Middlesex, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Middlesex, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Middlesex research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Middlesex is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Middlesex is 126, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Middlesex is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Middlesex ranks as the #116 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • Middlesex ranks as the #4,776 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Middlesex is $536,081.

  • The median income in Middlesex is $107,063.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
126
Middlesex's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Middlesex, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Middlesex has an overall cost of living index of 126, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Middlesex has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Jersey's index of 122.

The standard of living in Middlesex ranks as #116 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Middlesex ranks as the #144 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Middlesex, check out:

116 out of 260
In New Jersey
4,776 out of 6,489
In America

Middlesex Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Middlesex. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Middlesex is 112.

  • The Groceries index in Middlesex is 103.

  • The Health index in Middlesex is 103.

  • The Housing index in Middlesex is 168.

  • The Transportation index in Middlesex is 104.

  • The Utilities index in Middlesex is 109.

Living Expense Middlesex New Jersey National Average
Overall 126 122 100
Services 112 108 100
Groceries 103 104 100
Health 103 99 100
Housing 168 159 100
Transportation 104 101 100
Utilities 109 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Middlesex Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Middlesex, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Middlesex is $536,081.

  • The Median Rent in Middlesex is $1,493.

  • The Median Income in Middlesex is $107,063.

  • The Home Value To Income in Middlesex is 5.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Middlesex is 0.17x.

Statistic Middlesex New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $536,081 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $1,493 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $107,063 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.0x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.2x 0.21x
$536,081
Median Home Value
$1,493
Median Rent
$107,063
Median Income

Middlesex, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Middlesex Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Middlesex New Jersey
Shampoo $1.53 $1.28
Movie $14.53 $12.13
Bowling $20.98 $18
Haircut $30.25 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.0 $45.56

Detailed Middlesex Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Middlesex New Jersey
Ground Beef $6.13 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.7 $4.67
Potatoes $5.32 $4.93
Pizza $12.59 $12.09
Beer $11.12 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Middlesex Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Middlesex New Jersey
Optometrist $129.93 $125.68
Doctor $124.1 $135.78
Dentist $129.94 $113.29

Detailed Middlesex Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Middlesex New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $72.38 $59.92

Detailed Middlesex Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Middlesex New Jersey
All Electricity $223.08 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

Middlesex SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
6
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Middlesex

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Middlesex. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 1.4x Middlesex.

  • South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Middlesex.

  • Somerset, NJ has a cost of living index of 130, 1.0x Middlesex.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Middlesex
Westfield, NJ 30,760 178 1.4x
South Plainfield, NJ 24,231 132 1.0x
Somerset, NJ 23,851 130 1.0x
North Plainfield, NJ 22,667 121 1.0x
Bradley Gardens, NJ 14,315 150 1.2x
New Providence, NJ 13,577 160 1.3x
Florham Park, NJ 13,134 165 1.3x
Bound Brook, NJ 12,023 120 1.0x
Martinsville, NJ 12,016 159 1.3x
Bernardsville, NJ 7,871 162 1.3x

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