Piscataway, NJ · standard
ZIP Code 08854
Middlesex County, New Jersey - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 55,961
- 1,149/sq mi High-density area
- $127,806
- Median income Above-median income area
- $449,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 48.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Piscataway pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated and unusually populous area.
- Top 7%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 16%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,149
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 08854 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 08854 (Piscataway, NJ) rose +10.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 262.3 in 2023 to 290.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 08854 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey, with 55,961 residents across 48.7 square miles, a density of 1,149 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 08854 skews affluent, with a median household income of $127,806 (5% above the average New Jersey ZIP), while per-capita income is $44,874. The poverty rate is 3.9%, with unemployment at 8.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $449,900 (13% below the average New Jersey ZIP) and median rent is $2,019; 64.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 48.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 08854 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 08854
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Piscataway, NJ
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 08854.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
276 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
115 establishments
- Wholesale trade 110
Wholesale trade
110 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 97
Accommodation and food services
97 establishments
- Retail trade 95
Retail trade
95 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 08854, Piscataway, 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
55,961
Population
48.7
Area (sq mi)
1,149
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 08854?
33.4
Median Age
49.7%
Male
50.3%
Female
33.8%
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?
$127,806
Median Household Income
+5% vs state ZIP avg
$44,874
Per Capita Income
3.9%
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Unemployment Rate
26.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 08854 ranks nationally
Piscataway, NJ household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$127,806 Top 7% higher than 93% 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
18,225housing units
18,225
Total Housing Units
17,600
Occupied Units
625
Vacant Units
2.94
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$449,900
Median Home Value
-13% vs state ZIP avg
$2,019
Median Rent
1975
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
+10.9%
YoY Change (2024)
291
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+191%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 08854 have increased 10.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +191% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.4% | 187 |
| 2021 | +11.7% | 209 |
| 2022 | +12.1% | 234 |
| 2023 | +12.1% | 262 |
| 2024 | +10.9% | 291 |
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 1,239 business establishments in ZIP 08854, employing approximately 31,170 people with a combined annual payroll of $2,617,549,000.
1,239
Businesses
31,170
Employees
$2.6B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 276 | 22.3% |
| Health care and social assistance | 115 | 9.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 110 | 8.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 97 | 7.8% |
| Retail trade | 95 | 7.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 95 | 7.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 81 | 6.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 79 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 70 | 5.7% |
| Manufacturing | 54 | 4.4% |
| Information | 51 | 4.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 38 | 3.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 36 | 2.9% |
| Educational services | 19 | 1.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7 | 0.6% |
| Utilities | 3 | 0.2% |
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 08854 vs 08846 →
ZIP 08854 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08854
Piscataway (08854)
55,961 residents
- 08901
New Brunswick (08901)
55,223 residents
- 08817
Edison (08817)
44,621 residents
- 07080
South Plainfield (07080)
23,377 residents
- 08840 16,558
Metuchen (08840)
16,558 residents
- 08812 14,296
Dunellen (08812)
14,296 residents
- 08904 13,982
Highland Park (08904)
13,982 residents
- 08846 13,635
Middlesex (08846)
13,635 residents
- 07063 13,538
Plainfield (07063)
13,538 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 08854 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 08854 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 08840
Metuchen (08840)
$146,635 median income
- 07080
South Plainfield (07080)
$130,205 median income
- 08854
Piscataway (08854)
$127,806 median income
- 08812
Dunellen (08812)
$118,316 median income
- 08880
South Bound Brook (08880)
$112,961 median income
- 08817
Edison (08817)
$110,808 median income
- 08846
Middlesex (08846)
$105,000 median income
- 08904
Highland Park (08904)
$104,694 median income
- 08805
Bound Brook (08805)
$93,341 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 08854 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08846 | Middlesex, NJ | 13,635 | 2.7 mi |
| 08812 | Dunellen, NJ | 14,296 | 3.8 mi |
| 08880 | South Bound Brook, NJ | 4,563 | 3.4 mi |
| 07063 | Plainfield, NJ | 13,538 | 4.1 mi |
| 07080 | South Plainfield, NJ | 23,377 | 3.2 mi |
| 08904 | Highland Park, NJ | 13,982 | 3.7 mi |
| 08901 | New Brunswick, NJ | 55,223 | 4.5 mi |
| 08805 | Bound Brook, NJ | 12,254 | 4.2 mi |
| 08817 | Edison, NJ | 44,621 | 4.2 mi |
| 08840 | Metuchen, NJ | 16,558 | 5.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 08854, 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 (55,961 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 08854 in?
ZIP code 08854 (Piscataway) is located in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Middlesex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/middlesex-nj.
What is the population of ZIP code 08854?
ZIP code 08854 in Piscataway, NJ has a population of 55,961 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 08854?
The median household income in ZIP 08854 is $127,806, which is 68% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 08854?
The median home value in ZIP 08854 is $449,900, which is 62% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 08854?
The largest racial group in ZIP 08854 is White at 32.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 08854?
ZIP code 08854 has 1,239 business establishments employing approximately 31,170 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 08854?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 08854 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (276), Health care and social assistance (115), Wholesale trade (110). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 08854?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 08854 increased by 10.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 191%. 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 08854?
In ZIP code 08854, 68.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 48.8% 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 08854?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 08854 is 26.1 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 08854?
In ZIP code 08854, approximately 64.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08854?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 08854 is 3.9% 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 08854's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 08854 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Piscataway, 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.