ZIP Code · NJ

ZIP 08861

Part of Perth Amboy, NJ

Pop. 59,351·Middlesex County·95th most expensive ZIP in New Jersey

Median rent (all units)

$2,540/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$608

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 08861 · $2,540

More expensive than 81% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,510

1 BR

$1,660

2 BR

$2,080

3 BR

$2,490

4 BR+

$2,760

Research median

$2,080/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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($64,491) is $1,612 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,510); a 1-bedroom is $1,660.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 10307, 2 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,214/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 08861. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$30,480/yr

At $2,540/mo median

Location

CityPerth Amboy

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 08861 (Perth Amboy, NJ) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 16.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

59,351

Median income

$64,491

Median age

38.3

Renters

62.5%

Age distribution

22.1%

23.1%

29.3%

13.7%

Under 1822.1%

18–3423.1%

35–5429.3%

55–6411.8%

65+13.7%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

20.9%

81.6%

White20.9%

Black8.1%

Hispanic81.6%

Asian2.6%

Education (25+)

31.2%

28.6%

23.8%

16.4%

No HS diploma31.2%

HS diploma28.6%

Some college23.8%

Bachelor's+16.4%

Housing tenure

37.5%

62.5%

Owner37.5%

Renter62.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 08861 in Perth Amboy, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income

$54,587 → $64,491

up 18.1%

Population

57,515 → 59,351

up 3.2%

Renter share

66% → 62.5%

-3.5 pts

Bachelor's+

13.8% → 16.4%

+2.6 pts

Median age

36.6 → 38.3

+1.7 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $54,587 to $64,491 across the same window, up 18.1% versus 2021. The population has grown by 3.2% since 2021, moving from about 57,515 residents to roughly 59,351. Renters now make up 62.5% of households, compared with 66% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 16.4% of adults here, versus 13.8% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 08861

About renting in ZIP 08861

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 08861 covers Perth Amboy, NJ. The median rent here is $2,540/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,660/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,080/mo.

At 47% of local median household income ($64,491/yr), ZIP 08861 ranks as moderate 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 08861?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $102,000/year (about $49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,540/mo in ZIP 08861. The local median household income is $64,491/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.