Princeton, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08540
Mercer County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 47,115
- 350/sq mi High-density area
- $176,983
- Median income Above-median income area
- $767,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 82.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Princeton pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 2%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 5%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 350
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08540 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 08540 (Princeton, NJ) rose +6.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 252.9 in 2023 to 269.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08540 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, with 47,115 residents across 134.5 square miles, a density of 350 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08540 skews affluent, with a median household income of $176,983 (45% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $89,601. The poverty rate is 8.2%, with unemployment at 4.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $767,900 (49% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while 63.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,218.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 82.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.6, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Mercer County, so 08540 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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 08540
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Princeton, NJ
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$89,601
Per Capita Income
8.2%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
28.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08540 ranks nationally
Princeton, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$176,983 Top 2% higher than 98% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
19,622housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 08540 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08540
Princeton (08540)
47,115 residents
- 08648
Lawrence Township (08648)
32,263 residents
- 08536
Plainsboro (08536)
20,073 residents
- 08550
Princeton Junction (08550)
19,445 residents
- 08690 18,567
Trenton (08690)
18,567 residents
- 08852 17,220
Monmouth Junction (08852)
17,220 residents
- 08502 11,317
Belle Mead (08502)
11,317 residents
- 08558 6,629
Skillman (08558)
6,629 residents
- 08542 5,189
Princeton (08542)
5,189 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08540 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08540 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08558
Skillman (08558)
$236,016 median income
- 08502
Belle Mead (08502)
$227,242 median income
- 08550
Princeton Junction (08550)
$224,213 median income
- 08540
Princeton (08540)
$176,983 median income
- 08553
Rocky Hill (08553)
$148,056 median income
- 08536
Plainsboro (08536)
$137,607 median income
- 08852
Monmouth Junction (08852)
$133,209 median income
- 08690
Trenton (08690)
$127,339 median income
- 08648
Lawrence Township (08648)
$125,514 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08540 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08540, both outside NJ so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (47,115 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Mercer County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 08540 in?
ZIP code 08540 (Princeton) is located in Mercer County, New Jersey. Mercer County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/mercer-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 08540?
ZIP code 08540 in Princeton, NJ has a population of 47,115 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08540?
The median household income in ZIP 08540 is $176,983, which is 132% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08540?
The median home value in ZIP 08540 is $767,900, which is 176% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08540?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08540 is White at 50.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08540?
ZIP code 08540 has 2,180 business establishments employing approximately 48,656 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08540?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08540 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (784), Health care and social assistance (259), Finance and insurance (157). There are 18 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08540?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08540 increased by 6.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 169%. 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 08540?
In ZIP code 08540, 88.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 82.7% 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 08540?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08540 is 28.5 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 08540?
In ZIP code 08540, approximately 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08540?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08540 is 8.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 08540's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08540 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Princeton, NJ ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.