NEIGHBORSCORE

Fords, New Jersey · ZIP 08863

Fords — ZIP 08863

Crime DataSchools

Fords (08863) scores 46/100 — Below Average for New Jersey. Safety: Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier. Schools: Lower reported proficiency or limited grade-band coverage. A mid-range price profile for the state. The typical home value here is $547K.

46OUT OF 100

Overall NeighborScore

DBelow Average

Tap a tab to compare 08863 against its city, state, or the nation.

Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier.

Safety index45/100
Violent crime share13%
Property crime share87%

Lower reported proficiency or limited grade-band coverage.

School index47/100
Avg math proficiency28%
Avg reading proficiency42%
Schools nearby3

A mid-range price profile for the state.

Affordability index52/100
Typical home value$547K

How this score is calculated: the NeighborScore composite weights crime 53% and schools 47%, each normalized to the local area. Home affordability is shown for context and is not factored into the overall score. Sources & methodology →

Last refreshed — Schools: Aug 2026 · Real estate: Aug 2026 · Demographics: Jun 2026

Nearby Neighborhoods

Not the right fit? See how adjacent ZIPs score — tap to jump over.

Edison, New JerseyEdisonZIP 08837
50▲4 vs here
Woodbridge, New JerseyWoodbridgeZIP 07095
50▲4 vs here
Metuchen, New JerseyMetuchenZIP 08840
77▲31 vs here
Iselin, New JerseyIselinZIP 08830
57▲11 vs here

Real Estate Snapshot

Typical Home Value

$547K

Median Rent

—

Days on Market

—

Sale-to-List

—

Typical Home Value — 23 Months

Crime Overview

Total Incidents

9,827

Violent Crime

1,306

Property Crime

8,521

Crime statistics for this area are estimated from FBI-reported county-level data for Middlesex County, New Jersey (2025). This ZIP does not yet have city-specific monthly crime data, so figures reflect the entire county rather than this ZIP alone.

Full Crime Report →

Nearby Schools

Grades
Lafayette Estates Elementary SchoolKG–05705
39%
32%
Dual Language School04–08384
24%
60%
Fords Middle School06–08645
22%
33%

Directory and latest enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data (SY 2024–25 where reported). Proficiency: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts SY 2021–22; state standards are not directly comparable.

Full School Report →

Demographics

Population

13,052

Median Income

$116K

Homeownership

72%

Median Age

39.9 yrs

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2024).

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

ZIP 08863 has a reported-crime score of 45/100. A higher score represents a lower reported-crime rate under the best available data tier for this ZIP; it is not a guarantee of safety. Review the crime report and current local police data before making a decision.
ZIP 08863 has a school score of 47/100. The index combines reported SY 2021–22 math and reading proficiency with grade-band coverage. Nearby or county-level estimates may be used where ZIP-level reporting is sparse, and state assessment standards are not directly comparable.
The latest home value or sale-price figure available for ZIP 08863 is approximately $547K. The profile identifies the underlying source; Zillow ZHVI is a typical home value measure, while Redfin data is a median sale-price measure. These are different metrics and may lag current listings.
ZIP 08863 in Fords has an overall NeighborScore of 46/100. It combines the crime score (53%) and school score (47%); affordability is context only. Use the component data and its coverage notes rather than treating the composite as a complete measure of livability.