PigeonSwamp1, 2006
Middlesex’s story
113 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,852 in 1920, 14,636 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1905 and 8 maps from 1888 on.
- 1913Middlesex is settled
Photo: Soc 59 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
14,740
2025 Census estimate · +0.7% since 2020
Typical home
$542K
+4% in a year
Household income
$105K
median
Median age
44.3
years
Jobs based here
5,195
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#188 of 466 in NJ
Is Middlesex a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Middlesex grades B+ overall, ranked 188th of 466 in New Jersey. Crime is low: it reports less per resident than 87% of U.S. towns and the median household earns $105K. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $542K, 5.5 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income. Only 39 of New Jersey’s 530 towns score lower on hazard risk. 0.9% of the land in Middlesex is conserved, below both the New Jersey town median (11%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). Only 3 of New Jersey’s 530 towns score lower on history.
What makes Middlesex stand out
Where Middlesex beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Middlesex0.4
New Jersey2
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
80% less violent crime than NJ
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 80% of U.S. towns
2.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD
Inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Middlesex for work
Where Middlesex’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
5,195jobs based in Middlesex
7%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Middlesex grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Jersey), ordered by how far Middlesex is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →SafetyAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.1 of 20A−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →HealthRobert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Somerset 5.1 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 1% conserved landBOpen →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life2.5 library visits per resident; 2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 721 attractions →Madison Square Garden and 527 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Middlesex. Close and well known come first.
Big draw29 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden
Big draw31 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year
Big draw28 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium
Big draw30 mi TheatreStudio 54
Big draw31 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a year
Big draw27 mi BeachConey IslandSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Madison Square Garden: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Metropolitan Museum of Art: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Coney Island: OptimumPx, Public domain
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_-_Central_Park,_NYC.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Middlesex: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Middlesex, and how to reach them.
PowerPSE&G25.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterNew Jersey American WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMiddlesex Borough Recycling CenterTown pickupTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn New Jersey you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMiddlesex County ClerkMiddlesex County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2023
ZIP code0884608846 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Middlesex.
Middlesex sees little violent crime and is healthy by national standards but behind most towns in New Jersey; it also carries more natural-hazard risk than most of New Jersey (mostly inland flooding).
SafetyA
Middlesex earns an A for safety
Violent crime is rare: 6 reported in 2025, 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
At 5.2 per 1,000 residents, Middlesex’s property crime rate is where New Jersey’s towns sit at 7.5 and U.S. towns at 9.9. The violent crime rate in Middlesex is 0.4 per 1,000 residents.
87%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Middlesex | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.2 per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Middlesex0.4
New Jersey2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Middlesex5.2
New Jersey12.7
U.S.15.5
87th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
81st
percentile among NJ towns
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
77
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB−
On state tests, Middlesex’s schools beat 54% of New Jersey districts
Its public schools are run by the Middlesex Borough School District. Two of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Middlesex High School, with 597 students.
54%of NJ districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Von E. Mauger Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 502 | C+ |
| Middlesex High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 597 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NJ on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Inland flooding leads a very high hazard risk in Middlesex
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 94% of New Jersey towns, with expected losses of about $649 per resident a year; that rating is what its D for hazard risk is built on. 977 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 178 properties have flooded more than once.
Middlesex’s FEMA risk score is 86 of 100. Since 1978, 977 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Middlesex.
86risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
977
paid flood claims since 1978
8
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Middlesex has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Middlesex for work: only 7% work in town. Jobs based in Middlesex grew to 5,195 in 2023, 469 more than in 2013. 9.4% of workers work from home in Middlesex.
7%work in town
| Middlesex | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 9.4% | 17% | 11% |
| Median household income | $105,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 30 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Middlesex7%
Bridgewater Township5%
Franklin Township5%
Piscataway Township5%
Edison Township4%
10 mi
median commute distance
5,195
jobs based in Middlesex
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 80% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Middlesex is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Within New Jersey it is less healthy than 71% of the 468 graded towns: New Jersey sets a high bar. Against the 7,851 U.S. towns with household incomes like Middlesex’s, it is healthier than 54%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
Middlesex tracks New Jersey closely on all 32 CDC measures. 15% of Middlesex adults have been diagnosed with depression.
