Kingston: Economy & Jobs
Kingston's typical household earns $110,813 (1.3× below Somerset County median $140,374; 1.1× higher than New Jersey median $103,556), with homes at a median value of $475,900. The surrounding county supports 430,555 jobs (avg $82,400).
- $97,759 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (at New Jersey median).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $110,813 — above the New Jersey median ($97,710). Poverty rate 2.4% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 21% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.3× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 17.2% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 21.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 2.4% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 8.5% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $429,780 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $42,015,017 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $97,759 (at New Jersey median) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $98,809 |
| Median Household Income | $110,813 (vs New Jersey $97,710) |
| Poverty Rate | 2.4% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | affluent |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $110,813 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.2% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 31% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 31.3% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 430,555 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $35,477,547,283 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $82,400 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 4,202,170 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% (vs New Jersey 4.0%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 18 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 704 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 39.10 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Horticulture Totals, Floriculture Totals, Bedding Plant Totals, Vegetable Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 22,248 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 423,944 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 31,297,273 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 218 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 139 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 151 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 129 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 9 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 72 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 65 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 14 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 646 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 690 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 66 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 197 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Wawa Store 8489 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Distance | 0.2 mi |
Sources: USDA SNAP — nearest by coordinates
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | MIDDLESEX COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $4,698,491,702 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,443.35 (vs New Jersey $6,727) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 863,162 people (vs New Jersey 19,628) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 64.3% |
|---|---|
| Pct Walked | 31.3% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 51.1 years (vs New Jersey 39.6y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 28.3% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 7 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12