Highland Park and Middlesex 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
Highland Park
Middlesex
Opportunity
69 · Top 24%
vs66 · Top 29%
Growth
36 · Bottom 25%
vs40 · Bottom 32%
Climate
63 · Bottom 30%
vs63 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs46 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 41%
vs86 · Top 41%
Schools
62 · Top 37%
vs56 · Top 44%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs93 · Top 45%
Economic stability
75 · Top 16%
vs68 · Top 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Highland Park | Middlesex | 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
Highland Park
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Middlesex
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Highland Park
65
Your Score
61
Area Score
Middlesex
65
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Highland Park, NJ · Middlesex, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology