Middlesex receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Middlesex
East Orange
Opportunity
66 · Top 29%
vs43 · Bottom 23%
Growth
40 · Bottom 32%
vs52 · Top 46%
Climate
63 · Bottom 30%
vs71 · Top 48%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs50 · Bottom 43%
Housing affordability
86 · Top 41%
vs48 · Bottom 9%
Schools
56 · Top 44%
vs22 · Bottom 13%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
68 · Top 35%
vs54 · Bottom 37%
Measured values
| Metric | Middlesex | East Orange | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,645 | 70,090 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $105,000 | $60,830 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,617 | $33,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,199/sq mi | 17,844/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $446,400 | $365,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,416 | $1,441 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.9% | 31.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 6.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.6% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.9% | 22.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 16.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 16 | 172 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 2.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -48.4% | 12.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.5" | 46.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 37.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.3 | 37.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 21 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.39 | 15.04 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 18.1% | 5.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 44.1% | 21.4% | 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
Middlesex
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, earthquake.
East Orange
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Middlesex
65
Your Score
62
Area Score
East Orange
55
Your Score
50
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Middlesex, NJ · East Orange, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology