The Town FilesHillsborough, New Jersey
Community in Somerset County · population 22,214 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $435,700
- Household income
- $144,112
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 41.3
Hillsborough is a community of 22,214 people in Somerset County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $435,700, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more upscale than 77% of New Jersey towns, better for young professionals than 74% of New Jersey towns.
How Hillsborough ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hillsborough is worth $435,700, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $144,112, which is more affordable than 81% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,986 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsborough | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $435,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,986 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $144,112 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Hillsborough
| People | Hillsborough | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.6% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 24.7% | — |
| Work from home | 25.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 94.6% |
Weather in Hillsborough
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.0 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 18, 1990 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 25, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 17, 2007.
Severe weather in Somerset County since 1996
Somerset County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
| June 8, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4368: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Somerset County
Somerset County had 190,468 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $106,418 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Hillsborough itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Hillsborough
- Hillsborough, NJ1.2 mi · 43,276 people · home $547,600
- Belle Mead, NJ2.7 mi · 5,569 people · home $810,300
- Blackwells Mills, NJ3.4 mi · 9,473 people · home $735,000
- Manville, NJ4.1 mi · 10,953 people · home $354,300
- Raritan, NJ4.4 mi · 7,835 people · home $456,900
- Bradley Gardens, NJ4.5 mi · 14,077 people · home $546,300
- Neshanic Station, NJ4.6 mi · 5,224 people · home $770,300
- Somerville, NJ4.9 mi · 12,346 people · home $435,700
Hillsborough questions
Is Hillsborough, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsborough scores better for retirees than 51% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 56%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Hillsborough?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsborough is valued at $435,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $144,112, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,986 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsborough?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 21.0 inches of snow.
Does Hillsborough get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 18, 1990. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)