ZIP Code · NJ

ZIP 08812

Part of Dunellen, NJ

Pop. 14,224·Middlesex County·119th most expensive ZIP in New Jersey

Median rent (all units)

$2,447/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$515

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 08812 · $2,447

More expensive than 79% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,800

1 BR

$1,970

2 BR

$2,480

3 BR

$2,970

4 BR+

$3,290

Research median

$2,480/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($118,316) is $2,958 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,480); a 3-bedroom is $2,970.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 07060, 3 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,150/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 08812. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$29,364/yr

At $2,447/mo median

Location

CityDunellen

StateNJ

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 08812 (Dunellen, NJ) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 40.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

14,224

Median income

$118,316

Median age

42.9

Renters

24.7%

Age distribution

20.5%

19.9%

28.1%

16.6%

14.8%

Under 1820.5%

18–3419.9%

35–5428.1%

55–6416.6%

65+14.8%

Gender

56.8%

43.2%

Male56.8%

Female43.2%

Race & ethnicity

50.9%

34.5%

White50.9%

Black4.1%

Hispanic34.5%

Asian10.4%

Education (25+)

13%

25.8%

20.6%

40.6%

No HS diploma13%

HS diploma25.8%

Some college20.6%

Bachelor's+40.6%

Housing tenure

75.3%

24.7%

Owner75.3%

Renter24.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 08812 in Dunellen, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income

$104,295 → $118,316

up 13.4%

Population

14,074 → 14,224

up 1.1%

Renter share

22.8% → 24.7%

+1.9 pts

Bachelor's+

36.9% → 40.6%

+3.7 pts

Median age

40.5 → 42.9

+2.4 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $118,316 today, compared with $104,295 five years earlier. The population has grown by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 14,074 residents to roughly 14,224. Renters now make up 24.7% of households, compared with 22.8% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 40.6% of adults here, versus 36.9% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 08812

Last updated: August 17, 2026

ZIP code 08812 covers Dunellen, NJ. The median rent here is $2,447/mo as of August 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,970/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,480/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($118,316/yr), ZIP 08812 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 08812?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $98,000/year (about $47/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,447/mo in ZIP 08812. The local median household income is $118,316/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.