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City · 15,121 residents · Middlesex County, New Jersey

Highland Park , New Jersey

In Highland Park, a typical home is worth $471,700 and typical rent is $1,873 a month. Compared with all of Middlesex County, typical household income is 6% lower and the share of households that own their home is 23 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $471,700

    About the same as the county

    4% above New Jersey

    • Highland Park
    • Middlesex
    • New Jersey

  • Typical rent

    $1,873a month

    About the same as the county

    9% above New Jersey

    • Highland Park
    • Middlesex
    • New Jersey

  • Typical household income

    $104,694a year

    6% below the county

    About the same as New Jersey

    • Highland Park
    • Middlesex
    • New Jersey

  • Households that own their home

    40%

    23 points below the county

    24 points below New Jersey

    • Highland Park
    • Middlesex
    • New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$590,990
3.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,447 a month
7.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Highland Park is in Middlesex County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Middlesex County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Highland Park apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 40% of households in Highland Park own their home, against 64% in Middlesex County.

  2. Nearby, in Milltown, the typical rent is $1,204: 36% less than in Highland Park ($1,873).

  3. Nearby, in New Brunswick, the typical home value is $353,800: 25% less than in Highland Park ($471,700).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Highland Park

What homes there are in Highland Park, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Many people here live in apartments: 3 in 10 homes; in Middlesex County, 2.

Year built

In Highland Park, half of the homes were built before 1962; in Middlesex County, before 1974.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,417 a month

Middlesex County: $2,877 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Middlesex County: 63%

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Highland Park rose 26%; in Middlesex County, it rose 35%.

The typical rent in Highland Park rose 28% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Middlesex County (27%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureHighland ParkMiddlesex CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.4%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.4%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate5.5%4.0%3.4%
People per household 2.342.752.622.53
Drive alone 52%61%62%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit 8%6%8%3%
Walk or bike 6%3%3%3%
Work from home 26%18%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate4%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.34 on average, against 2.75 in Middlesex County.

In Highland Park, 26% of workers work from home, more than in Middlesex County (18%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Highland Park?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Highland Park, worth $471,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 50% of the typical household income in Highland Park, which is $104,694 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $187,547 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Middlesex County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Highland Park. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $16,510 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,376

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$463,156
Total interest
$666,373
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,966 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,443 a month

  • Tight

    $2,443 to $3,141 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,141 a month

    Your payment · 50%

Compared with the typical household income in Highland Park ($104,694 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,376
Principal & interest$3,138
Property tax$833
Home insurance$197
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$209

You need at least $16,510 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Highland Park and Middlesex County

Highland Park is in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Highland Park's own numbers

Typical home value
$471,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,873
Typical yearly household income
$104,694
Households that own their home
40%
Effective property tax rate
2.12%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Middlesex County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,209,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,623
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+62%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Middlesex County.

Everything about Middlesex County

Buying

Buying a home in Highland Park

A typical home in Highland Park is worth $471,700: about the same as the county and 4% above New Jersey. With the typical household income in Highland Park ($104,694 a year), a typical home costs 4.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Highland Park 4.5 years
  • Middlesex 4.1 years
  • New Jersey 4.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Middlesex County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Middlesex County rose 89% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Middlesex County.

Period County New Jersey U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.1% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +62% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +89% +88% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Highland Park next to Middlesex County, New Jersey and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Highland Park $471,700
  • Middlesex $462,900
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Highland Park $1,873
  • Middlesex $1,871
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Highland Park $104,694
  • Middlesex $111,549
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Highland Park next to Middlesex County and New Jersey
Measure Highland Park Middlesex County New Jersey U.S.
Typical home value $471,700 $462,900 $454,400 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,873 $1,871 $1,720 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $104,694 $111,549 $103,556 $80,734
Households that own their home 40% 64% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $9,712 $9,590 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.12% 2.1% 2.11% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 40% 48% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Middlesex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Highland Park

For a typical $471,700 home in Highland Park, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Highland Park's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,376a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $16,510
    Cash to close
    $30,661
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $209

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,290a month

    Down payment
    $23,585
    Cash to close
    $37,736
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $224

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,586a month

    Down payment
    $94,340
    Cash to close
    $108,491
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $4,022a month

    Down payment
    $70,755
    Cash to close
    $84,906
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Highland Park and for Middlesex County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Highland Park

2.12%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Highland Park.

  • Highland Park 2.12%
  • Middlesex 2.1%
  • New Jersey 2.11%

What New Jersey publishes ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ: one combined application (New Jersey Division of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Flood risk in Middlesex County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Middlesex County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
2,391
Of those, with NFIP insurance
54%
County New Jersey U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 6.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 54% 63% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Highland Park

Typical rent in Highland Park is $1,873 a month: about the same as the county. In Highland Park, 40% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Middlesex County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,623 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $50.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Middlesex County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,953 $37.56 $78,120
1 bedroom $2,103 $40.44 $84,120
2 bedrooms $2,623 $50.44 $104,920
3 bedrooms $3,125 $60.10 $125,000
4 bedrooms $3,508 $67.46 $140,320

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Highland Park

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Highland Park is in ZIP code 08904.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,610: $13 less than the fair market rent for Middlesex County ($2,623).

  • 08904 $2,610$3,110

A ZIP code counts for Highland Park when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Highland Park

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Highland Park. These are the largest.

  • Highland Park Rad Conversion 232 S 6th Ave, Highland Park 100 low-income homes · In service since 2019
  • Ahepa-Highland Apts 239 S 6th Ave, Highland Park 57 low-income homes · In service since 2001
  • Highland Park Senior Housing 223 S 6th Ave, Highland Park 56 low-income homes · In service since 2001 · For older adults
  • Ahepa Highland Park 239 S 6th Ave, Highland Park 08904 57 homes · In service since 2001

See all 123 buildings in Middlesex County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Highland Park

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Middlesex County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Highland Park

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Highland Park or Middlesex County. The ones below are statewide in New Jersey: they work in Highland Park the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Jersey

Housing counselors near Highland Park

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Highland Park, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Puerto Rican Action Board, Inc.

    754 Route 18, East Brunswick · 6 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (732) 832-7535

  • Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, Inc.

    100 1st St, Perth Amboy · 8 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (732) 638-2824

  • The Housing Authority of the City of Perth Amboy

    881 Amboy Avenue, Perth Amboy · 8 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    732-826-3110-631

Every agency in Middlesex County All counseling agencies in New Jersey

Help in Spanish near Highland Park

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Highland Park

HUD’s record names them for Highland Park or Middlesex County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Highland Park Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (732) 572-4420

8 other authorities have an office in Middlesex County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Middlesex County

These cities are also in Middlesex County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Middlesex County Housing in New Jersey
See 15 more cities in Middlesex County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Highland Park, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Middlesex County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Highland Park.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Highland Park

Short answers with the numbers for Highland Park and all of Middlesex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Highland Park?

The typical home value in Highland Park is $471,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Middlesex County it is $462,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Highland Park?

Typical rent in Highland Park is $1,873 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Middlesex County is $2,623.

What is the FHA loan limit in Highland Park?

Highland Park uses the FHA limit for all of Middlesex County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Highland Park?

The typical homeowner in Highland Park pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.12% of the home’s value; in Middlesex County, the rate is 2.1%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Highland Park?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Middlesex County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).