The Town FilesPort Reading, New Jersey
Community in Middlesex County · population 3,921 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $435,600
- Household income
- $134,479
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 41.1
Port Reading is a community of 3,921 people in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $435,600, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more seaside character than 87% of New Jersey towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of New Jersey towns, more walkable than 72% of New Jersey towns.
How Port Reading 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 Port Reading is worth $435,600, close to the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $134,479, which is more affordable than 74% of New Jersey towns. 97.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Reading | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $435,600 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | — | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $134,479 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.3% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Port Reading
| People | Port Reading | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 1.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in Port Reading
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.3 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Reading since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 8, 2007 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 28, 2019.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex 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 |
| March 14, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4264: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 430,555 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,400 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Port Reading itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Port Reading
2 public schools with 1,893 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS 75 FRANK D PAULO | 6-8 | 1,503 | 12.6 |
| Port Reading Avenue Elementary School | K-5 | 390 | 10.8 |
Towns near Port Reading
- Sewaren, NJ1.4 mi · 2,885 people · home $429,200
- Carteret, NJ1.5 mi · 25,326 people · home $405,800
- Avenel, NJ1.8 mi · 16,920 people · home $401,000
- Woodbridge, NJ2.4 mi · 19,839 people · home $390,000
- Woodbridge, NJ2.5 mi · 103,639 people · home $433,000
- Rahway, NJ3.3 mi · 29,556 people · home $386,400
- Perth Amboy, NJ3.5 mi · 55,436 people · home $370,600
- Hopelawn, NJ3.7 mi · 2,603 people · home $372,100
Port Reading questions
Is Port Reading, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Reading scores better for retirees than 9% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 42%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Port Reading?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Reading is valued at $435,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,479, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Port Reading?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 26.3 inches of snow.
Does Port Reading get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Reading since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 8, 2007. 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)