Zip code 08542: Princeton, New Jersey

Q: What city is zip code 08542?

08542 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 08542 in?

08542 is in Mercer County, New Jersey.

Q: What is the population of 08542?

About 2,533 people live in 08542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 08542?

The median household income in 08542 is $105,524.

Q: What zip codes are near 08542?

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

Residential delivery areaMercer CountyEastern Time

Population

2,533

Median household income

$106K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$754K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,497/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

37.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

0.4 sq mi

6,562 people/sq mi

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

About 08542

08542 is an urban zip code in Princeton, New Jersey (Mercer County), covering 0.4 sq mi of land. About 2,533 people live here, or 6,562 per square mile. The median resident is 37.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $105,524 a year, 31% above the national median of $80,734. 4.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $754,100, or 7.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 32% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,497 a month.

71% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 20.7 minutes each way, and 21% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in education; management; and computer and math (tech). 36% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often another Indo-European language such as French, German, Russian or Hindi.

How 08542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Tech workers17.7%
99th
U.S. 3.8% · NJ 4.8%7th of 578 in NJ
Bachelor's degree or higher70.7%
96th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · NJ 43.6%70th of 580 in NJ
Median gross rent$2,497
95th
U.S. $1,413 · NJ $1,72060th of 517 in NJ
Broadband access97.5%
95th
StrengthU.S. 91% · NJ 92.8%92nd of 576 in NJ
Per capita income$72,582
93rd
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · NJ $54,253134th of 579 in NJ
Median home value$754,100
89th
U.S. $332,700 · NJ $454,40089th of 563 in NJ
Population density6,562/sq mi
87th
U.S. 95/sq mi · NJ 1,270/sq mi101st of 580 in NJ
Median earnings per worker$70,179
87th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · NJ $60,474235th of 575 in NJ
Foreign-born residents26.7%
84th
U.S. 14.1% · NJ 23.9%147th of 580 in NJ
Diversity index65
83rd
U.S. 61.4 · NJ 66.488th of 580 in NJ
Work from home20.9%
80th
U.S. 15.1% · NJ 16.8%184th of 577 in NJ
Median household income$105,524
76th
U.S. $80,734 · NJ $103,556330th of 566 in NJ
Unemployment rate5%
52nd
U.S. 5.2% · NJ 6.3%329th of 578 in NJ
Housing vacancy6.9%
52nd
U.S. 10.1% · NJ 7.5%151st of 576 in NJ
Income inequality (Gini)0.434
50th
U.S. 0.483 · NJ 0.478233rd of 574 in NJ
Median age37.2
36th
U.S. 38.9 · NJ 40.1488th of 579 in NJ
Rent-burdened renters46.6%
34th
U.S. 51.1% · NJ 51.6%356th of 553 in NJ
Uninsured rate4.3%
25th
U.S. 8.4% · NJ 7.5%269th of 579 in NJ
Average commute20.7 min
16th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · NJ 30.5 min547th of 563 in NJ
Self-employed workers6.4%
13th
U.S. 10% · NJ 8.9%432nd of 578 in NJ
Poverty rate4.2%
7th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · NJ 9.7%381st of 579 in NJ
Government workers7.9%
7th
U.S. 14.5% · NJ 14.3%537th of 578 in NJ
Homeownership rate32.3%
5th
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · NJ 63.8%534th of 576 in NJ
Residents under 1813.4%
5th
U.S. 22% · NJ 21.8%525th of 580 in NJ
Population2,533
4th
U.S. 334,922,499 · NJ 9,343,809498th of 580 in NJ
Veterans1.5%
3rd
U.S. 6.2% · NJ 3.7%519th of 580 in NJ
Residents 65 and older8.1%
3rd
U.S. 17.2% · NJ 17.2%559th of 580 in NJ
Healthcare workers1.7%
1st
U.S. 9.7% · NJ 9.2%555th of 578 in NJ

