08609 ZIP Code — Trenton, NJ

Mercer County, New Jersey

ZIP code 08609 is located in Trenton, New Jersey, within Mercer County. It covers approximately 1.32 square miles and serves a population of 12,799 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 609.

About ZIP code 08609

The housing stock consists of a significant share of large multi-unit buildings. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $90,700. Renters make up the majority at 69%, typical of denser urban areas.

The gap between median ($46,849) and mean household income suggests income inequality — a small number of higher earners pull the average up. Poverty affects 22% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 21% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 34% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is service, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 24 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 10% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

22% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Notable community characteristics include Spanish spoken in 23% of households.

Overall, ZIP code 08609 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

12,799

population

1.32

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

08609 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 08609

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 08609. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Trenton	Acceptable
Trenton	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

08629 Trenton (0.6 mi) 08645 Trenton (0.7 mi) 08646 Trenton (0.7 mi) 08666 Trenton (0.7 mi) 08647 Trenton (0.7 mi) 08695 Trenton (0.7 mi) 08608 Trenton (1.6 mi) 08619 Trenton (2.2 mi) 08638 Trenton (2.3 mi) 08611 Trenton (2.5 mi) 08618 Trenton (3.3 mi) 08610 Trenton (3.3 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	12,799
Population density	9,696 / sq mi
State FIPS	34
County FIPS	021

Geography
Land area	1.32 sq mi
Water area	0.01 sq mi
Latitude	40.2261
Longitude	-74.7383
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	609

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	59.4%	30.6%	30.2%
$50k – $100k	25.7%	25.8%	26.7%
$100k – $200k	13.0%	28.0%	28.3%
Over $200k	2.0%	15.6%	14.8%

Demographics & statistics

12,799

Population

9,696

People per sq mi

38.1

Median age

$46,849

Median household income

$42,335

Per capita income

$90,700

Median home value

$1,129

Median monthly rent

31.3%

Home ownership

21.8%

Poverty rate

11.8%

Unemployment

2,243

Housing units

9.7%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

568

Under 5

468

500

5–9

413

386

10–14

319

462

15–19

380

397

20–24

328

1,037

25–34

854

839

35–44

692

1,032

45–54

851

464

55–59

382

520

60–64

429

530

65–74

437

210

75–84

173

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	3,262	25.5%
18 and over	9,537	74.5%
65 and over	1,478	11.5%
Median age	38.1 years

Race & ethnicity

Black or African American 39.2%

Hispanic or Latino 24%

Other race 17.8%

White 10.2%

Two or more races 7.7%

Asian 0.9%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%

Group	Count	%
Black or African American	6,596	39.2%
Hispanic or Latino	4,033	24%
Other race	2,996	17.8%
White	1,721	10.2%
Two or more races	1,303	7.7%
Asian	158	0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native	25	0.1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	59.4%	30.6%	30.2%
$50k – $100k	25.7%	25.8%	26.7%
$100k – $200k	13.0%	28.0%	28.3%
Over $200k	2.0%	15.6%	14.8%

Under $10k 9.9%

$10k–$15k 12.8%

$15k–$25k 7.0%

$25k–$35k 11.9%

$35k–$50k 12.0%

$50k–$75k 13.1%

$75k–$100k 17.0%

$100k–$150k 13.8%

$150k–$200k 0.6%

$200k+ 1.9%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	9.9%
$10k–$15k	12.8%
$15k–$25k	7.0%
$25k–$35k	11.9%
$35k–$50k	12.0%
$50k–$75k	13.1%
$75k–$100k	17.0%
$100k–$150k	13.8%
$150k–$200k	0.6%
$200k+	1.9%
Median income	$46,849

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 9.5%

$50k–$100k 49.3%

$100k–$150k 12.9%

$150k–$200k 16.2%

$200k–$300k 6.0%

$300k–$500k 2.0%

$500k–$1M 0.6%

$1M+ 3.5%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$90,700
Median rent / month	$1,129
Owner occupied	31.3%
Renter occupied	68.7%
Vacant	14.8%
Single-family detached	10.0%
Large apartment buildings	21.5%
Mobile homes	0.0%
Median rooms	5.1
Avg household size (owned)	2.96

