Residential delivery area · New Jersey
ZIP Code 08879: South Amboy, NJ
ZIP code 08879 uses the postal name South Amboy, New Jersey and lies entirely in Middlesex County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 24,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $92,786 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Sayreville (33%), Laurence Harbor (29%), South Amboy (22%) and Madison Park (10%); 6% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- South Amboy · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Middlesex County
- Census places
- Sayreville (33%); Laurence Harbor (29%) census-designated place; South Amboy (22%); Madison Park (10%) census-designated place
- Neighborhood
- Thomas J Dohany Homes GeoNames
- Metro area
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
- House district
- NJ-6 119th Congress
- State
- New Jersey
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 7.1 sq mi · 3,326 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 08879?
08879 centers on 40.466°, -74.279° and covers 7.1 square miles of land plus 0.5 of water. It borders 8 ZIP codes: 08859, 07721, 07735, 08832, 08861, 07747, 08872, 08857.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 08879, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0); neighborhoods from the GeoNames gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), placed in this ZIP code by PlainZIP.
How does 08879 compare with the rest of Middlesex County?
| Measure | 08879 | In Middlesex County | In NJ |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 23,556 | 16th of 42 | 143rd of 598 |
| Median household income | $93k | 38th of 40 | 356th of 476 |
| Median home value | $390k | 36th of 40 | 352nd of 515 |
Its median household income is higher than in 76% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 90% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 08879?
The 2020 Census counted 22,965 people in 08879; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 23,556. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell 2.4% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 23,556
- 2020 Census count
- 22,965−2.4% since 2010 (23,537)
- Households
- 9,344
- Median age
- 41.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 08879?
Of the 23,556 people the ACS estimates in 08879, 21.2% are under 18 and 18.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (55.7%), then Hispanic or Latino (24.8%).
- Under 1821.2%
- 18 to 6460.1%
- 65 and older18.6%
- White, not Hispanic55.7%
- Hispanic or Latino24.8%
- Black, not Hispanic9.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic6.7%
- Other or two or more3.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 08879 earn?
Median household income is $92,786 (ACS 2020-2024), the 38th highest of the 40 ranked ZIP codes in Middlesex County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($88,321 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $92,786±$12,739
- Income per person
- $43,799
- Below the poverty line
- 8.7%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 28.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $79,75112,220 returns; wages 79% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 08879?
FHFA's house price index for 08879, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 108% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 63% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +7.4% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $389,800
- Median gross rent
- $1,660
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 62.9%
- Housing units
- 9,876
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 08879?
391 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 19 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade56
- Other services (except public administration)56
- Accommodation and food services49
- Construction45
- Professional, scientific, and technical services35
- Health care and social assistance33
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 08879?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08859 | Parlin | 25,448 | $100k | 1.4 mi |
| 07721 | Cliffwood | 4,277 | $123k | 3.1 mi |
| 07735 | Keyport | 19,159 | $98k | 3.1 mi |
| 08832 | Keasbey | 2,252 | – | 3.7 mi |
| 08861 | Perth Amboy | 59,351 | $65k | 3.7 mi |
| 07747 | Matawan | 32,330 | $124k | 3.8 mi |
| 08872 | Sayreville | 20,204 | $98k | 3.9 mi |
| 08857 | Old Bridge | 40,891 | $109k | 5.8 mi |
| 10307 | Staten Island, NY | 15,512 | $147k | 3.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.