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Moving to
Hillsborough.
Hillsborough is an unincorporated community in Somerset County, NJ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
What it's like to live in Hillsborough
Hillsborough is an unincorporated community in New Jersey with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hillsborough deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Cold winters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Hillsborough compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hillsborough
Based on Hillsborough's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,972
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $79,440 a year
- 42% of Hillsborough renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$87,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $43,570
- Homes cost 3.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 41% above US
$1,986/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,986 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices run above average, with a median around $435,700. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $435,700 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Somerset County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Somerset County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 70% below US
98 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 341/100k · Hillsborough Township Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 23% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 26% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 68% above US
61% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River (18 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hillsborough's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,986/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (26% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Hillsborough
All New Jersey guides →Moving to Bradley Gardens →
4 mi away · pop. 14,165
Rent $2,670/mo · Income $177,849
Compare with Hillsborough →Moving to Manville →
5 mi away · pop. 10,921
Rent $1,844/mo · Income $93,333
Compare with Hillsborough →Moving to Somerville →
6 mi away · pop. 13,410
Rent $1,802/mo · Income $103,760
Compare with Hillsborough →Moving to Blackwells Mills →
6 mi away · pop. 10,301
Rent $3,206/mo · Income $250,000+
Compare with Hillsborough →Not sure Hillsborough is the one?
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