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Mercer County/Princeton/08542

08542

ZIPSAFMR
Mercer County, NJ
Zillow

ZIP Investment Score

68Below average

095130300
BRFMR
Eff. Rent
0 BR$2,340$2,520
1 BR$2,640$2,900
2 BR$3,360$3,700
3 BR$4,110$4,520
4 BR$4,620$5,080
5 BR$5,313Not available
6 BR$6,110Not available
7 BR$7,026Not available
8 BR$8,080Not available

Purchase Price Calculator

Maximum purchase price
$487,902

Cost breakdown

+Likely effective rent$3,700
HUD FMR$3,360
Market rent$4,180
Est. payment standard (110%)Used$3,700
-Principal and interest-$2,467
Loan amount$390,322
Down payment$97,580
Rate6.50%
Term30 years
-Operating costs-$1,033
Property taxes-$488
Insurance-$175
Utilities$0
HOA$0
Management-$370
=Target cash flow+$200
Calculation mode

Hold period projections

Annual appreciation rate
3-year hold
+$58,699(60.2% ROI)
Projected value
$525,417
Return breakdown
Property appreciation+$37,515
Loan principal paid down+$13,984
Rental cash flow+$7,200
5-year hold
+$101,052(103.6% ROI)
Projected value
$552,016
Return breakdown
Property appreciation+$64,114
Loan principal paid down+$24,938
Rental cash flow+$12,000
10-year hold
+$220,076(225.5% ROI)
Projected value
$624,556
Return breakdown
Property appreciation+$136,654
Loan principal paid down+$59,422
Rental cash flow+$24,000

Public Housing Authority

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Rolodex

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Market Alignment

Studio
0.89
1 BR
0.84
2 BR
0.80
3 BR
0.86
4 BR
0.73
0.701.001.30aligned range
Historical
FY 2023-2027
FMR
FY2027
Market rent
last ~365 days
Property value
--
Tax rate
--
Mortgage rate
--

ZIP 08542 fair market rent, FY 2027

For FY 2027, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in ZIP 08542 (Princeton, NJ) is $3,360 a month. That is up 14.7% from $2,930 in FY 2026. Princeton is in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA. HUD also publishes the ZIP-level Small Area FMRs shown here, but unless the local housing authority has adopted them, vouchers are based on the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $2,242. Among 36 ZIP codes in Mercer County, 08542 is tied for the highest two-bedroom rent (county range $1,760–$3,360). The median county two-bedroom FMR in New Jersey is $2,233, so ZIP 08542 is 50% above it.

FY 2027 rent by bedroom

FY 2027 fair market rent by bedroom for 08542
BedroomsFY 2027Change90–110% range
Studio$2,340+15.8%$2,106–$2,574
1BR$2,640+13.8%$2,376–$2,904
2BR$3,360+14.7%$3,024–$3,696
3BR$4,110+17.1%$3,699–$4,521
4BR$4,620+15.2%$4,158–$5,082

Fair market rent history, FY 2023–2027

Fair market rent by fiscal year for 08542
Fiscal yearStudio1BR2BR3BR4BR
FY 2027$2,340$2,640$3,360$4,110$4,620
FY 2026$2,020$2,320$2,930$3,510$4,010
FY 2025$1,980$2,290$2,890$3,480$3,910
FY 2024$1,700$1,950$2,510$3,030$3,340
FY 2023$1,380$1,580$2,070$2,520$2,780

Two-bedroom rent in nearby Mercer County ZIP codes

FY 2027 two-bedroom Small Area FMR by ZIP code
ZIP code2 bedroomvs. 08542
08520$2,240−33.3%
08525$2,450−27.1%
08530$2,590−22.9%
08534$2,790−17.0%
08540$2,890−14.0%
08542Current$3,360—
08543$2,240−33.3%
08544$3,000−10.7%
08550$3,3600.0%
08558$2,620−22.0%
08560$2,640−21.4%
08561$2,510−25.3%

Questions about ZIP 08542 rents

How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in ZIP 08542?

Housing authorities set voucher payment standards, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR. With the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $2,242, which applies unless the housing authority uses Small Area FMRs, that basic range is $2,018 to $2,466 a month; under the ZIP-level Small Area FMR of $3,360 it would be $3,024 to $3,696. The voucher pays the lower of the payment standard or the gross rent, minus the tenant's share, which is usually about 30% of adjusted monthly income. Confirm the local housing authority's current schedule before underwriting.

Which HUD fair market rent area is ZIP 08542 in?

ZIP 08542 is in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA. Small Area FMRs are optional here; the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR is $2,242.

How much did fair market rent change in ZIP 08542 for FY 2027?

The two-bedroom FMR rose 14.7%, from $2,930 in FY 2026 to $3,360 in FY 2027. Since FY 2023 it has risen 62.3%.

When do FY 2027 fair market rents take effect?

HUD's FY 2027 fair market rents took effect on October 1, 2026. When FMRs change, housing authorities generally have up to three months to bring payment standards back within 90% to 110% of the new FMR.

Source: HUD FY 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents and area FMRs. Payment-standard ranges are 90% to 110% of FMR, HUD's basic range, not a housing authority's published schedule. How payment standards are set

County fair market rentPrinceton, NJ fair market rentNJ statewide rentsWhat is SAFMR?Data sources