Real Estate Investing in Somerset, New Jersey (08873)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Somerset County • Population: 55,862 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 08873 (Somerset, NJ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Somerset, NJ (08873)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $581,824
Avg Monthly Rent $2,722
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $110,396
% Renters 32.1%

Market Analysis: 08873 Somerset

Investors eyeing 08873 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $582K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 08873 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 08873's metrics run below Somerset County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Who lives in 08873 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Somerset's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 08873. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Somerset:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,722/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 08873

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$163,363/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $450,980 $2,660 4.2% +9.3% $225,490
3BR $559,140 $3,190 4.1% +9.0% $186,380
4BR $676,325 $3,530 3.8% +8.9% $169,081
5BR $816,817 +9.2% $163,363

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$607K$540K$474K$407K$340K$274KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,771$2,649$2,528$2,407$2,285$2,164Jan 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 08873 Compare?

Metric 08873 Somerset New Jersey
Home Value $581,824 $581,824 $559,826
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% 8.4%
Avg Rent $2,722 $2,722 -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 08873? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 08873 (Somerset, NJ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 08873 (Somerset, NJ)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $581,824
Monthly Rent $2,722
Price-to-Rent 17.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
4.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 08873

Population: 55,862

💰 Median Household Income
$110,396
This area
$110,396
State
$113,906
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.1%
This area
32.1%
State
28.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-9.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
55.1%
This area
55.1%
State
25.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
22.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
9.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 36.2%
Black/African American 28.5%
Asian 19.4%
Other/Mixed 16.0%
Hispanic/Latino 13.3%
👶 Under 18
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 08873

A+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
11.4:1 Avg Class Size
$29,377 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Conerly Road School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
333 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Elizabeth Avenue School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
561 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent
👥
667 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent
👥
714 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Hillcrest School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
452 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MacAfee Road School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
420 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pine Grove Manor School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
379 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
A Very Good

Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
608 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$27,569 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Franklin High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,200 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$31,320 Per Student
B Good

Central Jersey College Prep Charter School

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,357 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,641 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 2,429 Off-Campus Students
D
American Institute-Somerset
274 students · 3.7 mi
D
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
131 students · 4.4 mi
B+
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
50,617 students · 4.5 mi
F
Strayer University-New Jersey
602 students · 4.9 mi
D
Chamberlain University-New Jersey
1,316 students · 5.4 mi
C+
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education
397 students · 6.6 mi
C
Innovate Salon Academy
247 students · 6.6 mi
C
Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield
324 students · 6.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,429 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tenant pool like in Somerset, NJ?

Somerset, NJ offers a steady renter base at the $2,722/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How does Somerset, NJ stack up for property investment?

Somerset, NJ scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $582K and rents near $2,722/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How do home values compare in Somerset, NJ?

Somerset, NJ home values average about $582K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $2,722/mo in monthly income.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Somerset, NJ?

Rent in Somerset, NJ is around $2,722/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $582K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Does Somerset, NJ favor landlords or tenants?

NJ ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Somerset generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 08873 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 08873 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 08873 ranks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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