Measure	08542	Mercer	NJ	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in NJ
Tech workers	17.7%	5.8%	4.8%	3.8%	99th	7th of 578
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	70.7%	45.4%	43.6%	35.7%	96th	70th of 580
Median gross rent	$2,497	$1,623	$1,720	$1,413	95th	60th of 517
Broadband accessStrength	97.5%	91.4%	92.8%	91%	95th	92nd of 576
Per capita incomeStrength	$72,582	$53,765	$54,253	$44,673	93rd	134th of 579
Median home value	$754,100	$377,700	$454,400	$332,700	89th	89th of 563
Population density	6,562/sq mi	1,719/sq mi	1,270/sq mi	95/sq mi	87th	101st of 580
Median earnings per workerStrength	$70,179	$56,431	$60,474	$49,666	87th	235th of 575
Foreign-born residents	26.7%	27%	23.9%	14.1%	84th	147th of 580
Diversity index	65	71.6	66.4	61.4	83rd	88th of 580
Work from home	20.9%	19.5%	16.8%	15.1%	80th	184th of 577
Median household income	$105,524	$100,645	$103,556	$80,734	76th	330th of 566
Unemployment rate	5%	6.3%	6.3%	5.2%	52nd	329th of 578
Housing vacancy	6.9%	4.6%	7.5%	10.1%	52nd	151st of 576
Income inequality (Gini)	0.434	0.493	0.478	0.483	50th	233rd of 574
Median age	37.2	39.5	40.1	38.9	36th	488th of 579
Rent-burdened renters	46.6%	50.1%	51.6%	51.1%	34th	356th of 553
Uninsured rate	4.3%	7.9%	7.5%	8.4%	25th	269th of 579
Average commuteStrength	20.7 min	27.1 min	30.5 min	26.4 min	16th	547th of 563
Self-employed workers	6.4%	8%	8.9%	10%	13th	432nd of 578
Poverty rateStrength	4.2%	10.3%	9.7%	12.5%	7th	381st of 579
Government workers	7.9%	15.2%	14.3%	14.5%	7th	537th of 578
Homeownership rateWeakness	32.3%	62.2%	63.8%	65.2%	5th	534th of 576
Residents under 18	13.4%	22%	21.8%	22%	5th	525th of 580
Population	2,533	385,864	9,343,809	334,922,499	4th	498th of 580
Veterans	1.5%	3.4%	3.7%	6.2%	3rd	519th of 580
Residents 65 and older	8.1%	16%	17.2%	17.2%	3rd	559th of 580
Healthcare workers	1.7%	6.6%	9.2%	9.7%	1st	555th 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

10%

5–17

18–24

28%

25–34

13%

35–44

14%

45–54

17%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

37.2

Under 18

13.4%

65 and over

8.1%

Race and ethnicity

White54%
Black14%
Hispanic15%
Asian12%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

26.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

30.3%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

64%

Spanish

11%

Other Indo-European

14%

Asian / Pacific

10%

Other

0.9%

Households

Households: 1,264
Average household size: 2
Family households: 47.7%
Married couples: 38%
Living alone: 39.2%
Veterans (of adults): 1.5%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

13%

$50–75k

16%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

23%

$150–200k

$200k+

23%

Median household income

08542

$105,524

Mercer Co.

$100,645

New Jersey

$103,556

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$72,582

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

4.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

30.9%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.434

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

08542

$754,100

Mercer Co.

$377,700

New Jersey

$454,400

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

08542

$2,497

Mercer Co.

$1,623

New Jersey

$1,720

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

52%

2–4 units

16%

5–19 units

22%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,357
Owner-occupied: 32.3%
Vacant: 6.9%
Median year built: 1939 or earlier
Median rooms: 4.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 46.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 23.4%
Home value to income: 7.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

34%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

27%

Bicycle

12%

Worked from home

21%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

16%

10–19

42%

20–29

15%

30–44

15%

45–59

10%

60+

Average commute

20.7 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

83.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Education

27%

Management

20%

Computer and math

18%

Engineering and science

Food service

Business and finance

Sales

Arts, media and sports

Legal and social services

Construction and repair

Healthcare

Office and admin

Transportation and moving

Police and fire

0.7%

Cleaning and personal care

0.6%

Production

0.3%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Education

49%

Professional and technical services

Health care and social assistance

Restaurants and hotels

Retail

Information

Other services

Admin, support and management

Arts and recreation

Manufacturing

Construction

Public administration

Wholesale

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$70,179

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

6.4%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

7.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

24%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	08542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$76,017	$74,888
Service	$45,455	$26,804
Sales and office	$33,750	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$29,167	$49,199
Production and transportation	—	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

10%

Some college

13%

Associate's

Bachelor's

28%

Graduate

42%

High school graduate or higher: 95.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 70.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 42.5%
Households with broadband: 97.5%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 93.2%
No internet access: 0%
Without health insurance: 4.3%
Limited-English households: 2.3%

Geography

City (USPS): Princeton
State: New Jersey
County: Mercer County
Center point: 40.3545° N, 74.6606° W
Land area: 0.4 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Princeton100% of zip

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

Zip codes near 08542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
08541	Princeton, NJ · PO box	0.4 mi	—	—	—
08544	Princeton, NJ	0.6 mi	4,392	—	—
08540	Princeton, NJ	0.7 mi	50,388	$176,983	$767,900
08528	Kingston, NJ	3.1 mi	321	—	$233,500
08553	Rocky Hill, NJ	3.4 mi	819	$148,056	$597,200
08536	Plainsboro, NJ	4.2 mi	20,817	$137,607	$704,100
08504	Blawenburg, NJ · PO box	4.3 mi	—	—	—
08558	Skillman, NJ	4.7 mi	7,648	$236,016	$910,200
08550	Princeton Junction, NJ	5.5 mi	21,067	$224,213	$807,200
08648	Lawrence Township, NJ	5.7 mi	31,323	$125,514	$428,000
08543	Princeton, NJ · PO box	5.8 mi	—	—	—
08601	Trenton, NJ · PO box	5.8 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 08542 elsewhere

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

Questions about 08542

What city is zip code 08542?

08542 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 08542 in?

08542 is in Mercer County, New Jersey.

What is the population of 08542?

About 2,533 people live in 08542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 08542 in?

08542 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 08542?

The median household income in 08542 is $105,524.

What zip codes are near 08542?

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

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.