Housing Market Overview
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Middlesex County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $299,160 | $359,215 | $242,182 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 3.0% | 5.3% | 8.2% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,809 | $1,653 | $1,342 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.5% | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Middlesex County is about 17% lower than in New Jersey. Rent is about 9% higher than the New Jersey average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2023
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2023
Both home prices and rent are rising in Middlesex County, up about 3.0% and 4.5% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
Median rent in Middlesex County rose about 39.3% between 2015 and 2023, from $1,299 to $1,809. Over the same span, rent in New Jersey rose about 38.7%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.7 yearly household incomes in Middlesex County.
Buying the median-priced home in Middlesex County costs roughly 13.8 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Middlesex County. The price-to-rent ratio in New Jersey is about 18.1.
| Metric | Middlesex County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $299,160 | $359,215 | $242,182 |
| Median Household Income | $109,590 | $101,200 | $78,145 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.7 | 3.5 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2023, the median home price in Middlesex County rose about 12.4%, while median household income rose about 43.3% between 2009 and 2023 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Middlesex County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 61.3% | 58.7% | 58.2% |
| Rental Rate | 35.3% | 33.4% | 31.3% |
| Vacancy Rate | 3.5% | 7.9% | 10.6% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 16.0 | 16.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2010 | 2010 | 2011 |
Middlesex County has a homeownership rate of 61.3%, higher than the New Jersey average of 58.7%. Its housing vacancy rate is 3.5%, compared with 7.9% in New Jersey.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Middlesex County | New Jersey Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.73 people | 2.61 people | 2.54 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1972 | 1968 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Middlesex County was built around 1972. On average, 2.7 people live in a home with about 5.6 rooms, staying for about 16.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
What is the median home price in Middlesex County, New Jersey?
The median home price in Middlesex County, New Jersey is $299,160, lower than the New Jersey average of $359,215.
What is the average home price in Middlesex County, New Jersey?
The typical home price in %s, reported as the median sale price, is %s. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Middlesex County, New Jersey?
The median gross rent in Middlesex County, New Jersey is $1,809 per month, higher than the New Jersey average of $1,653.
What was the median gross rent in Middlesex County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Middlesex County, New Jersey was $1,494 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Middlesex County, New Jersey?
The price-to-rent ratio in Middlesex County, New Jersey is about 13.8, meaning it would take roughly 13.8 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively low price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor buying over renting in Middlesex County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Middlesex County, New Jersey?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Middlesex County, up about 3.0% and 4.5% a year respectively. Rent is changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Middlesex County, New Jersey?
61.3% of households in Middlesex County, New Jersey own their home, higher than the New Jersey average of 58.7%.
What is the vacancy rate in Middlesex County, New Jersey?
The housing vacancy rate in Middlesex County, New Jersey is 3.5%, lower than the New Jersey average of 7.9%.