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Living in
Fords.
Fords is an unincorporated community in Middlesex County, NJ. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Fords
Fords is a community of 13,052 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $116,250, median rent runs about $1,913 per month, and median home values are around $438,000. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.
Fords at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Foreign-Born
30.9%
Broadband Internet
96.3%
of households
Population Growth
-14.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Fords: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fords, the largest foreign-born group is from India (18.3%), and 19.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.7%
of households
Married Couples
49.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.69
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Fords
In Fords, rent runs 11% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
71.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1957
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $529,468 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Fords
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Fords, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Fords: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Fords is about 1% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Fords Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute30.7 min avg
How Fords residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fords, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Woodbridge Township Police Department, which covers Fords, runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
138.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,166.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Woodbridge Township Police Department (township-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Fords, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 24 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 20 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.0M |
| 2020 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 27 | Coastal Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Fords is about 1% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Fords, is typically good — 295 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
295
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Fords is about 1% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fords has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.5"
Annual Snowfall
29.0"
Hot Days/Year
24
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 23°F | 3.74" |
| Feb | 43°F | 24°F | 2.97" |
| Mar | 51°F | 31°F | 4.40" |
| Apr | 63°F | 41°F | 3.89" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.03" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.83" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 4.83" |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 4.66" |
| Sep | 78°F | 57°F | 4.18" |
| Oct | 67°F | 44°F | 4.11" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.40" |
| Dec | 45°F | 28°F | 4.49" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fords
Uninsured
3.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fords's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Raritan Bay Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2 mi away · Perth Amboy
Jfk University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Edison
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Rahway
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fords
Fords's student/teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
42.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fords (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
7.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 9,657 students · in-state tuition $7,490 · 37% graduate · median earnings $59,992 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,651 students · in-state tuition $54,796 · 73% graduate · median earnings $84,179 (10 yrs after entry)
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island
8.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 656 students · in-state tuition $17,988 · 64% graduate · median earnings $66,402 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: National Parks of New York Harbor, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fords
Fords has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being National Parks of New York Harbor (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
National Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
17 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
18 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
19 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
19 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
20 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
20 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
20 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fords
Fords Branch
211 Ford Avenue, Fords
Cities Near Fords
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fords?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fords FAQ
Is Fords, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Fords's median rent is $1,913/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $115,861/year. Median home value is $438,000.
Is Fords, New Jersey safe?⌄
Fords is policed by the Woodbridge Township Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 139 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1166 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fords, New Jersey?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Fords, has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fords, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Fords is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,913/month and median household income is $115,861/year. The median home value is $438,000. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fords, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Fords is 31 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from