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City · 22,585 residents · Somerset County, New Jersey

Hillsborough , New Jersey

In Hillsborough, a typical home is worth $435,700 and typical rent is $1,986 a month. Compared with all of Somerset County, the typical home value is 21% lower and the share of households that own their home is 6 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $435,700

    21% below the county

    4% below New Jersey

    • Hillsborough
    • Somerset
    • New Jersey

  • Typical rent

    $1,986a month

    2% below the county

    15% above New Jersey

    • Hillsborough
    • Somerset
    • New Jersey

  • Typical household income

    $144,112a year

    3% above the county

    39% above New Jersey

    • Hillsborough
    • Somerset
    • New Jersey

  • Households that own their home

    80%

    6 points above the county

    16 points above New Jersey

    • Hillsborough
    • Somerset
    • New Jersey

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

Hillsborough is in Somerset 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 Somerset County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Hillsborough apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Manville, the typical home value is $354,300: 19% less than in Hillsborough ($435,700).

  2. The typical home in Hillsborough is worth $435,700, 21% less than in Somerset County as a whole ($552,100).

  3. 80% of households in Hillsborough own their home, against 74% in Somerset County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Hillsborough

What homes there are in Hillsborough, 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

No kind of home is the majority in Hillsborough; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 40%, less than in Somerset County (58%).

Year built

The typical year built in Hillsborough is 1985, about the same as in Somerset County (1982).

There are fewer big homes in Hillsborough than in Somerset County: 49% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 62%.

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

$2,710 a month

Somerset County: $3,156 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,328 a month

Somerset County: $1,408 a month

Owners with a mortgage

71%

Somerset County: 64%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Hillsborough is $2,710 a month, less than in Somerset County ($3,156); without one, $1,328.

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

Hillsborough does not have the same boundaries as in 2015–2019: that is why there is no change to compare. For reference, in Somerset County the typical home value rose 28%.

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

MeasureHillsboroughSomerset CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.0%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.0%4.0%3.4%
People per household 2.452.642.622.53
Drive alone 68%64%62%69%
Carpool 4%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate3%8%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 26%23%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Hillsborough has 2.45 people, fewer than in Somerset County (2.64).

To get to work, 68% of workers in Hillsborough drive alone; in Somerset County, 64%.

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 Hillsborough?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Hillsborough, worth $435,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Hillsborough, which is $144,112 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $171,522 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Hillsborough. 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 $15,250 (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

$4,002

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$427,808
Total interest
$615,515
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,358 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,363 a month

  • Tight

    $3,363 to $4,323 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $4,323 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Hillsborough ($144,112 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,002
Principal & interest$2,898
Property tax$730
Home insurance$182
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$193

You need at least $15,250 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

Hillsborough and Somerset County

Hillsborough is in Somerset 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).

Hillsborough's own numbers

Typical home value
$435,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,986
Typical yearly household income
$144,112
Households that own their home
80%
Effective property tax rate
2.01%

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

Numbers for all of Somerset 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)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.3%

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 Somerset County.

Everything about Somerset County

Buying

Buying a home in Hillsborough

A typical home in Hillsborough is worth $435,700: 21% below the county and 4% below New Jersey. With the typical household income in Hillsborough ($144,112 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 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.

  • Hillsborough 3.0 years
  • Somerset 3.9 years
  • New Jersey 4.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Somerset County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Somerset County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County New Jersey U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.3% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +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

Hillsborough next to Somerset 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
  • Hillsborough $435,700
  • Somerset $552,100
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Hillsborough $1,986
  • Somerset $2,033
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Hillsborough $144,112
  • Somerset $140,374
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Hillsborough next to Somerset County and New Jersey
Measure Hillsborough Somerset County New Jersey U.S.
Typical home value $435,700 $552,100 $454,400 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,986 $2,033 $1,720 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $144,112 $140,374 $103,556 $80,734
Households that own their home 80% 74% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $8,736 $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.01% 1.81% 2.11% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 49% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Somerset 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 Hillsborough

For a typical $435,700 home in Hillsborough, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Hillsborough's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,002a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $15,250
    Cash to close
    $28,321
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $193

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,922a month

    Down payment
    $21,785
    Cash to close
    $34,856
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $207

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,273a month

    Down payment
    $87,140
    Cash to close
    $100,211
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,675a month

    Down payment
    $65,355
    Cash to close
    $78,426
    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 Hillsborough and for Somerset County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Hillsborough

2.01%of the home’s value each year

$8,736 a year for the typical owner in Hillsborough.

  • Hillsborough 2.01%
  • Somerset 1.81%
  • 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 Somerset County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.3%
1,323
Of those, with NFIP insurance
53%
County New Jersey U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.3% 6.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 53% 63% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Hillsborough

Typical rent in Hillsborough is $1,986 a month: 2% below the county. In Hillsborough, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Somerset 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 Somerset 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 Hillsborough

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Hillsborough is in ZIP code 08844.

For 2 bedrooms it is $3,080: $457 more than the fair market rent for Somerset County ($2,623).

  • 08844 $3,080$3,670

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Hillsborough.

  • Amwell Commons Aka Westering Place 495 Amwell Rd, Hillsborough 54 low-income homes · In service since 2018

See all 53 buildings in Somerset County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Hillsborough

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 is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Somerset County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Hillsborough

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

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

Housing counselors near Hillsborough

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

  • Central Jersey Housing Resource Center, Inc.

    92 E Main St, Somerville · 5 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 7 more
    (908) 446-0036

  • Puerto Rican Action Board, Inc.

    754 Route 18, East Brunswick · 15 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 · 20 miles away

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

Every agency in Somerset County All counseling agencies in New Jersey

Help in Spanish near Hillsborough

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 Hillsborough

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Somerset County is named for Hillsborough or Somerset County.

3 other authorities have an office in Somerset County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Somerset County

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

Everything about Somerset County Housing in New Jersey
See 10 more cities in Somerset County, with prices and rents

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

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Hillsborough, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Somerset 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 Hillsborough.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Hillsborough

Short answers with the numbers for Hillsborough and all of Somerset 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 Hillsborough?

The typical home value in Hillsborough is $435,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Somerset County it is $552,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Hillsborough?

Typical rent in Hillsborough is $1,986 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Somerset County is $2,623.

What is the FHA loan limit in Hillsborough?

Hillsborough uses the FHA limit for all of Somerset 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 Hillsborough?

The typical homeowner in Hillsborough pays $8,736 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.01% of the home’s value; in Somerset County, the rate is 1.81%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Somerset County. 1 says it serves 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).