Area data
Princeton, NJ — ZIP 08540
Population: 50,388 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 08540 (Princeton, NJ) is $987,711 — up 2.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $850,000 after a median 54.5 days on market. Typical rent runs $3,502/month. 7 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with icestorm, strongwind, winterweather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.5% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$987,711
Median home value
+2.6%
1-year change
54.5
Median days on market
Relatively High
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $987,711
- 1-year appreciation
- +2.6%
- 3-year appreciation
- +18.3%
- 5-year appreciation
- +37.8%
- 10-year appreciation
- +55.6%
- All-time peak (2026-07)
- $987,711
- House Price Index (state)
- 430.8 (+5.2% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $850,000
- Median list price
- $998,000
- Median price per sqft
- $390
- 1-year sale-price change
- -3.6%
- Median days on market
- 54.5 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 110
- For-sale inventory
- 179
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 100.6%
- Active listings
- 169
- 1-year forecast
- +2.4%
- Days to pending
- 36 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 66
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $3,502/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +2.6%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,385/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,731/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $2,099/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,729/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $3,149/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (High)
- 112.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 22.6¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $14.20/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 7
- Elementary schools
- 5
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 1
- Charter schools
- 1
- School districts serving the area
- Princeton Charter School, Princeton Public School District
- Schools include
- Princeton Charter School, Johnson Park School, Princeton High School, Princeton Middle School, Riverside School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively High
- Top hazards (county)
- iceStorm, strongWind, winterWeather, hurricane, inlandFlooding
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coastalFlooding: Relatively Low · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · hurricane: Relatively High
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 35% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 35.0%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 4
- Nearest Superfund site
- Rocky Hill Municipal Well (2.7 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 79.0°F
- Average high
- 80.0°F
- Average low
- 78.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 48.3 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 7a (extreme annual low 0 to 5°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 49
- Days with Good air quality
- 194
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 160
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 4
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 244
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 17.3 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- 111
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 83,234
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 68,435
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 27
- Nearest national park
- Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River (18 mi)
- National parks include
- Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, Morristown National Historical Park
- Airports within 30 mi
- 51
- Nearest airport
- Princeton Airport (PCT) (3 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN) (10 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 339
- Hospitals include
- ST VINCENT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER, MEDICAL WEST, AN AFFILIATE OF UAB HEALTH SYSTEM
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.0 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (4.0 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -1,987 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,986
- Housing built before 1970
- 33.0%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 27.5%
- Median annual property tax
- $10,001
- Mean commute to work
- 18 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 88.8%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 187,294
- Average weekly wage
- $1,785
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Professional Services, Administrative Services
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 771
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 08540 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $987,711 | $577,759 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $850,000 | $555,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 55 days | 42 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $3,502/mo | $2,540/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $10,001 | $9,504 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 08540?
- $987,711.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 08540?
- $850,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 08540?
- Median days on market: 54.5 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 08540?
- Typical rent: $3,502/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 08540?
- Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: iceStorm, strongWind, winterWeather, hurricane, inlandFlooding.
- Is ZIP 08540 in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 08540?
- Risk to homes is higher than 35% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 08540?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 08540?
- 4 current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Rocky Hill Municipal Well, 2.7 mi.
- How many schools serve ZIP 08540?
- 7 schools (5 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 08540 walkable?
- Walkability index: 17.3/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 08540?
- Good. Median AQI: 49. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 08540?
- Regional Price Parity: 112.5 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →