08540 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 08540, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

08540 is a zip code in Mercer County, Middlesex County, and Somerset County, New Jersey, which covers Hopewell, Lawrence, Princeton, Princeton, West Windsor, Plainsboro, South Brunswick, Franklin, and Montgomery, with a total population of 48,700 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 08540 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 08540.

The estimated population of people living in 08540 is 48,700, with a median age of 40.5.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 08540 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
48,700
 -6.01% -0.92%
2020
51,813
+6.45%
-
2019
48,672
 -0.6% -
2018
48,968
 -0.38% -
2017
49,153
 - -

Population of 08540 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 08540 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
55%
59%
 -6.78%
Black/African American
5.8%
4.8%
 +20.83%
Native
0%
0%
 0.00%
Hispanic
5.7%
4.2%
 +35.71%
Asian
29.9%
29.8%
 +0.34%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
3%
2.1%
 +42.86%
Other
0.6%
0.2%
 +200.00%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 08540 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 08540 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 08540 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 08540 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 40.5 +5.19% 37.9 +4.41% 42.6 +5.19%
2020 38.5 -5.64% 36.3 -5.47% 40.5 -5.37%
2019 40.8 +0.74% 38.4 0% 42.8 +1.42%
2018 40.5 +1% 38.4 -0.26% 42.2 +1.93%
2017 40.1 - 38.5 - 41.4 -

The median age of the 08540 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 08540 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,447 +24.6% 2,877 -21.87% 3,030 2,219
10 to 19 4,400 -12.63% 3,665 +6.6% 3,787 3,780
20 to 29 3,316 -0.32% 3,120 -7.21% 3,274 2,860
30 to 39 2,176 +8.15% 2,515 +11.8% 2,349 2,791
40 to 49 3,440 1.01% 3,772 +2.55% 3,413 3,839
50 to 59 3,466 -9.36% 3,740 -11.67% 3,115 3,305
60 to 69 2,026 +20.59% 2,426 +18.73% 2,475 2,903
70+ 2,570 -8.18% 3,197 +0.19% 2,359 3,201

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 08540 zip code is $163,074.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 08540.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $159,279.00
  • 45 to 64
    $208,690.00
  • 65 and over
    $95,660.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 08540 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 08540, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 08540 is currently $219,796.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

39.41% of households in 08540 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 08540 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    10.72%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    8.05%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    8.92%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    9.45%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    10.43%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    13.03%
  • $200,000 or more
    39.41%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 08540 is $80,500.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 08540 by the total population of 08540.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 08540 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 08540 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    42.77%
  • Bachelor's degree
    46.56%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    1.92%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    8.37%
  • Less than high school diploma
    0.38%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 08540 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 08540 zip over the age of 16 is 38,762.

Of those people, a total of 66.20% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 08540 is 63.90%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 08540 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 2,878 23.50% 4.90%
20 to 24 years 3,233 62.00% 6.80%
25 to 29 years 2,901 76.10% 2.70%
30 to 34 years 2,102 78.50% 4.70%
35 to 44 years 5,912 88.70% 2.40%
45 to 54 years 7,468 85.60% 3.20%
55 to 59 years 3,330 84.70% 4.90%
60 to 64 years 3,211 73.50% 0.60%
65 to 74 years 4,009 48.10% 5.20%
75 years and over 3,718 10.30% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 08540. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 23,314 65.60% 3.30%
Black or African American 2,165 74.40% 2.20%
American Indian and Alaska Native 7 100.00% 100.00%
Asian 11,504 67.80% 4.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 39 0.00% 0.00%
Other 247 85.00% 4.30%
Two or more races 1,486 49.60% 2.70%
Hispanic or Latino 1,865 61.40% 1.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino 22,351 65.40% 3.40%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 08540 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 08540 is 24,780, with median earnings of $82,141.00.

