ZIP Code 08542 · Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · pop 2,533 · ACS 2020–2024
The median household income in ZIP Code 08542 (Princeton, NJ) is $105,524, higher than 41% of the other ZIP Codes in New Jersey.
Its FHFA home price index changed +11.7% over the five years to 2022.
01 — Where it stands
| Measure | Value | County percentile | State percentile | U.S. percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $105,524 ± $25,710 | 38th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 41st percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 82nd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Per capita income | $72,582 | 80th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 77th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 94th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Poverty rate | 4.2% | 19th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 31st percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 9th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher | 70.7% | 85th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 88th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 96th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Owner-occupied homes | 32.3% | 14th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 7th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 3rd percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Housing vacancy rate | 6.9% | 76th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 74th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 35th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Median home value | $754,100 ± $183,836 | 85th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 84th percentile (528 ZIP Codes compared) | 93rd percentile (22,833 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Median gross rent | $2,497 | 95th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 88th percentile (528 ZIP Codes compared) | 96th percentile (22,865 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.434 | 57th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 57th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 54th percentile (22,922 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Average adjusted gross income per return | $150,780 | 65th percentile (21 ZIP Codes compared) | 74th percentile (523 ZIP Codes compared) | 92nd percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Returns with AGI of $200,000 or more | 18.8% | 65th percentile (21 ZIP Codes compared) | 71st percentile (523 ZIP Codes compared) | 93rd percentile (22,230 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Home price index, 5-year change | +11.7% | 0th percentile (21 ZIP Codes compared) | 0th percentile (510 ZIP Codes compared) | 1st percentile (18,843 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Business establishments per 1,000 residents | 146.5 | 95th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 99th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 99th percentile (22,700 ZIP Codes compared) |
| Average annual pay per employee | $106,650 | 90th percentile (22 ZIP Codes compared) | 94th percentile (529 ZIP Codes compared) | 98th percentile (22,551 ZIP Codes compared) |
Percentile groups: Mercer County · New Jersey · U.S. Hover a percentile for the number of ZIP Codes compared. MOE = 90% margin of error.
02 — Home prices
Home price index — ZIP Code 08542
FHFA ZIP Code index (2000 = 100) — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.
Data table
| Year | Index | Annual change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 100.0 | +14.8% |
| 2001 | 105.8 | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 116.8 | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 118.2 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 144.6 | +22.3% |
| 2005 | 161.2 | +11.5% |
| 2006 | 201.7 | +25.2% |
| 2007 | 201.3 | −0.2% |
| 2008 | 181.2 | −10.0% |
| 2009 | 192.3 | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 158.2 | −17.8% |
| 2011 | 184.8 | +16.8% |
| 2012 | 181.8 | −1.6% |
| 2013 | 190.2 | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 182.0 | −4.3% |
| 2015 | 196.5 | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 225.7 | +14.8% |
| 2017 | 243.4 | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 251.6 | — |
| 2020 | 239.0 | −5.0% |
| 2021 | 274.3 | +14.8% |
| 2022 | 271.9 | −0.9% |
03 — Nearby ZIP Codes
| ZIP | Place | Distance | Median household income | Median home value | Poverty rate | 5-yr HPI change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08542 | Princeton, NJ | this ZIP Code | $105,524 | $754,100 | 4.2% | +11.7% |
| 08544 | Princeton, NJ | 0.6 mi | $197,434 | $1,130,900 | 100.0% | — |
| 08540 | Princeton, NJ | 0.7 mi | $176,983 | $767,900 | 8.2% | +49.0% |
| 08528 | Kingston, NJ | 3.1 mi | $137,927 | $233,500 | 0.0% | +56.8% |
| 08553 | Rocky Hill, NJ | 3.4 mi | $148,056 | $597,200 | 3.9% | +11.8% |
| 08536 | Plainsboro, NJ | 4.2 mi | $137,607 | $704,100 | 4.3% | +53.8% |
| 08558 | Skillman, NJ | 4.7 mi | $236,016 | $910,200 | 1.3% | +49.7% |
Up to six nearest ZIP Code Tabulation Areas within 30 miles, by straight-line distance between Census center points (2024 Gazetteer).
04 — Business mix
| Sector | Establishments | Share of ZIP | U.S. share | Relative concentration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 63 | 17.0% | 12.4% | 1.4× |
| Professional, scientific & technical services | 63 | 17.0% | 11.7% | 1.5× |
| Accommodation & food services | 54 | 14.6% | 9.3% | 1.6× |
| Other services | 47 | 12.7% | 9.5% | 1.3× |
| Finance & insurance | 43 | 11.6% | 5.5% | 2.1× |
| Real estate & rental | 23 | 6.2% | 5.5% | 1.1× |
| Health care & social assistance | 17 | 4.6% | 11.9% | 0.4× |
| Administrative & support services | 15 | 4.0% | 5.3% | 0.8× |
| Construction | 12 | 3.2% | 9.6% | 0.3× |
| Educational services | 9 | 2.4% | 1.3% | 1.9× |
| All other sectors | 23 | 6.2% | 11.4% | 0.5× |
Counts are establishments (business locations), not jobs. Relative concentration = the sector’s share of establishments here divided by its share in the U.S. (1.0× = the same share). Average pay is shown only where at least 20 employees are reported. ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023.
05 — About this data
How percentiles are calculated
Percentiles compare this ZIP Code with other ZIP Codes in the same county, the same state and the whole country. Only ZIP Codes with their own American Community Survey estimate, a population of at least 1,000 and a published median household income are compared, and only those with a value for the measure. A percentile of 64th means the value is higher than 64% of the other ZIP Codes in that group (0 is the lowest value, 100 the highest); it describes the size of a number, not a judgment about the area. County and state percentiles are left blank when the group has fewer than 5 ZIP Codes. The number of ZIP Codes compared is shown with each percentile.
Census figures are published for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which approximate USPS ZIP Code delivery areas; values shown as — are not published or are suppressed by the source.
Use of this page
Area statistics only. These figures describe a ZIP Code area — not any person or household — and do not rate the area or the people who live there. CoverFi is not a consumer reporting agency; do not use this page to make decisions about credit, insurance, employment or housing.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. Estimates are survey-based and have margins of error.
- U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 (establishment counts by NAICS sector; employment and payroll totals).
- Federal Housing Finance Agency, House Price Index for five-digit ZIP Codes, census tracts and counties — annual, developmental, not seasonally adjusted.
- IRS Statistics of Income, Individual Income Tax ZIP Code Data, tax year 2022.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (ZCTA locations, used for nearby ZIP Codes).
- HUD USPS ZIP Code Crosswalk Files (ZIP-to-tract and ZIP-to-county assignment).
This product uses Census Bureau data but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. This product uses the HUD User Data API but is not endorsed or certified by HUD User. ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are Census approximations of USPS ZIP Code delivery areas and may not match them exactly. ZIP Code is a trademark of the United States Postal Service.