PlainZIP

Belle Mead, NJ · standard

ZIP Code 08502

Somerset County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

11,317
343/sq mi
$227,242
Median income
$816,700
Median home value
77.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Belle Mead pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 1%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 4%
home value, US ZIPs
343
people per sq mi
82%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08502 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 08502 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Belle Mead, Somerset County, New Jersey, home to 11,317 residents across 33.0 square miles, a density of 343 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 08502 skews affluent, with a median household income of $227,242 (86% above the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $87,447. Local economic indicators show a 3.1% poverty rate alongside 4.5% unemployment. Median home value sits at $816,700 (58% above the state average), median rent at $2,298 a month, and owner-occupancy at 81.8%.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 77.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.6, and the average commute is 36 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Somerset County, letting you compare 08502 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 08502

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Belle Mead, NJ

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08502.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 08502, Belle Mead, NJ · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

11,317

Population

33.0

Area (sq mi)

343

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 08502?

41.6

Median Age

49.1%

Male

50.9%

Female

35.8%

Foreign-Born

White 39.2%
African American 2.4%
Asian 49.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4.0%

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?

$227,242

Median Household Income

+86% vs state

$87,447

Per Capita Income

3.1%

Poverty Rate

4.5%

Unemployment Rate

36.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 08502 ranks nationally

Belle Mead, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$227,242 Top 1% higher than 99% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Below this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Below this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Below this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). This entry sits in this band. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 85.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 77.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,983

Total Housing Units

3,983

Occupied Units

0

Vacant Units

2.97

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 81.8%
Renter 18.2%

$816,700

Median Home Value

+58% vs state

$2,298

Median Rent

1993

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

+8.0%

YoY Change (2024)

222

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+122%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 08502 have increased 8.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +122% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +0.7% 153
2021 +7.9% 165
2022 +18.1% 195
2023 +5.3% 205
2024 +8.0% 222

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 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 200 business establishments in ZIP 08502, employing approximately 1,899 people with a combined annual payroll of $128,414,000.

200

Businesses

1,899

Employees

$128.4M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 72 36.0%
Health care and social assistance 18 9.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 14 7.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 14 7.0%
Retail trade 13 6.5%
Other services (except public administration) 13 6.5%
Finance and insurance 9 4.5%
Construction 8 4.0%
Wholesale trade 8 4.0%
Accommodation and food services 7 3.5%
Educational services 6 3.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 2.5%
Information 4 2.0%
Manufacturing 3 1.5%
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 08502 vs 08553 →

ZIP 08502 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08502 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 08502 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 08502 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
08553 Rocky Hill, NJ 682 3.4 mi
08844 Hillsborough, NJ 38,367 3.6 mi
08558 Skillman, NJ 6,629 3.5 mi
08540 Princeton, NJ 47,115 5.9 mi
08823 Franklin Park, NJ 9,016 4.8 mi
08528 Kingston, NJ 315 4.7 mi
08542 Princeton, NJ 5,189 6.6 mi
08821 Flagtown, NJ 354 5.2 mi
08824 Kendall Park, NJ 12,115 5.7 mi
08869 Raritan, NJ 6,881 8.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Somerset County

08873 standard
Somerset, NJ
Pop: 49,921
08844 standard
Hillsborough, NJ
Pop: 38,367
08807 standard
Bridgewater, NJ
Pop: 37,972
07920 standard
Basking Ridge, NJ
Pop: 26,747
08876 standard
Somerville, NJ
Pop: 22,179
07059 standard
Warren, NJ
Pop: 15,311

Related Areas

Somerset County Belle Mead, NJ New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 08502 in? ▼
ZIP code 08502 (Belle Mead) is located in Somerset County, New Jersey. Somerset County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/somerset-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 08502? ▼
ZIP code 08502 in Belle Mead, NJ has a population of 11,317 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08502? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 08502 is $227,242, which is 198% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08502? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 08502 is $816,700, which is 194% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08502? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 08502 is Asian at 49.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08502? ▼
ZIP code 08502 has 200 business establishments employing approximately 1,899 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08502? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08502 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (72), Health care and social assistance (18), Real estate and rental and leasing (14). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08502? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08502 increased by 8.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 122%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 08502? ▼
In ZIP code 08502, 85.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 77.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 08502? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08502 is 36.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08502? ▼
In ZIP code 08502, approximately 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08502? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08502 is 3.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.