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Hunterdon County, NJ

RANK #371 / 996  ·  POP 129,099  ·  NJ

PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.3%

Hunterdon County sits in the middle of the pack — stable but not accelerating.

[01] Why Hunterdon County?

The Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, with its iconic red exterior and setting along the Raritan River, serves as a prominent landmark in Hunterdon County. This west-central New Jersey county is approximately 60 miles from both New York City and Philadelphia. The community offers a blend of rural landscapes with rolling hills, forests, and rivers, alongside historic towns. Commute options include the LINK bus system for in-county travel and Trans-Bridge Bus Lines for service to New York City and Newark Airport. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with 8,000 acres of parkland, including Round Valley Reservoir and the Columbia Trail, offering hiking, biking, fishing, and kayaking.

Life in Hunterdon County is characterized by a focus on quality of life, with highly rated public schools like Hunterdon Central Regional High School and Voorhees High School. The county has been recognized for its health outcomes and as a safe place to raise children. The economy is supported by a mix of sectors, with notable growth in transportation and warehousing. The county also has a strong agricultural sector, including numerous farms and vineyards, contributing to a farm-to-table dining scene. Recent economic initiatives have focused on promoting historic main streets and downtowns in towns such as Flemington, Clinton, and Lambertville, aiming to attract tourism and support local businesses.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
7.9x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+2.4%

Below national median

Home Prices
+2.5%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
0.8

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
16x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks overvalued at 7.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Hunterdon County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
129,099
+0.23% YoY
Median Household Income
$133,534
Median Home Value
$478,600
+2.45% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,627
Average Annual Pay
$75,099
+3.6% YoY
Employment
46,663
+1.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.279
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.92%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$579,000
Days on Market
54
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
3.2
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.3%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
35.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
11.2%
Building Permits (2024)
336
Single-Family Permits
149

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.4% 44 percentile
Population Growth +0.2% 40 percentile
Income Growth +8.2% 41 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.9% 68 percentile
Home Price Change +2.5% 65 percentile
Rent Growth +1.3% 24 percentile
Price/Rent 16x 26 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hunterdon County, NJ a good place to move to?

Hunterdon County has a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, ranking #371 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.6% and a median household income of $133,534, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Hunterdon County affordable?

The median home value in Hunterdon County is $478,600 with median rent at $1,627/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.279, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Hunterdon County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.6%. Home values changed +2.5% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Hunterdon County?

Yes — 3.92% of Hunterdon County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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