ZIP Code 08242
standardSource:
Rio Grande · Cape May County · New Jersey
- Population
- 3,216
- Median income
- $93,250
- Median home value
- $318,300
- Bachelor's or higher
- 33.6%
- Land area
- 13.1 sq mi
246/sq mi
▲ 22% vs US
higher than 76% of US ZIPs
▲ 14% vs US
higher than 69% of US ZIPs
Median age 51.4
New York
ZIP code 08242 in Rio Grande, New Jersey has a population of 3,216. The median household income is $93,250, which is 22% above the national average. Median home value is $318,300, 14% above the US average. 33.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 08242 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 13.1 square miles in Rio Grande, Cape May County, New Jersey. The area is home to 3,216 residents, producing a population density of 246 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 08242 against New Jersey and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 08242 sits at $93,250 (24% below the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $45,552. The poverty rate stands at 9.5% and the unemployment rate at 3.1%. On housing, the median home value is $318,300 (38% below the state average) with median rent at $1,305 per month, and 77.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 08242 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 33.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 51.4, and the average commute is —. We also surface 6 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Cape May County, so you can benchmark 08242 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 08242
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08242.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
51 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
29 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
26 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 20
Health care and social assistance
20 establishments
- Construction 13
Construction
13 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 08242, Rio Grande, NJ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
3,216
Population
13.1
Area (sq mi)
246
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08242?
51.4
Median Age
46.2%
Male
53.8%
Female
5.1%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$93,250
Median Household Income
-24% vs state
$45,552
Per Capita Income
9.5%
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
2,055
Total Housing Units
1,904
Occupied Units
151
Vacant Units
2.15
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$318,300
Median Home Value
-38% vs state
$1,305
Median Rent
1994
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+12.1%
YoY Change (2023)
273
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+173%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08242 have increased 12.1% over the past year (2023). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +173% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +3.6% | 164 |
| 2020 | +17.2% | 193 |
| 2021 | +11.8% | 215 |
| 2022 | +13.2% | 244 |
| 2023 | +12.1% | 273 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2023. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 201 business establishments in ZIP 08242, employing approximately 2,615 people with a combined annual payroll of $92,576,000.
201
Businesses
2,615
Employees
$92.6M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 51 | 25.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 29 | 14.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 26 | 12.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 20 | 9.9% |
| Construction | 13 | 6.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 5.0% |
| Information | 9 | 4.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9 | 4.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 3.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 3.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 3.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 2.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 1.5% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 08242 vs 08251 →
More ZIP Codes in Cape May County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 08242 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 08242? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 08242? ▼
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08242? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08242? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08242? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08242? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 08242? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08242? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08242? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Rio Grande, NJ
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
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Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.