Women in 08540 are earning approximately 53.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 24,780 $82,141.00
Male 13,040 $111,985.00
Female 11,740 $59,752.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 08540 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 5,382 $118,125.00
Business and Financial 2,534 $105,719.00
Computer and Mathematical 2,093 $128,594.00
Architecture and Engineering 653 $89,583.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 1,533 $92,377.00
Community and Social Service 569 $33,194.00
Legal 486 $139,375.00
Educational and Library 3,373 $59,063.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 743 $70,268.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,326 $103,814.00
Healthcare Support 222 $26,700.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 64 $14,032.00
Law Enforcement 8 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 459 $7,839.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 260 $18,000.00
Personal Care and Service 194 $10,882.00
Sales 1,861 $53,616.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,701 $37,528.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 168 $2,499.00
Construction and Extraction 263 $64,922.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 158 $25,000.00
Production 347 $70,469.00
Transportation and Material Moving 168 $36,176.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 08540 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 08540.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 3,099 $169,353.00 2,283 $98,990.00
Business and Financial 1,366 $151,594.00 1,168 $73,443.00
Computer and Mathematical 1,380 $164,103.00 713 $107,669.00
Architecture and Engineering 477 $105,521.00 176 $48,750.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 931 $77,240.00 602 $93,246.00
Community and Social Service 192 $22,500.00 377 $56,979.00
Legal 370 $161,579.00 116 $113,370.00
Educational and Library 1,393 $99,375.00 1,980 $48,500.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 391 $90,216.00 352 $39,268.00
Healthcare Practitioners 481 $222,850.00 845 $72,096.00
Healthcare Support 78 $48,021.00 144 $26,200.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 20 $0.00 44 $0.00
Law Enforcement 0 $0.00 8 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 170 $24,593.00 289 $5,072.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 187 $18,550.00 73 $17,454.00
Personal Care and Service 5 $0.00 189 $10,515.00
Sales 977 $68,583.00 884 $31,250.00
Office and Administrative Support 570 $43,994.00 1,131 $31,672.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 24 $64,038.00 144 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 247 $80,038.00 16 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 140 $21,857.00 18 $0.00
Production 264 $109,706.00 83 $53,375.00
Transportation and Material Moving 150 $51,250.00 18 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 17,695 households in 08540, with an average household size of 2.63 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 12,438 families living in the 08540 zip code with an average family size of 3.19 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 08540:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 10,743 467 1,228 5,257
Average Household Size 3.23 3.06 3.16 1.26
Total Families 10,743 467 1,228 0
Average Household Size 3.21 2.9 3.11 0

Poverty

Of the 12,438 families living in 08540, 4.60% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 08540:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 19,020 housing units in 08540.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 17,695 93.03%
Vacant 1,325 6.97%

31.31% of the total 19,020 housing units in 08540 are rental units. This is approximately 5,956 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 11,568 are occupied by the owner - or 60.82% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 08540 is $1,931.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 08540 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    171
  • Less than $500
    364
  • $500 to $999
    660
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    1,093
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    1,000
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    940
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    749
  • $3,000 or more
    1,150

Property Value

The median value of a property in 08540 is $661,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 08540 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    167
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    125
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    162
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    173
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    443
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    2,279
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    5,915
  • $1,000,000 or more
    2,304

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 08540. The chart below shows the number of properties in 08540 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,915
  • 1940 to 1949
    732
  • 1950 to 1959
    2,281
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,570
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,626
  • 1980 to 1989
    3,163
  • 1990 to 1999
    2,982
  • 2000 to 2009
    3,109
  • 2010 to 2013
    1,633
  • 2014 or later
    9

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 08540 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    1,272
  • 1 vehicle available
    5,952
  • 2 vehicles available
    7,964
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,507

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 08540 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 08540 that commute to work in a particular way.

33.2 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 08540.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    591
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,762
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,069
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    2,456
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    2,385
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    850
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,440
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    502
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    685
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,688
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    1,253
  • 90 or more minutes
    1,739

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 08540 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 08540

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 08540 compare to other zip codes in New Jersey, check out the list of all New Jersey zip codes below: