Princeton, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08542
Mercer County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,189
- 3,868/sq mi High-density area
- $105,524
- Median income Above-median income area
- $754,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 70.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Princeton pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- Top 16%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 5%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,868
- people per sq mi
- 32%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08542 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 08542 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, home to 5,189 residents across 1.3 square miles, a density of 3,868 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08542 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $105,524 (13% below the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $72,582. The poverty rate is 4.2%, with unemployment at 5.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $754,100 (46% above the average New Jersey ZIP), with only 32.3% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $2,497.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 70.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.2, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Mercer County, so 08542 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 08542
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Princeton, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08542.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
63 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
63 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
54 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
47 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
43 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 08542, 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
5,189
Population
1.3
Area (sq mi)
3,868
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08542?
37.2
Median Age
52.7%
Male
47.3%
Female
26.7%
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?
$105,524
Median Household Income
-13% vs state ZIP avg
$72,582
Per Capita Income
4.2%
Poverty Rate
5.0%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 08542 ranks among New Jersey ZIPs
Princeton, NJ household income vs. every New Jersey ZIP code
Median household income among 565 reporting New Jersey ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$105,524 42nd percentile higher than 42% of 565 New Jersey ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Jersey 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
1,357housing units
1,357
Total Housing Units
1,264
Occupied Units
93
Vacant Units
2.00
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$754,100
Median Home Value
+46% vs state ZIP avg
$2,497
Median Rent
1938
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
-3.5%
YoY Change (2022)
260
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+160%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08542 have decreased 3.5% over the past year (2022). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +160% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +7.2% | 239 |
| 2019 | – | 248 |
| 2020 | -5.5% | 234 |
| 2021 | +15.0% | 269 |
| 2022 | -3.5% | 260 |
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 2022. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 371 business establishments in ZIP 08542, employing approximately 4,179 people with a combined annual payroll of $445,689,000.
371
Businesses
4,179
Employees
$445.7M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 63 | 17.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 63 | 17.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 54 | 14.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 47 | 12.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 43 | 11.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 23 | 6.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 17 | 4.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 15 | 4.0% |
| Construction | 12 | 3.2% |
| Educational services | 9 | 2.4% |
| Information | 8 | 2.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.4% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 1.1% |
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 08542 vs 08540 →
ZIP 08542 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 08542 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08542 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 08542 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08540 | Princeton, NJ | 47,115 | 0.8 mi |
| 08553 | Rocky Hill, NJ | 682 | 3.4 mi |
| 08528 | Kingston, NJ | 315 | 3.2 mi |
| 08536 | Plainsboro, NJ | 20,073 | 4.3 mi |
| 08502 | Belle Mead, NJ | 11,317 | 6.6 mi |
| 08558 | Skillman, NJ | 6,629 | 4.8 mi |
| 08550 | Princeton Junction, NJ | 19,445 | 5.5 mi |
| 08690 | Trenton, NJ | 18,567 | 8.8 mi |
| 08648 | Lawrence Township, NJ | 32,263 | 5.7 mi |
| 08852 | Monmouth Junction, NJ | 17,220 | 6.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08542, 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 (5,189 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 08542 in?
ZIP code 08542 (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 08542?
ZIP code 08542 in Princeton, NJ has a population of 5,189 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08542?
The median household income in ZIP 08542 is $105,524, which is 38% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08542?
The median home value in ZIP 08542 is $754,100, which is 171% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08542?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08542 is White at 54.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08542?
ZIP code 08542 has 371 business establishments employing approximately 4,179 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08542?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08542 are: Retail trade (63), Professional, scientific, and technical services (63), Accommodation and food services (54). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08542?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08542 decreased by 3.5% in 2022. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 160%. 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 08542?
In ZIP code 08542, 80.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 70.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08542?
In ZIP code 08542, approximately 32.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 67.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08542?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08542 is 4.2% 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 08542's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08542 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.