Median Income
$137,748
household / year
Median Home Value
$395,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,948
gross / month
Cost of Living
112
national avg = 100

Is Hillsborough, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Hillsborough is a small city of 21,865 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $137,748 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Hillsborough stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes. Whether Hillsborough is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hillsborough city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 112.5

Hillsborough's overall cost of living index is 112.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hillsborough costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric Hillsborough, NJ National Avg
Median Home Value $395,400 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,948 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 82.1% 65.9%
Median Household Income $137,748 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hillsborough's violent crime rate is 20.4 per 100,000 residents — 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
20.4 /100k
Property Crime
290.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hillsborough is served primarily by Hillsborough Township Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Hillsborough, NJ National Avg
School District Hillsborough Township Public School District —
Elementary Schools 6 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 11.5:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 57.9% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 95.6% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hillsborough sees average highs of 38.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 48.5 inches of annual precipitation and 21.0 inches of snow per year.

MetricHillsborough, NJ
Average High — January38.7°F
Average High — July85.5°F
Annual Precipitation48.5"
Annual Snowfall21.0"

Demographics

MetricHillsborough, NJNational Avg
Population21,865—
Median Age42.038.9
Unemployment Rate3.8%3.7%
Avg Commute Time34.1 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)64.7%59.3%
Black or African American4.5%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino7.9%18.9%
Asian18.8%6.3%
Under 1819.3%22.2%
65 and over13.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Flagtown, NJ 2 mi Belle Mead, NJ 3 mi Millstone, NJ 3 mi Neshanic, NJ 3 mi Blackwells Mills, NJ 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Hillsborough

Hillsborough, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

08844

Hillsborough vs Other Cities

Hillsborough, NJ vs Flagtown, NJ Hillsborough, NJ vs Belle Mead, NJ Hillsborough, NJ vs Millstone, NJ Hillsborough, NJ vs Neshanic, NJ Hillsborough, NJ vs Blackwells Mills, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Hillsborough's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Hillsborough roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $395,400 and median rent is $1,948/month.
Hillsborough's violent crime rate is 20.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 290.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hillsborough are operated by Hillsborough Township Public School District. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 57.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hillsborough, NJ has a population of 21,865, a median household income of $137,748, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Hillsborough averages 38.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.5 inches with about 21.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hillsborough, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08844.
The population of Hillsborough, New Jersey is 21,865 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hillsborough: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $395,400, median household income $137,748, crime index 9 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hillsborough side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.