Highland Park, NJ Eviction Risk Score Middlesex County · New Jersey · Population 15,121
Sub-score breakdown
Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.
Location & regional heat
Heat density reflects surrounding cities. Click any nearby city to compare.
About eviction risk in Highland Park, NJ
Highland Park, NJ has an eviction risk score of 5.6 out of 10, placing it in the elevated-risk tier for landlords operating in Middlesex County and the state of New Jersey. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.
Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 27.3% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Highland Park is $1,873/month. About 59.7% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.
Economic stress: poverty rate 9.3%, unemployment 4.7%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.
Political climate: In 2020, Middlesex County voted Democratic by 22.0 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.
What this score means for landlords
At 5.6/10, Highland Park is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.
Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison
Landlord Guides & Research Tools
Deepen your market research with these ACS-data guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each ranking.
- Rent Control Cities 2026 — Full National List & Map
- Best Cities for Landlords 2026 — see where Highland Park ranks nationally
- Most Rent-Burdened Cities in America — ACS 2023 leaderboard
- New Jersey Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in New Jersey
- Middlesex County — compare every city in the county