ZIP Code 08863

standard

Source:

Fords · Middlesex County · New Jersey

Population
12,320

1,866/sq mi

Median income
$115,861

▲ 52% vs US

higher than 89% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$438,000

▲ 57% vs US

higher than 83% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
42.0%

Median age 39.9

Land area
6.6 sq mi

New York

ZIP code 08863 in Fords, New Jersey has a population of 12,320. The median household income is $115,861, which is 52% above the national average. Median home value is $438,000, 57% above the US average. 42.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 08863 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 6.6 square miles in Fords, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The area is home to 12,320 residents, producing a population density of 1,866 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 08863 against New Jersey and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 08863 sits at $115,861 (5% below the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $54,523. The poverty rate stands at 6.4% and the unemployment rate at 4.3%. On housing, the median home value is $438,000 (15% below the state average) with median rent at $1,913 per month, and 71.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 08863 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 42.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.9, and the average commute is 31 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Middlesex County, so you can benchmark 08863 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 08863

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08863.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 08863, Fords, NJ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

12,320

Population

6.6

Area (sq mi)

1,866

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 08863?

39.9

Median Age

51.0%

Male

49.0%

Female

30.9%

Foreign-Born

White 44.5%
African American 14.8%
Asian 17.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 10.8%
Hispanic or Latino 24.0%

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?

$115,861

Median Household Income

-5% vs state

$54,523

Per Capita Income

6.4%

Poverty Rate

4.3%

Unemployment Rate

30.7 min

Mean Commute Time

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

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 64.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 42.0%

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

What does housing look like?

4,810

Total Housing Units

4,744

Occupied Units

66

Vacant Units

2.69

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 71.7%
Renter 28.3%

$438,000

Median Home Value

-15% vs state

$1,913

Median Rent

1957

Median Year Built

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

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.8%

YoY Change (2024)

284

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+184%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 08863 have increased 7.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +184% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +5.8% 189
2021 +11.3% 210
2022 +12.8% 237
2023 +11.1% 263
2024 +7.8% 284

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 220 business establishments in ZIP 08863, employing approximately 1,730 people with a combined annual payroll of $101,761,000.

220

Businesses

1,730

Employees

$101.8M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 33 15.0%
Retail trade 31 14.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 25 11.4%
Accommodation and food services 25 11.4%
Construction 23 10.4%
Transportation and warehousing 21 9.6%
Health care and social assistance 16 7.3%
Wholesale trade 9 4.1%
Finance and insurance 8 3.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 8 3.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 7 3.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 3.2%
Manufacturing 4 1.8%

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 08863 vs 08832 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
08832 Keasbey, NJ 2,863 0.8 mi
08837 Edison, NJ 15,847 1.8 mi
08830 Iselin, NJ 18,459 2.9 mi
08861 Perth Amboy, NJ 53,099 2.2 mi
07095 Woodbridge, NJ 19,844 2.4 mi
08840 Metuchen, NJ 16,558 2.5 mi
07067 Colonia, NJ 18,036 4.5 mi
08859 Parlin, NJ 21,526 4.7 mi
08872 Sayreville, NJ 18,811 4.5 mi
07077 Sewaren, NJ 2,766 3.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 08863 in?
ZIP code 08863 (Fords) 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 08863?
ZIP code 08863 in Fords, NJ has a population of 12,320 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08863?
The median household income in ZIP 08863 is $115,861, which is 52% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08863?
The median home value in ZIP 08863 is $438,000, which is 57% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08863?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08863 is White at 44.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 24.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08863?
ZIP code 08863 has 220 business establishments employing approximately 1,730 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08863?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08863 are: Other services (except public administration) (33), Retail trade (31), Professional, scientific, and technical services (25). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08863?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08863 increased by 7.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 184%. 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 08863?
In ZIP code 08863, 64.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 42.0% 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 08863?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08863 is 30.7 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 08863?
In ZIP code 08863, approximately 71.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08863?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08863 is 6.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Fords, NJ

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

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