Signals
Fords
Middlesex
Opportunity
68 · Top 26%
vs66 · Top 29%
Climate
71 · Top 48%
vs63 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs46 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 38%
vs86 · Top 41%
Schools
61 · Top 37%
vs56 · Top 44%
Access
97 · Top 23%
vs93 · Top 45%
Economic stability
75 · Top 17%
vs68 · Top 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Fords | Middlesex | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,771 | 14,645 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $115,861 | $105,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $54,523 | $51,617 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 6,761/sq mi | 4,199/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $438,000 | $446,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,913 | $1,416 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.7% | 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 | 42.0% | 36.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 11.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 21°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.6" | 45.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.9 | 44.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.70 | 11.39 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 21.1% | 18.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 48.6% | 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
Fords
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Middlesex
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Full profiles: Fords, NJ · Middlesex, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology