08904 and 08846 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
08904
08846
Opportunity
70 · Top 20%
vs67 · Top 25%
Growth
34 · Bottom 24%
vs38 · Bottom 30%
Climate
63 · Bottom 31%
vs63 · Bottom 31%
Physical resilience
45 · Bottom 35%
vs45 · Bottom 35%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 42%
vs86 · Top 40%
Schools
66 · Top 32%
vs62 · Top 37%
Access
93 · Top 48%
vs93 · Top 48%
Economic stability
79 · Top 14%
vs69 · Top 32%
Measured values
| Metric | 08904 | 08846 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,121 | 14,645 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $104,694 | $105,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $58,731 | $51,617 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 8,304/sq mi | 4,199/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $471,700 | $446,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,873 | $1,416 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 40.3% | 73.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | 0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 69.8% | 36.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 11.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1 | 16 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.0% | -48.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.5" | 45.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.2 | 44.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.56 | 11.39 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 23.4% | 18.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 45.9% | 44.1% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
08904
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
08846
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Full profiles: 08904 — Highland Park, NJ · 08846 — Middlesex, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology