Is Middlesex County, NJ good for real estate investing?

Middlesex County has an investment score of 58/100, rated as "Hold". The county ranks #573 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Middlesex?

The rent-to-price ratio in Middlesex County is 5.38% annually, which ranks in the 35th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Middlesex?

The median home price in Middlesex County is $567,497. This ranks #937 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Middlesex?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Middlesex County would generate negative cash flow of $1,321/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Middlesex County

New JerseyPopulation: 860,147

/100

Hold

#573 of 1,000 counties

#10 in New Jersey (21 counties)

Market Snapshot

$567,497

Median Home Price

107% above national median

$2,544/mo

Median Rent

70% above national median

5.38%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 65% nationally

-$1,321

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$567,497

Down Payment (20%)$113,499

Loan Amount$453,998

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,544

Monthly P&I-$2,975

Est. Expenses (35%)-$890

Net Cash Flow-$1,321/mo

3.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.38%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

58/100

Cash Flow(30%)

51/100

Based on 5.38% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

82/100

Based on 3.5% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

49/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.4x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.38%)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,321/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

860,147

Median Income

$105,206

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

5.4x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
WarrenNJ	61	$410,388	$2,012	5.88%	Buy	View
MercerNJ	60	$431,761	$2,514	6.99%	Buy	View
CurrentMiddlesexNJ	58	$567,497	$2,544	5.38%	Hold
OceanNJ	58	$527,692	$2,735	6.22%	Hold	View
HunterdonNJ	55	$614,687	$2,527	4.93%	Hold	View
MorrisNJ	55	$677,872	$2,834	5.02%	Hold	View

The Bottom Line

HoldMiddlesex is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals.

Middlesex County in New Jersey scores 58/100, ranking #573 of 1,000 US counties (top 57%). The 5.38% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,321/mo

Cap Rate

3.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.1%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Middlesex?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$567,497

Down Payment (20%)$113,499

Loan Amount$453,998

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,544

Monthly P&I-$2,975

Est. Expenses (35%)-$890

Net Cash Flow-$1,321/mo

3.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.38%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

58/100

Cash Flow(30%)

51/100

Based on 5.38% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

82/100

Based on 3.5% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

49/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.4x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

WarrenNJ

$410,388

$2,012

5.88%

Buy

View

MercerNJ

$431,761

$2,514

6.99%

Buy

View

CurrentMiddlesexNJ

$567,497

$2,544

5.38%

Hold

OceanNJ

$527,692

$2,735

6.22%

Hold

View

HunterdonNJ

$614,687

$2,527

4.93%

Hold

View

MorrisNJ

$677,872

$2,834

5.02%

Hold

View

The Bottom Line

HoldMiddlesex is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,321/mo

Cap Rate

3.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.1%