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 128, 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 125.
The standard of living in Middlesex ranks as #105 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Middlesex ranks as the #157 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Middlesex, check out:
Middlesex Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Middlesex. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Middlesex is 108.
The Groceries index in Middlesex is 112.
The Health index in Middlesex is 167.
The Housing index in Middlesex is 116.
The Transportation index in Middlesex is 111.
The Utilities index in Middlesex is 115.
| Living Expense | Middlesex | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 167 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 111 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 113 | 100 |
Middlesex Cost Of Living Compared To New Jersey Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Middlesex Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Middlesex is $536,277.
The Median Rent in Middlesex is $1,416.
The Median Income in Middlesex is $105,000.
The Home Value To Income in Middlesex is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Middlesex is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Middlesex | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $536,277 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,416 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $105,000 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 182, 1.4x Middlesex.
South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.1x Middlesex.
North Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 126, 1.0x Middlesex.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 1.4x |
| South Plainfield, NJ | 24,473 | 136 | 1.1x |
| North Plainfield, NJ | 22,809 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Somerset, NJ | 22,720 | 134 | 1.0x |
| Bradley Gardens, NJ | 14,165 | 152 | 1.2x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 1.3x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 1.4x |
| Bound Brook, NJ | 12,219 | 125 | 1.0x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 1.3x |
| Bernardsville, NJ | 7,916 | 173 | 1.4x |
