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Living in
Highland Park.
About
Life in Highland Park
Living in Highland Park means embracing a compact, diverse community where you're genuinely close to everything that matters—your neighbors, your job, New York City. This is a small borough of just over 15,000 people sitting right on the Raritan River in central New Jersey's Raritan Valley, so you get that tight-knit feel without isolation. The median household income hovers around $105,000, and homes run roughly $471,700, which is reasonable for the region given you're in the New York metro area with solid job access and a 27.5-minute average commute.
Highland Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Foreign-Born
34.3%
Broadband Internet
98.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics34.3% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Highland Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Highland Park, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (17.3%), and 11.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.5%
of residents
65 and Older
10.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.9%
of households
Married Couples
38.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 9% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Highland Park
In Highland Park, rent runs 9% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
40.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $590,990 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NJ
Unemployment in Highland Park
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Highland Park, is close to the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Highland Park: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Highland Park is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Highland Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.1 min avg
How Highland Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Highland Park, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 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 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Highland Park runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
103.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
763.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Highland Park Police Department
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 Highland Park, 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
Highland Park is about 2% 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 Highland Park, 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
Highland Park is about 2% 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
Highland Park 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 Highland Park
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Highland Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Children's Specialized Hospital
Childrens · 1.3 mi away · New Brunswick
Saint Peter's University Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.7 mi away · New Brunswick
University Behavioral Health Care
Psychiatric · ER available · 2.9 mi away · Piscataway
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.
Education10.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Highland Park
Highland Park's student/teacher ratio is 10.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 69.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Highland Park (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island
14.9 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: Morristown National Historical Park, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Highland Park
Highland Park has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Morristown National Historical Park (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Morristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
22 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
23 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
24 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
25 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
25 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
26 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
26 mi awayPublic Libraries in Highland Park
Highland Park Public Library
31 N. Fifth Avenue, Highland Park
Cities Near Highland Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Highland Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Highland Park FAQ
Is Highland Park, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Highland Park's median rent is $1,873/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $104,694/year. Median home value is $471,700.
Is Highland Park, New Jersey safe?⌄
Highland Park's violent crime rate was 104 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 763 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Highland Park, New Jersey?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Highland Park, has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Highland Park, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Highland Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,873/month and median household income is $104,694/year. The median home value is $471,700. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Highland Park, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Highland Park is 27 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