ZIP Code 08901: Population, Income, Housing

State: NJ

Total population: 57,263 Household income: $65,810 Rent: $1,814

Overview

Total population

57,263

Rent

$1,814

Year built

1968

Household income

$65,810

Per capita income

$25,133

Poverty rate

32%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

3.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

54.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New Jersey

County

Middlesex County

City

New Brunswick

Total population

57,263

Adults over 25

27,956

Total households

15,676

Household size

3.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$65,810

Per capita income

$25,133

Poverty rate

32%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

54.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,814

Year built

1968

Households that rent

78.6%

Households that own

21.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

30.3%

Black

12.4%

Asian

8.1%

Two or more races

10.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

53.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

46.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

24,079 (89%)

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

2,968 (11%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

38.8%

High school graduate or GED

29.2%

Some college or associate degree

8.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

23.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 08901 with: Middlesex County, NJ New Brunswick, NJ New York metro area, NY-NJ New Jersey United States

ZIP 08901

Total population57,263

Rent$1,814

Year built1968

Household income$65,810

Per capita income$25,133

Poverty rate32%

Unemployment rateN/A

Middlesex County, NJ

Total population871,290

Rent$1,871

Year built1974

Household income$111,549

Per capita income$50,601

Poverty rate8.6%

Unemployment rate4.1%

New Brunswick, NJ

Total population56,345

Rent$1,814

Year built1968

Household income$65,810

Per capita income$25,416

Poverty rate32%

Unemployment rate4%

New York Metro Area, NY-NJ

Total population19,798,537

Rent$1,830

Year built1960

Household income$99,155

Per capita income$55,691

Poverty rate12.7%

Unemployment rate4.5%

New Jersey State

Total population9,343,809

Rent$1,720

Year built1970

Household income$103,556

Per capita income$54,253

Poverty rate9.7%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP08901	CountyMiddlesex, NJ	CityNew Brunswick, NJ	Metro AreaNew York metro area, NY-NJ	StateNew Jersey	CountryUnited States
Total population	57,263	871,290	56,345	19,798,537	9,343,809	334,922,499
Rent	$1,814	$1,871	$1,814	$1,830	$1,720	$1,413
Year built	1968	1974	1968	1960	1970	1980
Household income	$65,810	$111,549	$65,810	$99,155	$103,556	$80,734
Per capita income	$25,133	$50,601	$25,416	$55,691	$54,253	$44,673
Poverty rate	32%	8.6%	32%	12.7%	9.7%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	4.1%	4%	4.5%	4.5%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 08901

Rent & Income

In 08901, the typical monthly rent is $1,814 and the typical household income is $65,810. Rent here is similar to New Brunswick and higher than New Jersey, and household income is similar to New Brunswick and lower than New Jersey. The estimated poverty rate is 32%, which is similar to the New Brunswick rate and higher than the New Jersey rate.

Housing & Affordability

Most households in this area are renters (78.6%), making this a heavily renter area. About 54.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 23.5% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 08901 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 08901 — Poverty

How ZIP 08901 compares in New Jersey (94 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,814	59 / 94	from lower rent	$1,102 – $3,093
Household income	$65,810	73 / 94	from higher income	$41,126 – $232,629
Poverty rate	32%	93 / 94	from lower poverty	1.8% – 32%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in New Jersey with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 08901

Rent

In terms of rental prices, this ZIP stands 59th out of 94 ZIP Codes in New Jersey. Across New Jersey, figures vary from $1,102 in ZIP 08618 up to $3,093 in ZIP 07302.

Household income

When comparing household incomes, ZIP Code 08901 stands 73rd out of 94 ZIP Codes. Throughout New Jersey, numbers span from $41,126 in ZIP 08401 up to $232,629 in ZIP 07090.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty indicators, this ZIP stands 93rd out of 94 ZIP Codes. At the state level, values extend from 1.8% in ZIP 07090 up to 32% in ZIP 08401.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 08901 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,814 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 08901

Annual Household Income: $65,810

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 08901

Estimated Rate: 32%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 08901

In ZIP Code 08901, households that rent: 12,322 (78.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	12,322	78.6%
Owner-Occupied	3,354	21.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 08901

In ZIP Code 08901, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 6,729 (54.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	6,729	54.6%
Other renter households	5,593	45.4%
Total renter households	12,322	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 08901

Less than High School: 10,844 people (38.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 8,176 people (29.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,362 people (8.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 6,574 people (23.5%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 27,956

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.