Zip code 08540: Princeton, New Jersey

Q: What city is zip code 08540?

08540 is assigned to Princeton, New Jersey. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 08540 in?

08540 is mostly in Mercer County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 08540?

About 50,388 people live in 08540, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 08540?

The median household income in 08540 is $176,983.

Q: What zip codes are near 08540?

The closest zip codes to 08540 are 08542, 08541, 08544, 08528, 08553.

Residential delivery areaMercer CountyEastern Time

Population

50,388

Median household income

$177K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$768K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,218/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

52 sq mi

974 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 08540

08540 is a suburban zip code in Princeton, New Jersey (Mercer County), covering 52 sq mi of land. About 50,388 people live here, or 974 per square mile. The median resident is 40.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $176,983 a year, about 2.2× the national median of $80,734. 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $767,900, or 4.3 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 64% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,218 a month.

83% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 28.5 minutes each way, and 37% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; education; and business and finance. 46% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often an Asian or Pacific Island language.

How 08540 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Bachelor's degree or higher82.7%
99th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NJ 43.6%15th of 580 in NJ
Work from home36.9%
99th
U.S. 15.1% · NJ 16.8%10th of 577 in NJ
Median household income$176,983
98th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · NJ $103,55675th of 566 in NJ
Per capita income$89,601
97th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NJ $54,25360th of 579 in NJ
Median earnings per worker$94,533
97th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · NJ $60,47477th of 575 in NJ
Tech workers10.4%
97th
U.S. 3.8% · NJ 4.8%35th of 578 in NJ
Foreign-born residents38.1%
94th
U.S. 14.1% · NJ 23.9%68th of 580 in NJ
Median home value$767,900
90th
U.S. $332,700 · NJ $454,40086th of 563 in NJ
Median gross rent$2,218
90th
U.S. $1,413 · NJ $1,72092nd of 517 in NJ
Income inequality (Gini)0.494
86th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · NJ 0.47865th of 574 in NJ
Population50,388
81st
U.S. 334,922,499 · NJ 9,343,80926th of 580 in NJ
Diversity index63.5
80th
U.S. 61.4 · NJ 66.4104th of 580 in NJ
Broadband access95.3%
79th
U.S. 91% · NJ 92.8%233rd of 576 in NJ
Self-employed workers11.2%
71st
U.S. 10% · NJ 8.9%163rd of 578 in NJ
Average commute28.5 min
66th
U.S. 26.4 min · NJ 30.5 min356th of 563 in NJ
Median age40.6
62nd
U.S. 38.9 · NJ 40.1361st of 579 in NJ
Residents under 1822.7%
56th
U.S. 22% · NJ 21.8%177th of 580 in NJ
Population density974/sq mi
43rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · NJ 1,270/sq mi387th of 580 in NJ
Homeownership rate63.7%
39th
U.S. 65.2% · NJ 63.8%419th of 576 in NJ
Residents 65 and older15%
38th
U.S. 17.2% · NJ 17.2%409th of 580 in NJ
Unemployment rate4.1%
36th
U.S. 5.2% · NJ 6.3%422nd of 578 in NJ
Housing vacancy5.2%
35th
U.S. 10.1% · NJ 7.5%228th of 576 in NJ
Poverty rate8.2%
33rd
U.S. 12.5% · NJ 9.7%184th of 579 in NJ
Rent-burdened renters39.6%
15th
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · NJ 51.6%449th of 553 in NJ
Veterans2.3%
9th
U.S. 6.2% · NJ 3.7%454th of 580 in NJ
Government workers8.4%
9th
U.S. 14.5% · NJ 14.3%534th of 578 in NJ
Uninsured rate2.1%
6th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · NJ 7.5%445th of 579 in NJ
Healthcare workers5.7%
6th
U.S. 9.7% · NJ 9.2%500th of 578 in NJ

Measure	08540	Mercer	NJ	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NJ
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	82.7%	45.4%	43.6%	35.7%	99th	15th of 580
Work from home	36.9%	19.5%	16.8%	15.1%	99th	10th of 577
Median household incomeStrength	$176,983	$100,645	$103,556	$80,734	98th	75th of 566
Per capita incomeStrength	$89,601	$53,765	$54,253	$44,673	97th	60th of 579
Median earnings per workerStrength	$94,533	$56,431	$60,474	$49,666	97th	77th of 575
Tech workers	10.4%	5.8%	4.8%	3.8%	97th	35th of 578
Foreign-born residents	38.1%	27%	23.9%	14.1%	94th	68th of 580
Median home value	$767,900	$377,700	$454,400	$332,700	90th	86th of 563
Median gross rent	$2,218	$1,623	$1,720	$1,413	90th	92nd of 517
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.494	0.493	0.478	0.483	86th	65th of 574
Population	50,388	385,864	9,343,809	334,922,499	81st	26th of 580
Diversity index	63.5	71.6	66.4	61.4	80th	104th of 580
Broadband access	95.3%	91.4%	92.8%	91%	79th	233rd of 576
Self-employed workers	11.2%	8%	8.9%	10%	71st	163rd of 578
Average commute	28.5 min	27.1 min	30.5 min	26.4 min	66th	356th of 563
Median age	40.6	39.5	40.1	38.9	62nd	361st of 579
Residents under 18	22.7%	22%	21.8%	22%	56th	177th of 580
Population density	974/sq mi	1,719/sq mi	1,270/sq mi	95/sq mi	43rd	387th of 580
Homeownership rate	63.7%	62.2%	63.8%	65.2%	39th	419th of 576
Residents 65 and older	15%	16%	17.2%	17.2%	38th	409th of 580
Unemployment rate	4.1%	6.3%	6.3%	5.2%	36th	422nd of 578
Housing vacancy	5.2%	4.6%	7.5%	10.1%	35th	228th of 576
Poverty rate	8.2%	10.3%	9.7%	12.5%	33rd	184th of 579
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	39.6%	50.1%	51.6%	51.1%	15th	449th of 553
Veterans	2.3%	3.4%	3.7%	6.2%	9th	454th of 580
Government workers	8.4%	15.2%	14.3%	14.5%	9th	534th of 578
Uninsured rateStrength	2.1%	7.9%	7.5%	8.4%	6th	445th of 579
Healthcare workers	5.7%	6.6%	9.2%	9.7%	6th	500th of 578

