ZIP Code · NJ

ZIP 08873

Part of Somerset, NJ

Pop. 56,327·Somerset County·84th most expensive ZIP in New Jersey

Median rent (all units)

$2,648/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.9%

Month-over-Month

-0.5%

vs US Median

+$716

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 08873 · $2,648

More expensive than 83% 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

$1,930

1 BR

$2,120

2 BR

$2,660

3 BR

$3,190

4 BR+

$3,530

Research median

$2,660/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 08873 is 2% below its high of $2,702 in May 2026, at $2,648 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of New Jersey

Rent in ZIP 08873 changed -0.9% 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 fallen 4 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($124,972) is $3,124 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,660); a 3-bedroom is $3,190.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 08805, 5 miles away, rents for 22% less ($2,070/mo), about $6,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 08873. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$31,776/yr

At $2,648/mo median

Location

CitySomerset

StateNJ

CountySomerset 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 (-0.9% YoY, -0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 08873 (Somerset, NJ) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 54.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

56,327

Median income

$124,972

Median age

40.4

Renters

32.4%

Age distribution

19.8%

22.6%

26.1%

12.4%

19.1%

Under 1819.8%

18–3422.6%

35–5426.1%

55–6412.4%

65+19.1%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

29.8%

28.5%

20.1%

21.1%

White29.8%

Black28.5%

Hispanic20.1%

Asian21.1%

Other0.5%

Education (25+)

18%

19.8%

54.6%

No HS diploma7.6%

HS diploma18%

Some college19.8%

Bachelor's+54.6%

Housing tenure

67.6%

32.4%

Owner67.6%

Renter32.4%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 08873 in Somerset, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,319 → $2,648

up 14.2%

Income

$98,251 → $124,972

up 27.2%

Population

55,115 → 56,327

up 2.2%

Renter share

31.6% → 32.4%

+0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

52.6% → 54.6%

+2.0 pts

Median age

40.9 → 40.4

-0.5 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 08873 in Somerset, NJ paid around $2,319 a month. That figure now sits near $2,648, up 14.2% from the 2022 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $124,972 today, compared with $98,251 five years earlier. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show ZIP 08873 in Somerset, NJ adding about 1,212 residents over the five-year window, up 2.2% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 52.6% to 54.6% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.

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About renting in ZIP 08873

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 08873 covers Somerset, NJ. The median rent here is $2,648/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,120/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,660/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($124,972/yr), ZIP 08873 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 08873?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $106,000/year (about $51/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,648/mo in ZIP 08873. The local median household income is $124,972/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 08873?

Rent in ZIP 08873 has fallen 0.9% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 2% below its high of $2,702 in May 2026.

How does ZIP 08873 compare to other ZIPs in New Jersey?

ZIP 08873 is in the middle among New Jersey ZIP codes for rent, ranking #84 of 209 at $2,648/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 08873 changed -0.9%, against a typical +2.8% across the 149 New Jersey ZIP codes Zillow tracks.