PlainZIP

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
$68,238
Median income
$103,700
Median home value
8.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 New Jersey average), while per-capita income is $38,926. Poverty here runs at 18.1%, with unemployment measured at 10.2%. On housing, the median home value is $103,700 (80% below the state average) with median rent at $1,391 per month, and 29.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

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. A geography-based comparison follows: 10 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 08609, plus 6 more within Mercer County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 08609?

33.4

Median Age

51.0%

Male

49.0%

Female

37.7%

Foreign-Born

White 7.4%
African American 41.6%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 5.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 10.9%
Hispanic or Latino 49.7%

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

$38,926

Per Capita Income

18.1%

Poverty Rate

10.2%

Unemployment Rate

24.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 08609 ranks nationally

Trenton, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$68,238 44th percentile higher than 44% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 47.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 8.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

5,248

Total Housing Units

4,880

Occupied Units

368

Vacant Units

3.23

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 29.8%
Renter 70.2%

$103,700

Median Home Value

-80% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08609 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 08609 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
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

More ZIP Codes in Mercer County

08540 standard
Princeton, NJ
Pop: 47,115
08618 standard
Trenton, NJ
Pop: 38,229
08648 standard
Lawrence Township, NJ
Pop: 32,263
08610 standard
Trenton, NJ
Pop: 30,468
08611 standard
Trenton, NJ
Pop: 28,038
08520 standard
Hightstown, NJ
Pop: 27,869

Related Areas

Mercer County Trenton, NJ New Jersey

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.