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

18%

5–17

11%

18–24

10%

25–34

13%

35–44

15%

45–54

13%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

40.6

Under 18

22.7%

65 and over

15%

Race and ethnicity

White49%
Black6%
Hispanic7%
Asian33%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other1%
Multiracial3%

Diversity index

63.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

38.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

28.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

54%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

19%

Asian / Pacific

19%

Other

Households

Households: 18,609
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 68.8%
Married couples: 58.5%
Living alone: 27.1%
Veterans (of adults): 2.3%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

$50–75k

$75–100k

$100–150k

11%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

46%

Median household income

08540

$176,983

Mercer Co.

$100,645

New Jersey

$103,556

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$89,601

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

56.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.494

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

08540

$767,900

Mercer Co.

$377,700

New Jersey

$454,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

08540

$2,218

Mercer Co.

$1,623

New Jersey

$1,720

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

68%

2–4 units

5–19 units

14%

20+ units

14%

Mobile home

0.0%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 19,622
Owner-occupied: 63.7%
Vacant: 5.2%
Median year built: 1986
Median rooms: 6
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 39.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 17.3%
Home value to income: 4.3× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

41%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

37%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

13%

10–19

35%

20–29

20%

30–44

11%

45–59

60+

14%

Average commute

28.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

67.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

21%

Education

15%

Business and finance

11%

Computer and math

10%

Engineering and science

Office and admin

Healthcare

Sales

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Cleaning and personal care

Construction and repair

Transportation and moving

Food service

Production

Police and fire

0.9%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.6%

Industries

Education

23%

Professional and technical services

20%

Finance, insurance and real estate

12%

Health care and social assistance

10%

Manufacturing

Information

Retail

Admin, support and management

Other services

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

0.7%

Median earnings per worker

$94,533

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

8.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

20%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	08540	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$117,732	$74,888
Service	$25,043	$26,804
Sales and office	$45,895	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$34,088	$49,199
Production and transportation	$39,281	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

Some college

Associate's

Bachelor's

33%

Graduate

50%

High school graduate or higher: 97.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 82.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 49.7%
Households with broadband: 95.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 88.8%
No internet access: 1.6%
Without health insurance: 2.1%
Limited-English households: 6.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Princeton
State: New Jersey
County: Mercer County
Center point: 40.3647° N, 74.6563° W
Land area: 52 sq mi
Water area: 1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

08540 spans 3 counties

Mercer County63% of land
Somerset County27% of land
Middlesex County11% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Princeton34% of zip
East Rocky Hill (unincorporated)8% of zip
Griggstown (unincorporated)5% of zip
Ten Mile Run (unincorporated)5% of zip
Heathcote (unincorporated)3% of zip
Kingston (unincorporated)2% of zip
Princeton Junction (unincorporated)2% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 08540

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
08542	Princeton, NJ	0.7 mi	2,533	$105,524	$754,100
08541	Princeton, NJ · PO box	1.1 mi	—	—	—
08544	Princeton, NJ	1.3 mi	4,392	—	—
08528	Kingston, NJ	2.5 mi	321	—	$233,500
08553	Rocky Hill, NJ	2.6 mi	819	$148,056	$597,200
08504	Blawenburg, NJ · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
08558	Skillman, NJ	4.2 mi	7,648	$236,016	$910,200
08536	Plainsboro, NJ	4.3 mi	20,817	$137,607	$704,100
08502	Belle Mead, NJ	5.8 mi	11,849	$227,242	$816,700
08550	Princeton Junction, NJ	6.1 mi	21,067	$224,213	$807,200
08852	Monmouth Junction, NJ	6.2 mi	18,062	$133,209	$523,000
08648	Lawrence Township, NJ	6.4 mi	31,323	$125,514	$428,000

Zip codes like 08540 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 08540

What city is zip code 08540?

08540 is assigned to Princeton, New Jersey. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 08540 in?

08540 is mostly in Mercer County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 08540?

About 50,388 people live in 08540, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 08540 in?

08540 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 08540?

The median household income in 08540 is $176,983.

What zip codes are near 08540?

The closest zip codes to 08540 are 08542, 08541, 08544, 08528, 08553.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08540, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.