08609 and 08638 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
08609
08638
Opportunity
31 · Bottom 10%
vs40 · Bottom 20%
Growth
31 · Bottom 18%
vs31 · Bottom 18%
Climate
70 · Bottom 49%
vs70 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
36 · Bottom 29%
vs36 · Bottom 29%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 42%
vs68 · Bottom 33%
Schools
18 · Bottom 8%
vs30 · Bottom 22%
Access
82 · Bottom 24%
vs82 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 31%
vs44 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | 08609 | 08638 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,938 | 22,816 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,238 | $66,875 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,926 | $34,445 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 12,111/sq mi | 4,204/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $103,700 | $245,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,391 | $1,593 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 29.8% | 58.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% | 6.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.2% | 32.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.1% | 17.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 7 | 7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.1 | 0.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 75.0% | 75.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 24°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.6" | 45.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 36 mi | 37 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 27.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.4 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.71 | 13.16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 4.7% | 8.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 14.0% | 24.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 79.3% | 78.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
08609
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, inland flooding, hurricane.
08638
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, inland flooding, hurricane.
Full profiles: 08609 — Trenton, NJ · 08638 — Trenton, NJ · How this is calculated: methodology