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08828 is 3.7% 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.