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Living in
Princeton.
About
Life in Princeton
This is genuinely one of the fastest-changing places in America right now—the population nearly doubled between 2020 and 2025, which means you're moving into a city that's still figuring out what it wants to be. The median household income sits at about $105k, and the median home value around $331k puts it squarely in the middle-class comfort zone for the Dallas-Fort Worth region, though you're watching those prices climb as more people discover the place. The commute matters here: you're about 8 miles east of McKinney, so if you're working in the Dallas metro area, expect a 33-minute average drive, and honestly during rush hour that stretches.
Princeton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Foreign-Born
18.5%
Broadband Internet
95.1%
of households
Population Growth
+156.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Princeton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Princeton, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (21.7%), and 17.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
30.5%
of residents
65 and Older
7.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
52.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
12.9%
of households
Married Couples
59.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.19
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 60% above TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Princeton
In Princeton, rent runs 60% above the TX average, and home values are 17% above the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,326
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2014
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $283,150 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Princeton
Unemployment in Princeton is close to the TX 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
Commute32.2 min avg
How Princeton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Princeton, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 47% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 37 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M 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 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Princeton runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
255.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
815.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Princeton Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Collin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Collin County, which includes Princeton, the most common type is hail, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | Hail | $2.0M |
| 2024 | 36 | Hail | $1.8M |
| 2023 | 26 | Hail | $1302.6M |
| 2022 | 26 | Drought | $410,000 |
| 2021 | 23 | Hail | $6.6M |
| 2020 | 15 | Heat | $2.2M |
| 2019 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.4M |
| 2018 | 15 | Hail | $770,000 |
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.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Collin County, county-wide
Princeton is about 2% of Collin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Collin County, which includes Princeton, is typically good — 272 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
272
per year
Moderate Days
64
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Collin County, county-wide
Princeton is about 2% of Collin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate94°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Princeton has hot summers (avg high 94°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
94°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
88
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
45
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
90
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 34°F | 2.70" |
| Feb | 60°F | 38°F | 2.57" |
| Mar | 68°F | 46°F | 3.51" |
| Apr | 75°F | 53°F | 3.58" |
| May | 83°F | 62°F | 4.77" |
| Jun | 91°F | 70°F | 3.58" |
| Jul | 95°F | 74°F | 1.96" |
| Aug | 96°F | 73°F | 1.73" |
| Sep | 88°F | 66°F | 2.81" |
| Oct | 78°F | 54°F | 4.41" |
| Nov | 66°F | 44°F | 3.19" |
| Dec | 57°F | 36°F | 3.49" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Princeton
Uninsured
15.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Princeton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Medical Center of Mckinney
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Mckinney
Baylor Scott and White Medical Center Mckinney
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.3 mi away · Mc Kinney
Methodist Mckinney Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.5 mi away · Mckinney
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.
Education15.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Princeton
Princeton's student/teacher ratio is 15.8:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Princeton (within 15 miles)
Collin County Community College District
7.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 26,449 students · in-state tuition $2,014 · 21% graduate · median earnings $50,928 (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: Chickasaw National Recreation Area, 93 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Princeton
Princeton has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Chickasaw National Recreation Area (93 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Princeton
Lois Nelson Public Library
323 Mckinney Ave, 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, Texas affordable?⌄
Princeton's median rent is $2,239/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $105,200/year. Median home value is $331,000.
Is Princeton, Texas safe?⌄
Princeton's violent crime rate was 256 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 815 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Princeton, Texas?⌄
Princeton has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Princeton, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Princeton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,239/month and median household income is $105,200/year. The median home value is $331,000. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Princeton, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Princeton is 32 minutes, which is longer than 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