ZIP Code 08540
standardSource:
Princeton · Mercer County · New Jersey
- Population
- 47,115
- Median income
- $176,983
- Median home value
- $767,900
- Bachelor's or higher
- 82.7%
- Land area
- 134.5 sq mi
350/sq mi
▲ 132% vs US
higher than 98% of US ZIPs
▲ 176% vs US
higher than 95% of US ZIPs
Median age 40.6
New York
ZIP code 08540 in Princeton, New Jersey has a population of 47,115. The median household income is $176,983, which is 132% above the national average. Median home value is $767,900, 176% above the US average. 82.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 08540 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 134.5 square miles in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey. The area is home to 47,115 residents, producing a population density of 350 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 08540 against New Jersey and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 08540 sits at $176,983 (45% above the New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $89,601. The poverty rate stands at 8.2% and the unemployment rate at 4.1%. On housing, the median home value is $767,900 (49% above the state average) with median rent at $2,218 per month, and 63.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 08540 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 82.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.6, and the average commute is 29 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Mercer County, so you can benchmark 08540 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 08540
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08540.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
784 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 259
Health care and social assistance
259 establishments
- Finance and insurance 157
Finance and insurance
157 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 132
Other services (except public administration)
132 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 129
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
129 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 08540, Princeton, 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
47,115
Population
134.5
Area (sq mi)
350
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08540?
40.6
Median Age
49.8%
Male
50.2%
Female
38.1%
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?
$176,983
Median Household Income
+45% vs state
$89,601
Per Capita Income
8.2%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
28.5 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?
19,622
Total Housing Units
18,609
Occupied Units
1,013
Vacant Units
2.55
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$767,900
Median Home Value
+49% vs state
$2,218
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
+6.5%
YoY Change (2024)
269
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+169%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08540 have increased 6.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +169% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.9% | 186 |
| 2021 | +5.7% | 197 |
| 2022 | +12.0% | 221 |
| 2023 | +14.7% | 253 |
| 2024 | +6.5% | 269 |
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 2,180 business establishments in ZIP 08540, employing approximately 48,656 people with a combined annual payroll of $6,074,201,000.
2,180
Businesses
48,656
Employees
$6.1B
Annual Payroll
18
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 784 | 36.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 259 | 11.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 157 | 7.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 132 | 6.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 129 | 5.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 121 | 5.5% |
| Retail trade | 120 | 5.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 88 | 4.0% |
| Educational services | 85 | 3.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 75 | 3.4% |
| Information | 62 | 2.8% |
| Construction | 53 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 51 | 2.3% |
| Manufacturing | 25 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 18 | 0.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 0.5% |
| Utilities | 4 | 0.2% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.1% |
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 08540 vs 08542 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08542 | Princeton, NJ | 5,189 | 0.8 mi |
| 08553 | Rocky Hill, NJ | 682 | 2.7 mi |
| 08528 | Kingston, NJ | 315 | 2.5 mi |
| 08502 | Belle Mead, NJ | 11,317 | 5.9 mi |
| 08558 | Skillman, NJ | 6,629 | 4.3 mi |
| 08536 | Plainsboro, NJ | 20,073 | 4.4 mi |
| 08550 | Princeton Junction, NJ | 19,445 | 6.0 mi |
| 08852 | Monmouth Junction, NJ | 17,220 | 5.9 mi |
| 08690 | Trenton, NJ | 18,567 | 9.6 mi |
| 08648 | Lawrence Township, NJ | 32,263 | 6.4 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Mercer County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 08540 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 08540? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 08540? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 08540? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08540? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08540? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08540? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08540? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 08540? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 08540? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08540? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08540? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Princeton, 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.