ZIP Code 08879

standard

Source:

South Amboy · Middlesex County · New Jersey

Population
23,537

1,260/sq mi

Median income
$92,786

▲ 22% vs US

higher than 76% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$389,800

▲ 40% vs US

higher than 78% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
28.9%

Median age 41

Land area
18.7 sq mi

New York

ZIP code 08879 in South Amboy, New Jersey has a population of 23,537. The median household income is $92,786, which is 22% above the national average. Median home value is $389,800, 40% above the US average. 28.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 08879 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 18.7 square miles in South Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The area is home to 23,537 residents, producing a population density of 1,260 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 08879 against New Jersey and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 08879 sits at $92,786 (24% below the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $43,799. The poverty rate stands at 8.7% and the unemployment rate at 7.6%. On housing, the median home value is $389,800 (25% below the state average) with median rent at $1,660 per month, and 62.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 08879 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 28.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41, and the average commute is 30 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Middlesex County, so you can benchmark 08879 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 08879

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08879.

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 08879, South Amboy, 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

23,537

Population

18.7

Area (sq mi)

1,260

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 08879?

41.0

Median Age

47.2%

Male

52.8%

Female

21.9%

Foreign-Born

White 59.4%
African American 12.0%
Asian 6.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 16.2%
Hispanic or Latino 24.8%

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?

$92,786

Median Household Income

-24% vs state

$43,799

Per Capita Income

8.7%

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Unemployment Rate

29.9 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 63.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.9%

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

What does housing look like?

9,876

Total Housing Units

9,344

Occupied Units

532

Vacant Units

2.51

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 62.9%
Renter 37.1%

$389,800

Median Home Value

-25% vs state

$1,660

Median Rent

1960

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

+9.6%

YoY Change (2024)

300

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+200%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 08879 have increased 9.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +200% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.4% 197
2021 +11.3% 220
2022 +11.3% 244
2023 +11.9% 273
2024 +9.6% 300

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 391 business establishments in ZIP 08879, employing approximately 4,852 people with a combined annual payroll of $213,329,000.

391

Businesses

4,852

Employees

$213.3M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 56 14.3%
Other services (except public administration) 56 14.3%
Accommodation and food services 49 12.5%
Construction 45 11.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 35 8.9%
Health care and social assistance 33 8.4%
Transportation and warehousing 27 6.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 22 5.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 18 4.6%
Wholesale trade 16 4.1%
Finance and insurance 8 2.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 2.0%
Manufacturing 7 1.8%
Information 7 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 08879 vs 08859 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
08859 Parlin, NJ 21,526 1.5 mi
08861 Perth Amboy, NJ 53,099 3.8 mi
08872 Sayreville, NJ 18,811 3.2 mi
07721 Cliffwood, NJ 2,974 3.0 mi
07747 Matawan, NJ 30,770 3.9 mi
10307 Staten Island, NY 14,096 3.5 mi
08832 Keasbey, NJ 2,863 3.9 mi
07095 Woodbridge, NJ 19,844 6.1 mi
08863 Fords, NJ 12,320 4.7 mi
07735 Keyport, NJ 19,569 4.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 08879 in?
ZIP code 08879 (South 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 08879?
ZIP code 08879 in South Amboy, NJ has a population of 23,537 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08879?
The median household income in ZIP 08879 is $92,786, which is 22% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08879?
The median home value in ZIP 08879 is $389,800, which is 40% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08879?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08879 is White at 59.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 24.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08879?
ZIP code 08879 has 391 business establishments employing approximately 4,852 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08879?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08879 are: Retail trade (56), Other services (except public administration) (56), Accommodation and food services (49). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08879?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08879 increased by 9.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 200%. 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 08879?
In ZIP code 08879, 63.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.9% 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 08879?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08879 is 29.9 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 08879?
In ZIP code 08879, approximately 62.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08879?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08879 is 8.7% 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 South Amboy, 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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