ZIP Code 08536
standardSource:
Plainsboro · Middlesex County · New Jersey
- Population
- 20,073
- Median income
- $137,607
- Median home value
- $704,100
- Bachelor's or higher
- 80.9%
- Land area
- 18.9 sq mi
1,061/sq mi
▲ 80% vs US
higher than 95% of US ZIPs
▲ 153% vs US
higher than 94% of US ZIPs
Median age 36.1
New York
ZIP code 08536 in Plainsboro, New Jersey has a population of 20,073. The median household income is $137,607, which is 80% above the national average. Median home value is $704,100, 153% above the US average. 80.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 08536 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 18.9 square miles in Plainsboro, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The area is home to 20,073 residents, producing a population density of 1,061 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 08536 against New Jersey and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 08536 sits at $137,607 (13% above the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $75,430. The poverty rate stands at 4.3% and the unemployment rate at 3.8%. On housing, the median home value is $704,100 (36% above the state average) with median rent at $2,033 per month, and 43.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 08536 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 80.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.1, and the average commute is 33 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Middlesex County, so you can benchmark 08536 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 08536
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08536.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
203 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 76
Health care and social assistance
76 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 26
Accommodation and food services
26 establishments
- Wholesale trade 22
Wholesale trade
22 establishments
- Finance and insurance 21
Finance and insurance
21 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 08536, Plainsboro, 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
20,073
Population
18.9
Area (sq mi)
1,061
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08536?
36.1
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
50.7%
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?
$137,607
Median Household Income
+13% vs state
$75,430
Per Capita Income
4.3%
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
32.8 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
8,468
Total Housing Units
8,353
Occupied Units
115
Vacant Units
2.48
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$704,100
Median Home Value
+36% vs state
$2,033
Median Rent
1986
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
+23.3%
YoY Change (2024)
307
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+207%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08536 have increased 23.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +207% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.3% | 218 |
| 2021 | +1.8% | 222 |
| 2022 | +11.2% | 247 |
| 2023 | +1.0% | 249 |
| 2024 | +23.3% | 307 |
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 470 business establishments in ZIP 08536, employing approximately 18,611 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,366,654,000.
470
Businesses
18,611
Employees
$2.4B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 203 | 43.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 76 | 16.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 26 | 5.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 4.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 21 | 4.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 21 | 4.5% |
| Retail trade | 20 | 4.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 18 | 3.8% |
| Educational services | 17 | 3.6% |
| Information | 10 | 2.1% |
| Construction | 8 | 1.7% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 1.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 1.7% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 0.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 0.6% |
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 08536 vs 08512 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08512 | Cranbury, NJ | 10,105 | 3.1 mi |
| 08561 | Windsor, NJ | 226 | 5.9 mi |
| 08852 | Monmouth Junction, NJ | 17,220 | 4.1 mi |
| 08550 | Princeton Junction, NJ | 19,445 | 4.1 mi |
| 08528 | Kingston, NJ | 315 | 4.1 mi |
| 08542 | Princeton, NJ | 5,189 | 4.3 mi |
| 08540 | Princeton, NJ | 47,115 | 4.4 mi |
| 08824 | Kendall Park, NJ | 12,115 | 6.3 mi |
| 08553 | Rocky Hill, NJ | 682 | 5.5 mi |
| 08823 | Franklin Park, NJ | 9,016 | 7.5 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the median household income in ZIP 08536? ▼
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08536? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08536? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08536? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08536? ▼
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What is the average commute time in ZIP 08536? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08536? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Plainsboro, 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.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.