Middlesex, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08846
Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 13,635
- 1,510/sq mi High-density area
- $105,000
- Median income Above-median income area
- $446,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 36.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Middlesex pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 16%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 17%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,510
- people per sq mi
- 74%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08846 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 08846 (Middlesex, NJ) rose +4.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 258.2 in 2023 to 269.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08846 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Middlesex, Middlesex County, New Jersey, home to 13,635 residents across 9.0 square miles, a density of 1,510 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08846 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $105,000 (14% below the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $51,617. The poverty rate is 11.3%, with unemployment at 3.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $446,400 (14% below the average New Jersey ZIP) and median rent is $1,416; 73.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 36.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.3, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 08846 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 08846
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Middlesex, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08846.
- Construction
Construction
59 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
56 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
49 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
48 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
41 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 08846, Middlesex, 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
13,635
Population
9.0
Area (sq mi)
1,510
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08846?
44.3
Median Age
46.5%
Male
53.5%
Female
27.7%
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?
$105,000
Median Household Income
-14% vs state ZIP avg
$51,617
Per Capita Income
11.3%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
26.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08846 ranks among New Jersey ZIPs
Middlesex, NJ household income vs. every New Jersey ZIP code
Median household income among 565 reporting New Jersey ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$105,000 41st percentile higher than 41% of 565 New Jersey ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Jersey 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
5,799housing units
5,799
Total Housing Units
5,718
Occupied Units
81
Vacant Units
2.56
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$446,400
Median Home Value
-14% vs state ZIP avg
$1,416
Median Rent
1965
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
+4.4%
YoY Change (2024)
270
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+170%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08846 have increased 4.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +170% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.7% | 181 |
| 2021 | +11.7% | 202 |
| 2022 | +12.3% | 227 |
| 2023 | +13.7% | 258 |
| 2024 | +4.4% | 270 |
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 436 business establishments in ZIP 08846, employing approximately 4,540 people with a combined annual payroll of $297,487,000.
436
Businesses
4,540
Employees
$297.5M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 59 | 13.5% |
| Manufacturing | 56 | 12.8% |
| Retail trade | 49 | 11.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 48 | 11.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 41 | 9.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 35 | 8.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 32 | 7.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 32 | 7.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 29 | 6.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 24 | 5.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 11 | 2.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 2.1% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.6% |
| Information | 3 | 0.7% |
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 08846 vs 08805 →
ZIP 08846 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08854
Piscataway (08854)
55,961 residents
- 08873
Somerset (08873)
49,921 residents
- 07080
South Plainfield (07080)
23,377 residents
- 07059 15,311
Warren (07059)
15,311 residents
- 08812 14,296
Dunellen (08812)
14,296 residents
- 08846 13,635
Middlesex (08846)
13,635 residents
- 07063 13,538
Plainfield (07063)
13,538 residents
- 08805 12,254
Bound Brook (08805)
12,254 residents
- 08880 4,563
South Bound Brook (08880)
4,563 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08846 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08846 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08836
Martinsville (08836)
$229,726 median income
- 07059
Warren (07059)
$212,479 median income
- 07080
South Plainfield (07080)
$130,205 median income
- 08854
Piscataway (08854)
$127,806 median income
- 08873
Somerset (08873)
$124,972 median income
- 08812
Dunellen (08812)
$118,316 median income
- 08880
South Bound Brook (08880)
$112,961 median income
- 08846
Middlesex (08846)
$105,000 median income
- 08805
Bound Brook (08805)
$93,341 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08846 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08805 | Bound Brook, NJ | 12,254 | 1.9 mi |
| 08812 | Dunellen, NJ | 14,296 | 2.1 mi |
| 08880 | South Bound Brook, NJ | 4,563 | 2.0 mi |
| 08854 | Piscataway, NJ | 55,961 | 2.7 mi |
| 07059 | Warren, NJ | 15,311 | 4.1 mi |
| 08836 | Martinsville, NJ | 3,845 | 3.2 mi |
| 07063 | Plainfield, NJ | 13,538 | 3.6 mi |
| 07080 | South Plainfield, NJ | 23,377 | 4.5 mi |
| 08873 | Somerset, NJ | 49,921 | 5.5 mi |
| 08890 | Zarephath, NJ | 17 | 4.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08846, 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 (13,635 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 08846 in?
ZIP code 08846 (Middlesex) 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 08846?
ZIP code 08846 in Middlesex, NJ has a population of 13,635 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08846?
The median household income in ZIP 08846 is $105,000, which is 38% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08846?
The median home value in ZIP 08846 is $446,400, which is 60% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08846?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08846 is White at 59.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 24.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08846?
ZIP code 08846 has 436 business establishments employing approximately 4,540 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08846?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08846 are: Construction (59), Manufacturing (56), Retail trade (49). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08846?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08846 increased by 4.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 170%. 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 08846?
In ZIP code 08846, 67.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 36.9% 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 08846?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08846 is 26.1 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 08846?
In ZIP code 08846, approximately 73.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08846?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08846 is 11.3% 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 08846's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08846 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Middlesex, 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.