ZIP Code · NJ

ZIP 08536

Part of Plainsboro, NJ

Pop. 20,817·Middlesex County·156th most expensive ZIP in New Jersey

Median rent (all units)

$2,165/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$233

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 08536 · $2,165

More expensive than 69% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,860

1 BR

$2,040

2 BR

$2,560

3 BR

$3,070

4 BR+

$3,390

Research median

$2,560/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

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 08536 usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1.5% above it in August, about $61 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 08536 is 0% below its high of $2,166 in June 2025, at $2,165 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of New Jersey

Rent in ZIP 08536 changed +1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 149 New Jersey ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($137,607) is $3,440 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,390).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 08536. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$25,980/yr

At $2,165/mo median

Location

CityPlainsboro

StateNJ

CountyMiddlesex County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.0% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 08536 (Plainsboro, NJ) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 80.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

20,817

Median income

$137,607

Median age

36.1

Renters

56.6%

Age distribution

24.2%

23.7%

33.8%

Under 1824.2%

18–3423.7%

35–5433.8%

55–649.4%

65+8.9%

Gender

49.9%

50.1%

Male49.9%

Female50.1%

Race & ethnicity

26.5%

59.7%

White26.5%

Black7.5%

Hispanic4.6%

Asian59.7%

Other1.7%

Education (25+)

80.9%

No HS diploma2.1%

HS diploma6.1%

Some college10.9%

Bachelor's+80.9%

Housing tenure

43.4%

56.6%

Owner43.4%

Renter56.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 08536 in Plainsboro, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,649 → $2,165

up 31.3%

Income

$115,685 → $137,607

up 18.9%

Population

20,523 → 20,817

up 1.4%

Renter share

55.5% → 56.6%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

78.7% → 80.9%

+2.2 pts

Rent in ZIP 08536 in Plainsboro, NJ has climbed 31.3% since 2021, going from about $1,649 per month to roughly $2,165 today. Census figures show median household income at $137,607 today, compared with $115,685 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 12.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 20,523 to 20,817 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.4% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 78.7% to 80.9%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 08536

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 08536 covers Plainsboro, NJ. The median rent here is $2,165/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,040/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,560/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($137,607/yr), ZIP 08536 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 08536?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $87,000/year (about $42/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,165/mo in ZIP 08536. The local median household income is $137,607/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 08536?

Rent in ZIP 08536 has risen 1.0% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0% below its high of $2,166 in June 2025.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 08536?

Asking rents in ZIP 08536 are usually lowest in January, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $61 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 08536 compare to other ZIPs in New Jersey?

ZIP 08536 is one of the more affordable among New Jersey ZIP codes for rent, ranking #156 of 209 at $2,165/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 08536 changed +1.0%, against a typical +2.8% across the 149 New Jersey ZIP codes Zillow tracks.