Highland Park, NJ vs Middlesex, NJ: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Middlesex, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Highland Park, NJ.

Highland Park, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,480 / month
Middlesex, NJ · modeled 2BR rent: $2,210 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Highland Park, NJ and Middlesex, NJ using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Highland Park, NJ

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $5.01/month in Middlesex, NJ

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,940 in Middlesex, NJ

Regional cost estimates: Highland Park, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Middlesex, NJ uses Newark, NJ. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$5.01

Savings

Annual Impact

$60.09

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Highland Park, NJ

Population:15K

Cost Index:

100.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$571K

Middlesex, NJ

Population:14K

Cost Index:

100.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$530K

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Highland Park, NJ

The Garden State

15K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 15K residents.

Middlesex, NJ

The Garden State

14K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in New Jersey, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Highland Park, NJ vs Middlesex, NJ

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Highland Park, NJ	Middlesex, NJ	Difference	Change
Housing	$1,879/mo	$1,877/mo	↓ $1.48less	0.1%
Other	$1,870/mo	$1,869/mo	↓ $1.47less	0.1%
Transportation	$1,476/mo	$1,474/mo	↓ $1.16less	0.1%
Groceries	$1,050/mo	$1,050/mo	↓ $0.41less	0.0%
Healthcare	$657/mo	$657/mo	↓ $0.26less	0.0%
All Utilities	$569/mo	$569/mo	↓ $0.22less	0.0%

Housing

↓ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,879

Middlesex, NJ

$1,877

Difference

$1.48

less

Other

↓ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,870

Middlesex, NJ

$1,869

Difference

$1.47

less

Transportation

↓ 0.1%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,476

Middlesex, NJ

$1,474

Difference

$1.16

less

Groceries

↓ 0.0%

Highland Park, NJ

$1,050

Middlesex, NJ

$1,050

Difference

$0.41

less

Healthcare

↓ 0.0%

Highland Park, NJ

$657

Middlesex, NJ

$657

Difference

$0.26

less

All Utilities

↓ 0.0%

Highland Park, NJ

$569

Middlesex, NJ

$569

Difference

$0.22

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,800

To$1,600

↓ $200

1 Bed

From$1,970

To$1,760

↓ $210

2 Bed

From$2,480

To$2,210

↓ $270

3 Bed

From$2,970

To$2,650

↓ $320

Highland Park, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,970–$1,970/mo

Middlesex, NJZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,760–$1,760/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Highland Park, NJ

$7,495

Monthly in Middlesex, NJ

$5.01

Difference

Home Values

Highland Park

Middlesex

$571K

Median Value

$530K

↑ +5.2%

YoY Change

↑ +4.7%

↑ +40.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.3%

Homes in Middlesex are 7% less expensive than Highland Park

Calculate payment - Highland Park Calculate payment - Middlesex

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Highland Park, NJ

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New Jersey State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,796/month

$105.6K

Middlesex, NJ

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

New Jersey State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,796/month

$105.6K

Additional Tax Information

Highland Park, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

Middlesex, NJ Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.6%

Property Tax:2.5%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Highland Park

Middlesex

98 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

15 days

Before moving from Highland Park, NJ to Middlesex, NJ

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Middlesex, NJ for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Highland Park, NJ. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Highland Park to Middlesex moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Middlesex, NJ by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Highland Park, NJ vs Middlesex, NJ

How do the cost estimates for Highland Park, NJ and Middlesex, NJ compare?

Middlesex, NJ has a modeled overall cost index 0.1% lower than Highland Park, NJ. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Highland Park, NJ, the model estimates $149,940 in Middlesex, NJ. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Highland Park, NJ and Middlesex, NJ?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,480/month in Highland Park, NJ and $2,210/month in Middlesex, NJ. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.