Perth Amboy, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08861
Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 53,099
- 3,986/sq mi High-density area
- $64,491
- Median income Near-median income area
- $370,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 16.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Perth Amboy pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy and unusually populous area.
- 37th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,986
- people per sq mi
- 38%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08861 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 08861 (Perth Amboy, NJ) rose +8.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 285.9 in 2023 to 309.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08861 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey, with 53,099 residents across 13.3 square miles, a density of 3,986 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08861 reports a modest median household income of $64,491 (47% below the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,740. Unemployment is 13.6%, an important qualifier alongside the household-income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $370,900 (28% below the average New Jersey ZIP), and median rent is $1,675; owner occupancy is 37.5%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.3, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 08861 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 08861
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Perth Amboy, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08861.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
209 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
143 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
133 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
103 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
100 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 08861, Perth Amboy, 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
53,099
Population
13.3
Area (sq mi)
3,986
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08861?
38.3
Median Age
49.5%
Male
50.5%
Female
49.4%
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?
$64,491
Median Household Income
-47% vs state ZIP avg
$28,740
Per Capita Income
19.3%
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Unemployment Rate
24.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08861 ranks nationally
Perth Amboy, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$64,491 37th percentile higher than 37% 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
21,166housing units
21,166
Total Housing Units
20,596
Occupied Units
570
Vacant Units
2.86
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$370,900
Median Home Value
-28% vs state ZIP avg
$1,675
Median Rent
1960
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
+8.3%
YoY Change (2024)
310
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+210%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08861 have increased 8.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +210% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.4% | 212 |
| 2021 | +11.2% | 236 |
| 2022 | +11.2% | 262 |
| 2023 | +9.2% | 286 |
| 2024 | +8.3% | 310 |
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 1,042 business establishments in ZIP 08861, employing approximately 13,974 people with a combined annual payroll of $722,049,000.
1,042
Businesses
13,974
Employees
$722.0M
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 209 | 20.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 143 | 13.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 133 | 12.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 103 | 9.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 100 | 9.6% |
| Construction | 75 | 7.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 61 | 5.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 51 | 4.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 41 | 3.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 34 | 3.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 25 | 2.4% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 2.3% |
| Information | 13 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 10 | 1.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 0.9% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.4% |
| Industries not classified | 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 08861 vs 08832 →
ZIP 08861 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
- 10309
Staten Island (10309)
32,519 residents
- 08879
South Amboy (08879)
23,537 residents
- 07095 19,844
Woodbridge (07095)
19,844 residents
- 07001 16,305
Avenel (07001)
16,305 residents
- 08837 15,847
Edison (08837)
15,847 residents
- 10307 14,096
Staten Island (10307)
14,096 residents
- 08863 12,320
Fords (08863)
12,320 residents
- 07064 3,723
Port Reading (07064)
3,723 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08861 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08861 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 10307
Staten Island (10307)
$147,184 median income
- 07064
Port Reading (07064)
$133,854 median income
- 10309
Staten Island (10309)
$116,098 median income
- 08863
Fords (08863)
$115,861 median income
- 07077
Sewaren (07077)
$108,948 median income
- 07095
Woodbridge (07095)
$104,926 median income
- 08837
Edison (08837)
$102,605 median income
- 07001
Avenel (07001)
$101,670 median income
- 08879
South Amboy (08879)
$92,786 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08861 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08832 | Keasbey, NJ | 2,863 | 1.8 mi |
| 07095 | Woodbridge, NJ | 19,844 | 2.4 mi |
| 10307 | Staten Island, NY | 14,096 | 2.0 mi |
| 08863 | Fords, NJ | 12,320 | 2.2 mi |
| 07077 | Sewaren, NJ | 2,766 | 2.5 mi |
| 08879 | South Amboy, NJ | 23,537 | 3.8 mi |
| 10309 | Staten Island, NY | 32,519 | 2.9 mi |
| 07001 | Avenel, NJ | 16,305 | 4.3 mi |
| 07064 | Port Reading, NJ | 3,723 | 3.5 mi |
| 08837 | Edison, NJ | 15,847 | 3.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08861, 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 (53,099 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 08861 in?
ZIP code 08861 (Perth Amboy) 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 08861?
ZIP code 08861 in Perth Amboy, NJ has a population of 53,099 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08861?
The median household income in ZIP 08861 is $64,491, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08861?
The median home value in ZIP 08861 is $370,900, which is 33% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08861?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08861 is White at 20.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 81.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08861?
ZIP code 08861 has 1,042 business establishments employing approximately 13,974 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08861?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08861 are: Retail trade (209), Transportation and warehousing (143), Other services (except public administration) (133). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08861?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08861 increased by 8.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 210%. 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 08861?
In ZIP code 08861, 45.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.4% 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 08861?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08861 is 24.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08861?
In ZIP code 08861, approximately 37.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 62.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08861?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08861 is 19.3% 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 08861's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08861 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Perth Amboy, 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.