Hillsborough, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08844
Somerset County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 38,367
- 269/sq mi High-density area
- $153,556
- Median income Above-median income area
- $547,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 62.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Hillsborough pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 3%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 269
- people per sq mi
- 80%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08844 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 08844 (Hillsborough, NJ) rose +10.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 232.9 in 2023 to 257.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08844 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey, with 38,367 residents across 142.6 square miles, a density of 269 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08844 skews affluent, with a median household income of $153,556 (26% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $71,838. The poverty rate is 3.0%, with unemployment at 4.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $547,700 (6% above the average New Jersey ZIP) and median rent is $2,388; 79.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 62.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.1, and the average commute is 33 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Somerset County, so 08844 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 08844
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Hillsborough, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08844.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
170 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
144 establishments
- Construction
Construction
114 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
89 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
84 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 08844, Hillsborough, 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
38,367
Population
142.6
Area (sq mi)
269
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08844?
42.1
Median Age
49.1%
Male
50.9%
Female
22.4%
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?
$153,556
Median Household Income
+26% vs state ZIP avg
$71,838
Per Capita Income
3.0%
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Unemployment Rate
33.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08844 ranks nationally
Hillsborough, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$153,556 Top 3% higher than 97% 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
16,646housing units
16,646
Total Housing Units
16,497
Occupied Units
149
Vacant Units
2.67
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$547,700
Median Home Value
+6% vs state ZIP avg
$2,388
Median Rent
1985
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
+10.5%
YoY Change (2024)
257
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+157%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08844 have increased 10.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.2% | 170 |
| 2021 | +8.8% | 185 |
| 2022 | +13.3% | 209 |
| 2023 | +11.2% | 233 |
| 2024 | +10.5% | 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 994 business establishments in ZIP 08844, employing approximately 11,218 people with a combined annual payroll of $610,201,000.
994
Businesses
11,218
Employees
$610.2M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 170 | 17.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 144 | 14.5% |
| Construction | 114 | 11.5% |
| Retail trade | 89 | 8.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 84 | 8.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 70 | 7.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 65 | 6.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 62 | 6.2% |
| Manufacturing | 37 | 3.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 36 | 3.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 34 | 3.4% |
| Educational services | 26 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 | 2.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 18 | 1.8% |
| Information | 14 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.5% |
| Utilities | 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 08844 vs 08821 →
ZIP 08844 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08873
Somerset (08873)
49,921 residents
- 08844
Hillsborough (08844)
38,367 residents
- 08876
Somerville (08876)
22,179 residents
- 08502 11,317
Belle Mead (08502)
11,317 residents
- 08835 10,344
Manville (08835)
10,344 residents
- 08869 6,881
Raritan (08869)
6,881 residents
- 08558 6,629
Skillman (08558)
6,629 residents
- 08853 5,247
Neshanic Station (08853)
5,247 residents
- 08553 682
Rocky Hill (08553)
682 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08844 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08844 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08558
Skillman (08558)
$236,016 median income
- 08502
Belle Mead (08502)
$227,242 median income
- 08853
Neshanic Station (08853)
$220,725 median income
- 08821
Flagtown (08821)
$155,833 median income
- 08844
Hillsborough (08844)
$153,556 median income
- 08553
Rocky Hill (08553)
$148,056 median income
- 08873
Somerset (08873)
$124,972 median income
- 08876
Somerville (08876)
$122,884 median income
- 08869
Raritan (08869)
$107,672 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08844 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08821 | Flagtown, NJ | 354 | 1.6 mi |
| 08502 | Belle Mead, NJ | 11,317 | 3.6 mi |
| 08853 | Neshanic Station, NJ | 5,247 | 4.1 mi |
| 08876 | Somerville, NJ | 22,179 | 6.2 mi |
| 08869 | Raritan, NJ | 6,881 | 5.4 mi |
| 08558 | Skillman, NJ | 6,629 | 6.1 mi |
| 08835 | Manville, NJ | 10,344 | 5.3 mi |
| 08553 | Rocky Hill, NJ | 682 | 7.0 mi |
| 08890 | Zarephath, NJ | 17 | 5.9 mi |
| 08873 | Somerset, NJ | 49,921 | 7.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08844, 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 (38,367 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Somerset County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 08844 in?
ZIP code 08844 (Hillsborough) is located in Somerset County, New Jersey. Somerset County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/somerset-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 08844?
ZIP code 08844 in Hillsborough, NJ has a population of 38,367 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08844?
The median household income in ZIP 08844 is $153,556, which is 101% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08844?
The median home value in ZIP 08844 is $547,700, which is 97% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08844?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08844 is White at 61.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08844?
ZIP code 08844 has 994 business establishments employing approximately 11,218 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08844?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08844 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (170), Health care and social assistance (144), Construction (114). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08844?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08844 increased by 10.5% 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 08844?
In ZIP code 08844, 78.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 62.3% 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 08844?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08844 is 33.3 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 08844?
In ZIP code 08844, approximately 79.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 20.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08844?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08844 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 08844's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08844 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Hillsborough, 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.