Milltown, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08850
Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,281
- 1,302/sq mi High-density area
- $141,601
- Median income Above-median income area
- $470,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 45.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Milltown pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 5%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 15%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,302
- people per sq mi
- 85%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08850 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 08850 (Milltown, NJ) rose +10.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 247.9 in 2023 to 273.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08850 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Milltown, Middlesex County, New Jersey, home to 8,281 residents across 6.4 square miles, a density of 1,302 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08850 skews affluent, with a median household income of $141,601 (16% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $63,105. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 1.5% and unemployment is 3.6%. Median home value is $470,700 (9% below the average New Jersey ZIP) and median rent is $1,218; 84.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.1, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 08850 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 08850
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Milltown, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08850.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
37 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
29 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
25 establishments
- Construction
Construction
24 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
24 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 08850, Milltown, 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
8,281
Population
6.4
Area (sq mi)
1,302
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08850?
42.1
Median Age
46.7%
Male
53.3%
Female
18.9%
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?
$141,601
Median Household Income
+16% vs state ZIP avg
$63,105
Per Capita Income
1.5%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
30.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08850 ranks among New Jersey ZIPs
Milltown, 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)
$141,601 Top 28% higher than 72% 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
3,281housing units
3,281
Total Housing Units
3,149
Occupied Units
132
Vacant Units
2.71
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$470,700
Median Home Value
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$1,218
Median Rent
1963
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
+10.3%
YoY Change (2024)
273
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+173%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08850 have increased 10.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +173% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.0% | 176 |
| 2021 | +9.3% | 192 |
| 2022 | +11.5% | 214 |
| 2023 | +15.8% | 248 |
| 2024 | +10.3% | 273 |
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 201 business establishments in ZIP 08850, employing approximately 1,680 people with a combined annual payroll of $64,690,000.
201
Businesses
1,680
Employees
$64.7M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 37 | 18.4% |
| Retail trade | 29 | 14.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 25 | 12.4% |
| Construction | 24 | 11.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 24 | 11.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 16 | 8.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 5.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 4.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 7 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 1.5% |
| Information | 3 | 1.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.5% |
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 08850 vs 08901 →
ZIP 08850 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
- 08901
New Brunswick (08901)
55,223 residents
- 08816
East Brunswick (08816)
46,298 residents
- 08817
Edison (08817)
44,621 residents
- 08902
North Brunswick (08902)
41,153 residents
- 08872 18,811
Sayreville (08872)
18,811 residents
- 08882 16,008
South River (08882)
16,008 residents
- 08904 13,982
Highland Park (08904)
13,982 residents
- 08850 8,281
Milltown (08850)
8,281 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08850 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08850 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08816
East Brunswick (08816)
$143,586 median income
- 08850
Milltown (08850)
$141,601 median income
- 08854
Piscataway (08854)
$127,806 median income
- 08902
North Brunswick (08902)
$121,071 median income
- 08817
Edison (08817)
$110,808 median income
- 08884
Spotswood (08884)
$104,702 median income
- 08904
Highland Park (08904)
$104,694 median income
- 08828
Helmetta (08828)
$98,952 median income
- 08872
Sayreville (08872)
$97,489 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08850 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08901 | New Brunswick, NJ | 55,223 | 2.5 mi |
| 08816 | East Brunswick, NJ | 46,298 | 1.8 mi |
| 08902 | North Brunswick, NJ | 41,153 | 2.5 mi |
| 08882 | South River, NJ | 16,008 | 3.2 mi |
| 08904 | Highland Park, NJ | 13,982 | 3.7 mi |
| 08828 | Helmetta, NJ | 2,178 | 4.9 mi |
| 08884 | Spotswood, NJ | 8,257 | 4.4 mi |
| 08817 | Edison, NJ | 44,621 | 5.3 mi |
| 08872 | Sayreville, NJ | 18,811 | 5.5 mi |
| 08854 | Piscataway, NJ | 55,961 | 7.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08850, 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 (8,281 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 08850 in?
ZIP code 08850 (Milltown) 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 08850?
ZIP code 08850 in Milltown, NJ has a population of 8,281 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08850?
The median household income in ZIP 08850 is $141,601, which is 86% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08850?
The median home value in ZIP 08850 is $470,700, which is 69% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08850?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08850 is White at 75.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08850?
ZIP code 08850 has 201 business establishments employing approximately 1,680 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08850?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08850 are: Other services (except public administration) (37), Retail trade (29), Accommodation and food services (25). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08850?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08850 increased by 10.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 173%. 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 08850?
In ZIP code 08850, 66.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.0% 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 08850?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08850 is 30.0 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 08850?
In ZIP code 08850, approximately 84.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08850?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08850 is 1.5% 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 08850's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08850 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Milltown, 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.