72%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Middlesex | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 23% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 28% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 36% | 36% |
32 measures vs. New Jersey
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Somerset
5.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
29th
percentile among NJ towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Middlesex, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Middlesex has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 23° and about 21 inches of snow falls in a winter.
21″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–43°
Spring40–63°
Summer62–85°
Fall45–66°
Oct 26
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
An age mix much like New Jersey’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the New Jersey average. 37% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 44% across New Jersey.
44.3median age · NJ 40.1
| Middlesex | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 years | 42 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 45% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 20% | 18% | 18% |
MiddlesexNew JerseyUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school30%
Some college15%
Associate’s8%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
About 87 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.8 points). Across New Jersey, 50.8% of residents are women.
| Middlesex | NJ | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.3% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.1% | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.2% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.8% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.8% | 12.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.6% | 13.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.5% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.1% | 7.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9.3% | 9.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 30.3% | 25.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.4% | 15% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.1% | 6.7% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25.1% | 26.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.8% | 17.6% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade C−
Middlesex earns a C− for cost of living
The typical Middlesex home is worth about $542,000, up 4% in a year, 6% below the New Jersey typical home.
$542KZillow home value
| Middlesex | New Jersey towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,416 a month | $1,780 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 77% | 73% |
Typical home value
Middlesex$542K
New Jersey$575K
Market temperature
38
days on market
102.3%
sale-to-list price
+4%
value change, 1 year
10
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsB
Middlesex earns a B for the outdoors
0.7 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Victor Crowell Memorial Park, at 23 acres.
0.9%conserved
0.9%
conserved · 20 of 2,233 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Victor Crowell Memorial Park | 0.6 mi | 23 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Middlesex
20pages on Middlesex
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 54% of NJ districts · 6 schoolsSafetyA0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than NJ on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$542K typical home · up 4% in a yearWork & commuteA−$105K median household income · 5,195 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 86% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
12 within 15 miles of the center of Middlesex
Yeshiva Gedolah Tiferes BoruchUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · North Plainfield4.6 mi$10,480 tuitionRutgers University-New BrunswickUniversity or college · Public · New Brunswick5.9 mi$17,929 in-state tuitionMiddlesex CollegeCommunity college · Public · Edison8.4 mi$4,764 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Middlesex residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Jersey.
About Middlesex
Borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, US
Middlesex is a borough in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located within the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 14,636, its highest decennial count and an increase of 1,001 (+7.3%) from the 2010 census count of 13,635, which in turn reflected a decline of 82 (−0.6%) from the 13,717 counted in the 2000 census. Middlesex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1913, from portions of Piscataway, based on the results of a referendum held on May 6, 1913. The borough was named after Middlesex, England.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1913
- Area
- 3.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 39 ft
- ZIP code
- 08846
- Area code
- 732
Middlesex’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Middlesex.
Green Brook TownshipMartinsvilleBridgewater TownshipBound BrookPiscataway TownshipDunellenSouth Bound BrookMiddlesex
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NJ rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | #188 | B+ | C− | A | B− | B+ |
| Green Brook Township | #174 | A− | D | A− | B+ | B+ |
| Martinsville | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bridgewater Township | #144 | A− | D | — | B+ | A+ |
| Bound Brook | #389 | C− | D− | — | C− | B |
| Piscataway Township | #229 | B | D | — | B | A |
| Dunellen | #421 | D | D | — | C+ | C |
| South Bound Brook | #365 | C | D | — | B− | B− |
Bridgewater Township, Bound Brook, Piscataway Township, Dunellen and South Bound Brook report no FBI crime data of their own. Martinsville isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Middlesex with a neighbor →
Questions about Middlesex
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Middlesex, NJ a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Middlesex grades B+ overall, better than 73% of U.S. towns and #188 of 466 in New Jersey. It grades B+ for health, A for safety and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Middlesex, NJ expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.