The Town FilesSouth River, New Jersey
Borough in Middlesex County · population 16,118 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $405,200
- Household income
- $96,147
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 37.0
South River is a borough of 16,118 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $405,200, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of New Jersey towns, more walkable than 86% of New Jersey towns.
How South River 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 South River is worth $405,200, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $96,147, which is more affordable than 36% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,675 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | South River | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $405,200 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,675 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $96,147 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in South River
| People | South River | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 94.6% |
Weather in South River
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 South River since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 27, 2001 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 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 South River itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in South River
4 public schools with 2,422 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South River High School | 9-12 | 736 | 12.9 |
| South River Elementary School | 2-5 | 683 | 11.6 |
| South River Middle School | 6-8 | 538 | 11.0 |
| South River Primary School | PK-1 | 465 | 11.3 |
Towns near South River
- East Brunswick, NJ2.5 mi · 49,715 people · home $521,900
- Milltown, NJ3.0 mi · 7,037 people · home $458,800
- Sayreville, NJ3.4 mi · 45,345 people · home $444,100
- Spotswood, NJ3.7 mi · 8,163 people · home $369,900
- Old Bridge, NJ4.3 mi · 27,210 people · home $485,800
- Madison Park, NJ4.3 mi · 8,050 people · home $426,500
- Edison, NJ4.3 mi · 107,588 people · home $496,900
- New Brunswick, NJ4.5 mi · 55,266 people · home $353,800
South River questions
Is South River, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South River scores better for retirees than 22% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 11%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in South River?
The median owner-occupied home in South River is valued at $405,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,147, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,675 a month.
What is the weather like in South River?
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 South River get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 27, 2001. 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)