ZIP 08542 · Princeton, NJ

Four governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 08542: the state, county, city or town and school district, and where each one's money comes from and goes.

Each government is shown for its own newest fiscal year on file, so the years differ. Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the government's own report or, for New Jersey governments, the New Jersey Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 08542?
08542 is served by the State of New Jersey, Mercer County, the Municipality of Princeton and Princeton Public School District. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of New Jersey spent $97.4 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Mercer County spent $506 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Municipality of Princeton spent $28.5 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2021) and Princeton Public School District spent $155 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 08542?
Of the governments serving 08542, Mercer County collected $284 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2023), Princeton Public School District collected $91.1 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Municipality of Princeton collected $38.0 million (fiscal year ended December 31, 2021) and State of New Jersey collected $5.0 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 08542.

See another ZIP code

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

See the full budget for: Mercer County, Princeton and Princeton Public School District

Why not this year? New Jersey governments with newer filings show school district figures from the New Jersey Department of Education (for 2025). Each other figure is the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published for that government, so the years differ and are not the current year. Most governments post their current budget on their own website.

Where property tax goes in 08542

Mercer County$284 million

55% of its $515 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

Princeton Public School District$91.1 million

65% of its $140 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Municipality of Princeton$38.0 million

68% of its $55.4 million in revenue · fiscal year ended December 31, 2021

State of New Jersey$5.0 million

<0.1% of its $100.6 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

These are each government's total property tax collections, not your bill. Your own bill is split by each government's tax rate, shown on your property tax bill.

Your county

Mercer County

$506 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes55%Fees for services (garbage collection, college tuition)20%Local tax money11%State tax money7.5%Federal tax money4.1%Fines and other2.1%

What stands out

11%

of Mercer County's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 1.4%.

Full Mercer County breakdown

County taxes55%

Property tax
55%$284 million

Fees for services20%

Fees for services
20%$103 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; college tuition and 8 more
  • Garbage collection$31.1 million
  • College tuition$30.9 million
  • Other service charges$11.3 million
  • Parks and recreation$10.6 million
  • Other school charges$7.2 million
  • Airport$6.9 million
  • School tuition and transportation$3.5 million
  • University housing and dining$1.8 million
  • Road charges$99 thousand
  • School lunches$89 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money4.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
4.1%$21.3 million

State tax money7.5%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
7.5%$38.6 million

Local tax money11%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
11%$57.1 million

Fines and other2.1%

Interest, rents and other
1.9%$9.7 million
Fines
0.2%$1.2 million
Mercer County page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges34%Running the government and other costs27%Police, fire, courts and jails19%Social services6.1%Interest on debt4.6%All other spending9.5%

What stands out

34%

of Mercer County's spending goes to schools and colleges.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Full Mercer County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
34%$170 million
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools and 2 more
  • Colleges and universities$86.1 million
  • Elementary and secondary schools$79.7 million
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$4.0 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$340 thousand
Running the government and other costs
27%$137 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; government buildings and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$123 million
  • Government buildings$5.7 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$5.3 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$3.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
19%$95.8 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 2 more
  • Prisons and jails$36.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$33.7 million
  • Police$25.0 million
  • Inspections and regulation$1.1 million
Social services
6.1%$30.9 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$30.9 million
Interest on debt
4.6%$23.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.8%$19.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$19.1 million
Roads, transit and parking
3.4%$17.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$9.2 million
  • Airports$8.2 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.2%$6.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$6.2 million
Health and hospitals
1.1%$5.5 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$5.5 million
Sent to other local governments
<0.1%$101 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$101 thousand
Housing and community development
<0.1%$42 thousand
Mercer County page →

Your town

Municipality of Princeton

$28.5 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2021.

Where the money comes from

Municipal taxes70%Fees for services (sewer, parking)21%State tax money4.4%Fines and other2.9%Federal tax money1.5%
Full Princeton breakdown

What stands out

68%

of Princeton's money comes from property tax.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people gets 19%.

Municipal taxes70%

Property tax
68%$38.0 million
Other taxes
1.4%$765 thousand
What's in other taxesOther licenses; public utility taxes and 2 more
  • Other licenses$452 thousand
  • Public utility taxes$200 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$59 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$54 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services21%

Fees for services
21%$11.8 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; parking and 2 more
  • Sewer$5.7 million
  • Parking$3.9 million
  • Housing$1.7 million
  • Other service charges$500 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.5%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
1.5%$856 thousand

State tax money4.4%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
4.4%$2.5 million

Fines and other2.9%

Fines
1.8%$992 thousand
Interest, rents and other
1.1%$628 thousand
Princeton page →

Where the money goes

Police, fire, courts and jails40%Running the government and other costs22%Roads, transit and parking13%Interest on debt6.5%Water, sewer, trash and utilities5.5%All other spending13%
Full Princeton breakdown

What stands out

5.2%

of Princeton's spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Police, fire, courts and jails
40%$11.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$8.2 million
  • Fire protection$1.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$956 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$548 thousand
Running the government and other costs
22%$6.1 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.7 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.6 million
  • Government buildings$901 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
13%$3.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingParking and roads and highways
  • Parking$1.9 million
  • Roads and highways$1.9 million
Interest on debt
6.5%$1.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
5.5%$1.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.6 million
Housing and community development
5.2%$1.5 million
Health and hospitals
4.2%$1.2 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.2 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.5%$986 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$986 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.2%$53 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$53 thousand
Princeton page →

