Residential delivery area · New Jersey
ZIP Code 08638: Trenton, NJ
ZIP code 08638 uses the postal name Trenton, New Jersey and lies entirely in Mercer County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 23,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 5th most populous of Trenton's 12 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $66,875 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 22% of its land lies in Trenton, and 3% in smaller places; 75% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Trenton · 12 residential ZIPs
- County
- Mercer County
- Census places
- Trenton
- Metro area
- Trenton-Princeton, NJ
- House district
- NJ-12 119th Congress
- State
- New Jersey
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 5.4 sq mi · 4,204 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 15 more ZIP codes use the name Trenton for PO boxes or single organizations
Where is ZIP code 08638?
08638 centers on 40.254°, -74.763° and covers 5.4 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 08618, 08609, 08648, 08628, 08619, 08534.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 08638, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 08638 compare with the rest of Trenton?
| Measure | 08638 | In Trenton | In Mercer County | In NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 22,816 | 5th of 12 | 8th of 26 | 148th of 598 |
| Median household income | $67k | 9th of 11 | 20th of 22 | 436th of 476 |
| Median home value | $245k | 7th of 10 | 19th of 22 | 484th of 515 |
Its median household income is higher than in 42% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 92% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 08638?
The 2020 Census counted 23,548 people in 08638; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 22,816. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 3.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 22,816
- 2020 Census count
- 23,548+3.1% since 2010 (22,832)
- Households
- 9,045
- Median age
- 35.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 08638?
Of the 22,816 people the ACS estimates in 08638, 20.6% are under 18 and 14.7% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is Black (not Hispanic) (43.0%), then White (not Hispanic) (29.4%).
- Under 1820.6%
- 18 to 6464.7%
- 65 and older14.7%
- Black, not Hispanic43.0%
- White, not Hispanic29.4%
- Hispanic or Latino20.5%
- Other or two or more5.2%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 08638 earn?
Median household income is $66,875 (ACS 2020-2024), the 20th highest of the 22 ranked ZIP codes in Mercer County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($67,129 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $66,875±$6,861
- Income per person
- $34,445
- Below the poverty line
- 17.8%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 32.3%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $55,64611,590 returns; wages 76% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 08638?
FHFA's house price index for 08638, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 112% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 79% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +2.2% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $245,100
- Median gross rent
- $1,593
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 58.0%
- Housing units
- 10,053
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 08638?
553 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 2 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade105
- Health care and social assistance61
- Other services (except public administration)59
- Construction57
- Wholesale trade47
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services47
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 08638?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08618 | Trenton | 35,634 | $50k | 1.4 mi |
| 08609 | Trenton | 15,938 | $68k | 2.3 mi |
| 08648 | Lawrence Township | 31,323 | $126k | 3.2 mi |
| 08628 | Trenton | 9,831 | $108k | 3.4 mi |
| 08619 | Trenton | 24,089 | $106k | 3.6 mi |
| 08534 | Pennington | 13,272 | $176k | 5.4 mi |
| 08608 | Trenton | 1,250 | $61k | 2.4 mi (near) |
| 08629 | Trenton | 13,013 | $83k | 2.9 mi (near) |
| 08610 | Trenton | 33,465 | $84k | 4.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.