Borough · New Jersey
South River, New Jersey
South River, borough, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. South River had 16,262 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 16,118 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 16,124 (±27). GEOID 3469420.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,262
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,118 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,124 ±27
Median household income
$96,147
±$14,340 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$405,200
±$22,018 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$1,675
±$78 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is South River and what county is it in?
South River is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It covers 2.8 square miles of land, 5,787 residents per square mile in 2020.
South River is in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 22 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in South River, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 16,262 people lived in South River on July 1, 2025, up 0.8% since 2020, slower than New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 16,118 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 16,124 (±27).
| Measure | South River | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,124 ±27 | 871,290 | +123 |
| Households | 5,574 ±300 | 307,782 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.89 ±0.16 | 2.75 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,754 ±305 | 317,979 | no clear change |
South River's population since 2000
From 15,322 in 2000 to 16,262 in 2025: up 6.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for South River as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in South River?
The median resident of South River is 37.0 years old; 25.2% are under 18 and 13.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 52.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 24.5%. 26.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | South River | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 ±2.8 | 39.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.2% ±4.0 pts | 21.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.4% ±2.6 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Male | 51.5% ±2.5 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.5% ±5.4 pts | 23.6% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 52.8% ±5.8 pts | 37.5% | −8.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 13.5% ±4.2 pts | 9.7% | +7.4 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.0% ±1.8 pts | 25.4% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 26.4% ±4.3 pts | 35.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 42.5% ±6.1 pts | 47.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.2% ±1.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
| With a disability | 9.5% ±3.4 pts | 10.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.2% ±2.9 pts | 7.2% | −5.3 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.9% ±3.0 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.9% ±4.2 pts | 45.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.9% ±2.5 pts | 19.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.1% ±4.8 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±0.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in South River earn?
Half of South River's 5,574 households earn less than $96,147 a year (±$14,340), against $111,549 in Middlesex County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $96,193 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | South River | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $96,147 ±$14,340 | $111,549 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $121,707 ±$11,820 | $142,003 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,301 ±$4,224 | $50,601 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.5% ±6.3 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 23.5% ±15.8 pts | 10.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 8.7% ±3.2 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.1% ±2.9 pts | 96.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.4% ±3.2 pts | 94.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in South River?
Owners occupy 65.6% of South River's occupied homes and renters 34.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $405,200 by its owner (±$22,018). The median renter pays $1,675 a month including utilities, and 47.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | South River | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $405,200 ±$22,018 | $462,900 | +$36,484 |
| Median gross rent | $1,675 ±$78 | $1,871 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.5% ±12.0 pts | 38.8% | +16.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,505 ±$132 | $2,877 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.6% ±5.2 pts | 63.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.4% ±5.2 pts | 36.4% | – |
| Housing units | 5,754 ±305 | 317,979 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.2% ±4.6 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.7% ±4.1 pts | 52.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.2% ±2.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 19.8% ±4.1 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.3% ±2.2 pts | 8.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is South River building?
Builders took permits for 29 new housing units in South River in 2025 (29 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 10 of 12 months), 1.8 per 1,000 residents against 2.9 across New Jersey.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in South River work and get to work?
69.9% of South River's workers drive alone and 6.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.7%.
| Measure | South River | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.8% ±3.9 pts | 67.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% ±3.1 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.9% ±5.5 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.9% ±4.7 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.0% ±1.6 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±1.2 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.7% ±2.3 pts | 18.1% | +4.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.2 min ±3.1 | 31.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in South River?
3 census tracts lie mostly in South River (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $72,575 (Tract 69) to $108,170 (Tract 70).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in South River) · Census block assignment files
How does South River compare with other places in New Jersey?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, South River is the 2,285th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 60th-most populous of 323 in New Jersey.
South River ranks 527th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 60th | 323 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 415th | 532 |
| Residents per square mile | 118th | 787 |
| Median household income | 527th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 639th | 785 |
| Median home value | 453rd | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 447th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 78th | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 627th | 780 |
| Median age | 700th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 577th | 777 |
| Work from home | 661st | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 280th | 787 |
South River's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, sortable · Compare South River with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for South River?
9 of the 57 figures for South River on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for South River are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in South River.