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Living in
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.
About
Life in Hillsborough
Hillsborough is a community of 22,302 people in New Jersey. The median household income is $144,112, median rent runs about $1,986 per month, and median home values are around $435,700. Unemployment is low at 4.5%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Hillsborough at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Foreign-Born
24.7%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Median household income
Demographics24.7% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Hillsborough: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hillsborough, the largest foreign-born group is from India (36.3%), and 9.3% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.2%
of households
Married Couples
57.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
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 15% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Hillsborough
In Hillsborough, rent runs 15% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,736
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.7%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Hillsborough
Unemployment in Somerset County, which includes Hillsborough, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
Hillsborough: Somerset County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Somerset County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hillsborough Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32 min avg
How Hillsborough residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hillsborough, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 17 mi
Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN)
Regional airport · few flights162k passengers boarded in 2025
- 29 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 70% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hillsborough runs 70% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
97.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
340.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hillsborough Township Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Somerset County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Somerset County, which includes Hillsborough, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Winter Weather | $45,000 |
| 2024 | 27 | Excessive Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 26 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2022 | 16 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100.0M |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Storm | 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
Somerset County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hunterdon County, NJ (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 13 miles from Hillsborough) is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
90
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hunterdon County, NJ (13 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hillsborough has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.5"
Annual Snowfall
21.0"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
118
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 3.76" |
| Feb | 41°F | 23°F | 3.02" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 4.30" |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 4.05" |
| May | 71°F | 50°F | 4.35" |
| Jun | 80°F | 59°F | 4.69" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 5.51" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 4.27" |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 4.48" |
| Oct | 65°F | 44°F | 4.44" |
| Nov | 54°F | 35°F | 3.49" |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 4.62" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hillsborough
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Hillsborough's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic
Psychiatric · 2.8 mi away · Belle Mead
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Somerset
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Somerville
Hunterdon Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 9.9 mi away · Flemington
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.
Education11.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hillsborough
Hillsborough's student/teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 60.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
60.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hillsborough (within 15 miles)
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
11.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 37,751 students · in-state tuition $18,824 · 85% graduate · median earnings $80,490 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,709 students · in-state tuition $65,510 · 98% graduate · median earnings $133,523 (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: Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hillsborough
Hillsborough has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
18 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
19 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
30 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
30 mi awayNational Parks of New York Harbor
National Park Site
35 mi awayStatue Of Liberty National Monument
National Monument
35 mi awayEllis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument
36 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
37 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hillsborough
Hillsborough Branch Library
379 South Branch Road, Belle Mead
Cities Near Hillsborough
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hillsborough?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hillsborough FAQ
Is Hillsborough, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Hillsborough's median rent is $1,986/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $144,112/year. Median home value is $435,700.
Is Hillsborough, New Jersey safe?⌄
Hillsborough's violent crime rate was 98 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 341 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hillsborough, New Jersey?⌄
Somerset County, which includes Hillsborough, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hillsborough, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Hillsborough is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,986/month and median household income is $144,112/year. The median home value is $435,700. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hillsborough, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Hillsborough is 32 minutes, which is longer than 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