The Town FilesHighland Park, New Jersey
Borough in Middlesex County · population 15,072 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $471,700
- Household income
- $104,694
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 35.2
Highland Park is a borough of 15,072 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $471,700, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of New Jersey towns, hipper than 98% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 97% of New Jersey towns.
How Highland Park ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Highland Park is worth $471,700, above the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $104,694, which is more affordable than 27% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,873 a month. 40.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Highland Park | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $471,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,873 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $104,694 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 40.3% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Highland Park
| People | Highland Park | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.8% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 34.3% | — |
| Work from home | 26.4% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.1% | 94.6% |
Weather in Highland Park
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Park since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 31, 1992 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 27, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 9, 2023.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| March 14, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4264: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 430,555 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,400 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Highland Park itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Highland Park
4 public schools with 1,594 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Park High School | 9-12 | 518 | 12.6 |
| Bartle Elementary School | 2-5 | 433 | 9.0 |
| Highland Park Middle School | 6-8 | 346 | 10.2 |
| Irving Primary School | PK-1 | 297 | 9.9 |
Towns near Highland Park
- New Brunswick, NJ1.3 mi · 55,266 people · home $353,800
- Rutgers University-Livingston Campus, NJ1.5 mi · 3,545 people · home —
- East Franklin, NJ2.3 mi · 9,788 people · home $385,900
- Rutgers University-Busch Campus, NJ2.5 mi · 4,586 people · home —
- Milltown, NJ3.5 mi · 7,037 people · home $458,800
- Piscataway, NJ3.5 mi · 60,804 people · home $449,900
- Somerset, NJ3.8 mi · 22,968 people · home $438,800
- Edison, NJ4.2 mi · 107,588 people · home $496,900
Highland Park questions
Is Highland Park, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Highland Park scores better for retirees than 34% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 2%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Highland Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Highland Park is valued at $471,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $104,694, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,873 a month.
What is the weather like in Highland Park?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 29.0 inches of snow.
Does Highland Park get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Highland Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 31, 1992. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)