PlainZIP

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
$105,000
Median income
$446,400
Median home value
36.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $51,617. 11.3% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.6%. On housing, the median home value is $446,400 (14% below the state average) with median rent at $1,416 per month, and 73.9% of occupied units 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. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Middlesex County, so you can benchmark 08846 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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.

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 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

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 08846?

44.3

Median Age

46.5%

Male

53.5%

Female

27.7%

Foreign-Born

White 59.0%
African American 5.2%
Asian 13.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 10.5%
Hispanic or Latino 24.3%

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

$51,617

Per Capita Income

11.3%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

26.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 08846 ranks nationally

Middlesex, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$105,000 Top 16% higher than 84% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $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 67.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 36.9%

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

What does housing look like?

5,799

Total Housing Units

5,718

Occupied Units

81

Vacant Units

2.56

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 73.9%
Renter 26.1%

$446,400

Median Home Value

-14% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08846 ranks #6 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 08846 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 08846 ranks #8 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
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

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 Middlesex, NJ New Jersey

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.