Trenton, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08609
Mercer County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 13,546
- 3,830/sq mi High-density area
- $68,238
- Median income Near-median income area
- $103,700
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 8.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Trenton pairs a below-median household income with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 44th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 11th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,830
- people per sq mi
- 30%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08609 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 08609 (Trenton, NJ) rose +5.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 366.1 in 2023 to 385.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08609 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, home to 13,546 residents across 3.5 square miles, a density of 3,830 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08609 reports a modest median household income of $68,238 (44% below the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $38,926. Unemployment is 10.2%, an important qualifier alongside the household-income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $103,700 (80% below the average New Jersey ZIP), and median rent is $1,391; owner occupancy is 29.8%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 8.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.4, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Mercer County, so 08609 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 08609
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Trenton, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08609.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
44 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
28 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
25 establishments
- Construction
Construction
24 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
22 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 08609, Trenton, 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
13,546
Population
3.5
Area (sq mi)
3,830
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08609?
33.4
Median Age
51.0%
Male
49.0%
Female
37.7%
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?
$68,238
Median Household Income
-44% vs state ZIP avg
$38,926
Per Capita Income
18.1%
Poverty Rate
10.2%
Unemployment Rate
24.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08609 ranks among New Jersey ZIPs
Trenton, 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)
$68,238 10th percentile higher than 10% 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
5,248housing units
5,248
Total Housing Units
4,880
Occupied Units
368
Vacant Units
3.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$103,700
Median Home Value
-80% vs state ZIP avg
$1,391
Median Rent
1959
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
+5.2%
YoY Change (2024)
385
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+285%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08609 have increased 5.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +285% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +41.2% | 190 |
| 2021 | +7.4% | 204 |
| 2022 | +34.0% | 273 |
| 2023 | +34.1% | 366 |
| 2024 | +5.2% | 385 |
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 216 business establishments in ZIP 08609, employing approximately 2,163 people with a combined annual payroll of $125,189,000.
216
Businesses
2,163
Employees
$125.2M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 44 | 20.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 28 | 13.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 25 | 11.6% |
| Construction | 24 | 11.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 22 | 10.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 14 | 6.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 6.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 13 | 6.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 5.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 2.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 1.4% |
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 08609 vs 08629 →
ZIP 08609 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19067
Morrisville (19067)
51,334 residents
- 08618
Trenton (08618)
38,229 residents
- 08648
Lawrence Township (08648)
32,263 residents
- 08610
Trenton (08610)
30,468 residents
- 08611
Trenton (08611)
28,038 residents
- 08638
Trenton (08638)
22,832 residents
- 08619
Trenton (08619)
22,723 residents
- 08690 18,567
Trenton (08690)
18,567 residents
- 08609 13,546
Trenton (08609)
13,546 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08609 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08609 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19067
Morrisville (19067)
$133,630 median income
- 08690
Trenton (08690)
$127,339 median income
- 08648
Lawrence Township (08648)
$125,514 median income
- 08619
Trenton (08619)
$105,946 median income
- 08610
Trenton (08610)
$83,906 median income
- 08629
Trenton (08629)
$82,646 median income
- 08609
Trenton (08609)
$68,238 median income
- 08638
Trenton (08638)
$66,875 median income
- 08608
Trenton (08608)
$61,201 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08609 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08629 | Trenton, NJ | 12,331 | 0.6 mi |
| 08608 | Trenton, NJ | 983 | 1.5 mi |
| 08611 | Trenton, NJ | 28,038 | 2.3 mi |
| 08638 | Trenton, NJ | 22,832 | 2.4 mi |
| 08610 | Trenton, NJ | 30,468 | 2.7 mi |
| 08619 | Trenton, NJ | 22,723 | 2.6 mi |
| 08618 | Trenton, NJ | 38,229 | 2.9 mi |
| 08648 | Lawrence Township, NJ | 32,263 | 4.2 mi |
| 08690 | Trenton, NJ | 18,567 | 4.2 mi |
| 19067 | Morrisville, PA | 51,334 | 4.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08609, 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 (13,546 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 08609 in?
ZIP code 08609 (Trenton) 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 08609?
ZIP code 08609 in Trenton, NJ has a population of 13,546 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08609?
The median household income in ZIP 08609 is $68,238, which is 11% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08609?
The median home value in ZIP 08609 is $103,700, which is 63% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08609?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08609 is African American at 41.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 49.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08609?
ZIP code 08609 has 216 business establishments employing approximately 2,163 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08609?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08609 are: Retail trade (44), Other services (except public administration) (28), Health care and social assistance (25). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08609?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08609 increased by 5.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 285%. 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 08609?
In ZIP code 08609, 47.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 8.2% 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 08609?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08609 is 24.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 08609?
In ZIP code 08609, approximately 29.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 70.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08609?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08609 is 18.1% 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 08609's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08609 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Trenton, NJ ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.