Parlin, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08859
Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,526
- 1,844/sq mi High-density area
- $99,882
- Median income Above-median income area
- $445,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 37.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Parlin pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 19%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 17%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,844
- people per sq mi
- 58%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08859 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 08859 (Parlin, NJ) rose +11.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 253.8 in 2023 to 283.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08859 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Parlin, Middlesex County, New Jersey, with 21,526 residents across 11.7 square miles, a density of 1,844 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08859 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $99,882 (18% below the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $45,141. The poverty rate is 7.0%, with unemployment at 7.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $445,800 (14% below the average New Jersey ZIP) and median rent is $1,654; 58.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 37.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.1, and the average commute is 32 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 08859 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 08859
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Parlin, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08859.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
48 establishments
- Construction
Construction
47 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
46 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
42 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
33 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 08859, Parlin, 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
21,526
Population
11.7
Area (sq mi)
1,844
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08859?
39.1
Median Age
48.6%
Male
51.4%
Female
33.1%
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?
$99,882
Median Household Income
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$45,141
Per Capita Income
7.0%
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Unemployment Rate
32.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08859 ranks among New Jersey ZIPs
Parlin, 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)
$99,882 35th percentile higher than 35% 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
9,378housing units
9,378
Total Housing Units
9,123
Occupied Units
255
Vacant Units
2.79
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$445,800
Median Home Value
-14% vs state ZIP avg
$1,654
Median Rent
1971
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
+11.5%
YoY Change (2024)
283
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+183%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08859 have increased 11.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +183% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.3% | 188 |
| 2021 | +9.6% | 206 |
| 2022 | +13.1% | 233 |
| 2023 | +8.9% | 254 |
| 2024 | +11.5% | 283 |
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 376 business establishments in ZIP 08859, employing approximately 4,022 people with a combined annual payroll of $194,225,000.
376
Businesses
4,022
Employees
$194.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 48 | 12.8% |
| Construction | 47 | 12.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 46 | 12.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 42 | 11.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 33 | 8.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 31 | 8.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 25 | 6.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 24 | 6.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 19 | 5.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 15 | 4.0% |
| Educational services | 14 | 3.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 2.4% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 2.1% |
| Information | 7 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 1.9% |
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 08859 vs 08879 →
ZIP 08859 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08861
Perth Amboy (08861)
53,099 residents
- 08857
Old Bridge (08857)
39,898 residents
- 07747
Matawan (07747)
30,770 residents
- 08879
South Amboy (08879)
23,537 residents
- 08859
Parlin (08859)
21,526 residents
- 08872 18,811
Sayreville (08872)
18,811 residents
- 08882 16,008
South River (08882)
16,008 residents
- 08837 15,847
Edison (08837)
15,847 residents
- 08863 12,320
Fords (08863)
12,320 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08859 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08859 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 07747
Matawan (07747)
$124,383 median income
- 07721
Cliffwood (07721)
$123,060 median income
- 08863
Fords (08863)
$115,861 median income
- 08857
Old Bridge (08857)
$109,312 median income
- 08837
Edison (08837)
$102,605 median income
- 08859
Parlin (08859)
$99,882 median income
- 08872
Sayreville (08872)
$97,489 median income
- 08882
South River (08882)
$96,147 median income
- 08879
South Amboy (08879)
$92,786 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08859 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08879 | South Amboy, NJ | 23,537 | 1.5 mi |
| 08872 | Sayreville, NJ | 18,811 | 1.8 mi |
| 08832 | Keasbey, NJ | 2,863 | 4.0 mi |
| 08863 | Fords, NJ | 12,320 | 4.7 mi |
| 08882 | South River, NJ | 16,008 | 4.0 mi |
| 08861 | Perth Amboy, NJ | 53,099 | 4.5 mi |
| 07721 | Cliffwood, NJ | 2,974 | 4.0 mi |
| 08857 | Old Bridge, NJ | 39,898 | 4.9 mi |
| 08837 | Edison, NJ | 15,847 | 4.3 mi |
| 07747 | Matawan, NJ | 30,770 | 4.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08859, 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 (21,526 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 08859 in?
ZIP code 08859 (Parlin) 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 08859?
ZIP code 08859 in Parlin, NJ has a population of 21,526 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08859?
The median household income in ZIP 08859 is $99,882, which is 31% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08859?
The median home value in ZIP 08859 is $445,800, which is 60% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08859?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08859 is White at 48.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08859?
ZIP code 08859 has 376 business establishments employing approximately 4,022 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08859?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08859 are: Retail trade (48), Construction (47), Professional, scientific, and technical services (46). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08859?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08859 increased by 11.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 183%. 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 08859?
In ZIP code 08859, 70.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 37.6% 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 08859?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08859 is 32.1 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 08859?
In ZIP code 08859, approximately 58.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 41.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08859?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08859 is 7.0% 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 08859's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08859 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Parlin, 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.