© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Princeton.
About
Life in Princeton
The local public schools are solid, with Princeton High School ranking 20th statewide and a student-teacher ratio of 11:1, plus a mix of well-regarded private options. The economy is stable and white-collar; unemployment sits at 3.7% and median household income reaches $192,079, supported by the university, research institutions, and corporate offices, though the town has been shrinking slightly in recent years. Commutes average about 24 minutes, and you're positioned equidistant from both New York City and Philadelphia with easy highway access, making either a reasonable reach for work.
Princeton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
28.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.1%
Foreign-Born
30.9%
Broadband Internet
93.4%
of households
Population Growth
+2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.9% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Princeton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Princeton, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (20.3%), and 9.4% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
18.8%
of residents
65 and Older
13.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.1%
of households
Married Couples
58.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.54
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 53% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Princeton
In Princeton, rent runs 53% above the NJ average, and home values are 131% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
33.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
55.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $954,354 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Princeton
Unemployment in Princeton is 1.5 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Princeton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.2 min avg
How Princeton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Princeton, most residents work from home to work (33%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN)
Regional airport · few flights162k passengers boarded in 2025
- 35 mi
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Major hub23.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 88% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Princeton runs 88% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
41.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
559.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Princeton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Mercer County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Mercer County, which includes Princeton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2024 | 21 | Dense Fog | $40,000 |
| 2023 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.0M |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 21 | Flash Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Mercer County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Mercer County, which includes Princeton, is typically good — 255 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
255
per year
Moderate Days
104
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Mercer County, county-wide
Climate84°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Princeton has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.4"
Annual Snowfall
23.7"
Hot Days/Year
26
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
114
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 21°F | 3.46" |
| Feb | 43°F | 23°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 51°F | 30°F | 4.28" |
| Apr | 63°F | 39°F | 3.67" |
| May | 73°F | 48°F | 4.07" |
| Jun | 82°F | 58°F | 4.63" |
| Jul | 87°F | 63°F | 4.82" |
| Aug | 85°F | 61°F | 4.29" |
| Sep | 78°F | 54°F | 4.15" |
| Oct | 66°F | 42°F | 3.98" |
| Nov | 55°F | 33°F | 3.26" |
| Dec | 46°F | 27°F | 4.23" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Princeton
Uninsured
1.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Princeton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Plainsboro
Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic
Psychiatric · 7.6 mi away · Belle Mead
Capital Health Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Trenton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Princeton
Princeton's student/teacher ratio is 10.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 84.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
84.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Princeton
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,709 students · in-state tuition $65,510 · 98% graduate · median earnings $133,523 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Thomas Edison State University
10.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 6,707 students · in-state tuition $7,044 · 42% graduate · median earnings $75,164 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Princeton
Princeton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River
17 mi awayWashington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
21 mi awayMorristown National Historical Park
National Historical Park
29 mi awayNew Jersey Pinelands National Reserve
National Reserve
29 mi awayEdgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
National Historic Site
37 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
37 mi awayGloria Dei Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
38 mi awayIndependence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
38 mi awayPublic Libraries in Princeton
Princeton Public Library
65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton
Cities Near Princeton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Princeton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Princeton FAQ
Is Princeton, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Princeton's median rent is $2,636/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $192,079/year. Median home value is $1,050,600.
Is Princeton, New Jersey safe?⌄
Princeton's violent crime rate was 41 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 560 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Princeton, New Jersey?⌄
Princeton has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Princeton, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Princeton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,636/month and median household income is $192,079/year. The median home value is $1,050,600. About 33% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Princeton, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Princeton is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from