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	2.6%
2000–2009	1.2%
1990–1999	1.5%
1980–1989	4.3%
1970–1979	5.6%
1960–1969	17.5%
1950–1959	10.9%
1940–1949	7.7%
1939 or earlier	48.7%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	10.8%
1 bedroom	22.3%
2 bedrooms	17.0%
3 bedrooms	33.7%
4 bedrooms	12.1%
5+ bedrooms	4.1%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	33.6%
1 vehicle	35.9%
2 vehicles	22.6%
3 or more	7.8%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	65.7%
Electricity	26.6%
Propane / LP gas	2.0%
Fuel oil	4.8%
No fuel used	0.9%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	945	20.5%
Cohabiting couple	385	8.4%
Male householder, no spouse	1,707	37.1%
Female householder, no spouse	1,570	34.1%
Households with children under 18	1,403	30.5%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,414	30.7%
Average household size	2.70

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	51.9%	48.0%
Married	21.9%	24.6%
Separated	10.0%	2.8%
Widowed	1.3%	14.0%
Divorced	14.9%	10.6%

Education

Less than 9th grade 13.6%

Some HS, no diploma 12.8%

HS graduate 43.0%

Some college, no degree 16.9%

Associate's degree 4.1%

Bachelor's degree 7.9%

Graduate / professional 1.8%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	73.7%
Bachelor's or higher	9.7%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	80	2.9%
Kindergarten	34	1.2%
Elementary school	1,440	52.7%
High school	802	29.4%
College / grad school	375	13.7%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 25.9%

Transportation & utilities 13.8%

Retail trade 10.5%

Arts, food & hospitality 10.1%

Professional & management 7.7%

Manufacturing 6.8%

Public administration 6.4%

Construction 5.7%

Other services 5.7%

Finance & real estate 3.6%

Wholesale trade 3.5%

Information 0.3%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	14.3%
Service	30.6%
Sales & office	17.8%
Natural resources & construction	7.5%
Production & transportation	29.8%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	82.8%
Government	11.1%
Self-employed	5.4%
Unpaid family workers	0.7%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	57.1%
Carpool	15.5%
Public transit	10.3%
Walk	12.5%
Work from home	3.2%
Other means	1.2%
Avg commute (minutes)	23.7

Poverty

All people 21.8%

Under 18 years 17.4%

18 and over 23.3%

Married-couple families 18.2%

Female-led households 17.9%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	34.3%
Retirement income	23.2%
Supplemental Security	6.3%
Cash public assistance	4.9%
Food stamps / SNAP	21.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	38.8%
High blood pressure	0.0%
High cholesterol	0.0%
Diabetes	13.3%
Heart disease	5.8%
Stroke	3.9%
Asthma	11.6%
Arthritis	20.9%
Kidney disease	3.3%
Pulmonary disease	6.3%
Cancer	4.3%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	19.8%
Binge drinking	14.5%
No physical activity	30.5%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	42.0%
Depression	17.5%
Fair or poor health	20.2%
Poor mental health	16.9%
Poor physical health	11.4%
No health insurance	25.7%
Visited doctor (checkup)	76.4%
Visited dentist	49.0%
Cholesterol screening	0.0%
Teeth loss	23.0%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	722	7.6%

Disability	%
Any disability	15.9%
Under 18	4.2%
18–64 years	18.2%
65 and over	29.4%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	34.2%
Public insurance	54.3%
No insurance	21.7%
Uninsured under 19	13.4%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	11,763	91.9%
Spanish	2,758	23.4%
Other Indo-European	2,049	17.4%
Asian & Pacific Islander	616	5.2%
Other languages	62	0.5%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	8,680	67.8%
Born in same state	7,701	60.2%
Born in different state	6,085	47.5%
Foreign born	979	7.6%
Naturalized citizen	4,119	32.2%
Not a US citizen	1,119	27.2%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	532	4.2%
Italian	197	1.5%

Ancestry	Count	%
French	38	0.3%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	36.0%
Internet access	82.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 08609

What city is ZIP code 08609 in?

ZIP code 08609 is primarily assigned to Trenton, New Jersey.

What county is ZIP code 08609 in?

ZIP code 08609 falls within Mercer County, New Jersey.

Is ZIP code 08609 mostly rentals?

69% of occupied units in ZIP code 08609 are renter-occupied.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 08609?

10% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

Is Spanish widely spoken in ZIP code 08609?

Approximately 23% of households in ZIP code 08609 speak Spanish as a primary language.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 08609?

22% of residents in ZIP code 08609 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What timezone is ZIP code 08609 in?

ZIP code 08609 observes the EST timezone.