ZIP Code · NJ

ZIP 08520

Part of Hightstown, NJ

Pop. 29,504·Mercer County·104th most expensive ZIP in New Jersey

Median rent (all units)

$2,493/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+0.2%

vs US Median

+$561

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 08520 · $2,493

More expensive than 80% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,370

1 BR

$1,580

2 BR

$1,990

3 BR

$2,390

4 BR+

$2,720

Research median

$1,990/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($118,010) is $2,950 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,720).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 08536, 6 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,165/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 08520. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$29,916/yr

At $2,493/mo median

Location

CityHightstown

StateNJ

CountyMercer County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 08520 (Hightstown, NJ) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 46.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

29,504

Median income

$118,010

Median age

40.9

Renters

30.1%

Age distribution

21.4%

20.4%

29.1%

13.9%

15.2%

Under 1821.4%

18–3420.4%

35–5429.1%

55–6413.9%

65+15.2%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

50.4%

23.8%

20.5%

White50.4%

Black6.7%

Hispanic23.8%

Asian20.5%

Education (25+)

25.1%

19.5%

46.3%

No HS diploma9.2%

HS diploma25.1%

Some college19.5%

Bachelor's+46.3%

Housing tenure

69.9%

30.1%

Owner69.9%

Renter30.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 08520 in Hightstown, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income

$107,241 → $118,010

up 10.0%

Population

29,799 → 29,504

down 1.0%

Renter share

29.2% → 30.1%

+0.9 pts

Bachelor's+

46.3% → 46.3%

+0.0 pts

Median age

39.2 → 40.9

+1.7 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $107,241 to $118,010 across the same window, up 10.0% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 08520 in Hightstown, NJ losing about 295 residents over the five-year window, down 1.0% on net.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 08520

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 08520 covers Hightstown, NJ. The median rent here is $2,493/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,580/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,990/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($118,010/yr), ZIP 08520 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 08520?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $100,000/year (about $48/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,493/mo in ZIP 08520. The local median household income is $118,010/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.