Your schools

Princeton Public School District

$155 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the New Jersey Department of Education.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes65%State tax money25%Fines and other4.8%Fees for services3.7%Federal tax money1.1%
Full Princeton Public School District breakdown

School district taxes65%

Property tax
65%$91.1 million

Fees for services3.7%

Fees for services
3.7%$5.2 million

Federal tax money1.1%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
1.1%$1.5 million

State tax money25%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
25%$35.1 million

Fines and other4.8%

Interest, rents and other
4.8%$6.7 million
Princeton Public School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges89%Sent to other local governments7.6%Debt payments (principal and interest)3.1%
Full Princeton Public School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
89%$138 million
Sent to other local governments
7.6%$11.8 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.1%$4.8 million
Princeton Public School District page →

Your state

State of New Jersey

$97.4 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes50%Federal tax money30%Fees for services (tolls, college tuition)10%Fines and other9.4%Local tax money0.7%
Full New Jersey breakdown

What stands out

8.2%

of New Jersey's money comes from business income taxes.A typical state government gets 3.8%.

State taxes50%

Individual income tax
19%$18.9 billion
Sales tax
14%$14.3 billion
Other taxes
9.0%$9.08 billion
What's in other taxesOther selective sales taxes; corporation licenses and 16 more
  • Other selective sales taxes$2.74 billion
  • Corporation licenses$912 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$821 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$735 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$685 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$627 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$537 million
  • Amusement taxes$519 million
  • Motor fuel taxes$472 million
  • Tobacco taxes$469 million
  • Public utility taxes$236 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$184 million
  • Driver's licenses$59.6 million
  • Amusement licenses$47.7 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$14.3 million
  • Public utility licenses$10.6 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$4.2 million
  • Other licenses$2.0 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
8.2%$8.21 billion
Property tax
<0.1%$5.0 million

Fees for services10%

Fees for services
10%$10.2 billion
What's in fees for servicesTolls on roads and bridges; college tuition and 17 more
  • Tolls on roads and bridges$2.57 billion
  • College tuition$2.43 billion
  • Hospital bills$1.86 billion
  • Other service charges$1.67 billion
  • Transit fares$832 million
  • University housing and dining$611 million
  • Housing$52.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$50.6 million
  • Water$42.1 million
  • Ports and waterways$33.1 million
  • Airport$17.2 million
  • Road charges$14.0 million
  • Sewer$11.9 million
  • Other education charges$11.7 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$9.2 million
  • Garbage collection$2.4 million
  • School lunches$757 thousand
  • Other school charges$185 thousand
  • School tuition and transportation$5 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money30%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
30%$29.7 billion

Local tax money0.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
0.7%$683 million

Fines and other9.4%

Interest, rents and other
9.2%$9.28 billion
Fines
0.2%$178 million
New Jersey page →

Where the money goes

Social services29%Sent to local governments23%Schools and colleges17%Roads, transit and parking8.7%Running the government and other costs7.9%All other spending15%
Full New Jersey breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
29%$28.4 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$28.0 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$305 million
  • Welfare institutions$102 million
  • Veterans' services$30.7 million
Sent to local governments
23%$22.3 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools and 19 more
  • Sent to school districts$12.4 billion
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$4.15 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$2.21 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$1.64 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$594 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$397 million
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$186 million
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$142 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$132 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$86.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$77.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$75.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$51.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$34.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$32.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$29.7 million
  • Sent to the federal government$26.0 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$7.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$4.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$3.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$1.4 million
Schools and colleges
17%$16.3 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$6.10 billion
  • Elementary and secondary schools$5.44 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$1.99 billion
  • Other education$1.86 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$947 million
Roads, transit and parking
8.7%$8.48 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingPublic transit; roads and highways and 3 more
  • Public transit$4.41 billion
  • Roads and highways$2.19 billion
  • Toll roads and bridges$1.80 billion
  • Ports and harbors$50.3 million
  • Airports$31.8 million
Running the government and other costs
7.9%$7.74 billion
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 3 more
  • Other and not broken out$5.37 billion
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.88 billion
  • Other government administration$215 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$209 million
  • Government buildings$62.6 million
Health and hospitals
5.8%$5.66 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$3.00 billion
  • Public health$2.67 billion
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.3%$4.15 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$1.24 billion
  • Courts and legal services$1.21 billion
  • Police$905 million
  • Inspections and regulation$438 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$364 million
Interest on debt
2.4%$2.30 billion
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$2.30 billion
  • Interest on water supply debt$664 thousand
Housing and community development
1.0%$932 million
Environment and natural resources
0.7%$704 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$704 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$264 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$260 million
  • Libraries$4.4 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.1%$127 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; electric power and 2 more
  • Water supply$59.0 million
  • Electric power$38.4 million
  • Sewer systems$21.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$8.0 million
New Jersey page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Mercer County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Municipality of Princeton. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.

Princeton Public School District. New Jersey Department of Education, district Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (audited), fiscal year 2025, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

How these figures are counted. New Jersey school district figures are from each district's audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Report filed with the New Jersey Department of Education for the 2024-25 school year, ended June 30, 2025, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. They cover governmental funds (general, special revenue, capital projects, debt service) and enterprise funds such as food service, and leave out transfers between funds. Tuition paid to other districts and payments to charter schools are shown as passed on. The "Debt payments" line includes principal as well as interest, so spending can be higher than the Census figure for the same district.

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.