Hightstown is a borough in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Nestled within the Raritan Valley region, Hightstown is an historic, commercial, and cultural hub of Central New Jersey, along with being a diverse outer-ring commuter suburb of New York City in the New York Metropolitan Area.New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 18, 2023.Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Hightstown; A Borough With Respect for Its Roots", The New York Times, February 6, 1994. Accessed October 18, 2023. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,900, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 406 (+7.4%) from the 5,494 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 278 (+5.3%) from the 5,216 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Hightstown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1853, within portions of East Windsor Township. The borough became fully independent around 1894. Additional portions of East Windsor Township were annexed in 1913, 1915, and 1927.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 162. Accessed May 28, 2024. The traditional explanation is that the borough was named for John and Mary Hight, who established a tavern in the area in the 1750s.Hutchinson, Richard S. "Hightstown, New Jersey And Some Hight Family Connections", Hightstown-East Windsor, New Jersey Historical Society News, November–December 2003. Accessed November 27, 2019.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 156. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed January 1, 2015.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 1, 2015.Mulvaney, Nicole. "Virginia woman and her mother to travel to N.J. to confirm lineage to Hightstown's founders", NJ.com, October 7, 2014. Accessed September 1, 2015. "John Hight was the first tavern keeper in town between the 1750s and 1770s. It was during those years, in the 1760s, that the name 'Hightstown' was established, Craig said.... 'John and Mary Hight were the namesake founders of the village of Hightstown, which later grew into the borough of Hightstown,' he said."

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.27 square miles (3.28 km2), including 1.23 square miles (3.19 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.09 km2) of water (2.60%).

The borough is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by East Windsor,Areas touching Hightstown, MapIt. Accessed February 24, 2020. making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton, New Jersey, merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.Municipalities within Mercer County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 15, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Hightstown is at the central-most point of New Jersey and is roughly equidistant from Philadelphia and New York City.Serzan, Kerry. "Borough of Hightstown boasts small-town charm, rich history and quaint lakeside business district", NJ.com, August 28, 2015, updated September 30, 2016. Accessed January 9, 2017. "Geographically and culturally, the Borough of Hightstown is 'at the center of it all'.... The small-yet-significant Mercer County borough lies at the central-most point of New Jersey and is roughly equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia."

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Hightstown had a population of 5,900. The median age was 37.8 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,097 households in Hightstown, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.1% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,216 housing units, of which 5.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,928 49.6% Black or African American 424 7.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 57 1.0% Asian 338 5.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1% Some other race 1,410 23.9% Two or more races 739 12.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,166 36.7%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 5,494 people, 1,976 households, and 1,352 families in the borough. The population density was 4,536.0 per square mile (1,751.4/km2). There were 2,108 housing units at an average density of 1,740.4 per square mile (672.0/km2). The racial makeup was 69.44% (3,815) White, 8.05% (442) Black or African American, 0.56% (31) Native American, 4.08% (224) Asian, 0.15% (8) Pacific Islander, 13.56% (745) from other races, and 4.17% (229) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.29% (1,664) of the population.

Of the 1,976 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18; 51.2% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.6% were non-families. Of all households, 24.6% were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.23.

23.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,250 (with a margin of error of ± $8,281) and the median family income was $72,583 (± $13,355). Males had a median income of $49,861 (± $9,561) versus $42,361 (± $14,837) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,976 (± $3,402). About 8.2% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 1.1% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hightstown borough, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 14, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,216 people, 2,001 households, and 1,300 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,081 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 76.53% White, 8.51% African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 9.64% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.05% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Hightstown borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 23, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Hightstown borough, Mercer County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 23, 2012.

There were 2,001 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $64,299, and the median income for a family was $72,092. Males had a median income of $46,375 versus $35,428 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,605. About 4.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2000 Census, 6.31% of Hightstown's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuadorian ancestry, which was the second highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the sixth highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.Ecuadorian Communities , EPodunk. Accessed June 28, 2006.

Economy

Downtown Hightstown, located at the intersection of Route 33 and County Route 571, is the central business district for the borough. It features restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and historical sites."Hightstown Borough's Top Attractions and Venues", Visit Princeton-Mercer. Accessed July 6, 2023., Downtown Hightstown, Inc.. Accessed July 6, 2023. Downtown Hightstown, Inc., established in 2008, is an organization of businesses owners and stakeholders in the community of Hightstown, dedicated to promoting the "unique ability to be a town big enough to provide a diverse offering of business services while being small enough to offer excellent personal service to residents, visitors and customers.", Downtown Hightstown, Inc.: About. Accessed July 6, 2023. Numerous businesses are also dotted along U.S. Route 130 in neighboring East Windsor.

Government

Local government