What are the schools like in Princeton, KY?

Princeton is served primarily by Caldwell County. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.6:1.

What is the median household income in Princeton?

The median household income in Princeton, KY is $46,317 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in Princeton, KY?

Princeton has an average high temperature of 46.3°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 8.5 inches.

Princeton, KY Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Princeton, KY affordable or expensive?

Princeton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Princeton is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $86,400 and the median rent is $695 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Princeton, KY?

Princeton has a violent crime rate of 16.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1717.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Princeton, KY a Good Place to Live?

Princeton is a small town of 6,248 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $46,317 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Princeton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Princeton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Princeton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.4

Princeton's overall cost of living index is 86.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Princeton costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Princeton, KY	National Avg
Median Home Value	$86,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$695	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,317	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Princeton's violent crime rate is 16.2 per 100,000 residents — 96% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

16.2 /100k

Property Crime

1717.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Princeton is served primarily by Caldwell County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Princeton, KY	National Avg
School District	Caldwell County	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Princeton sees average highs of 46.3°F in January and 89.2°F in July, with 50.9 inches of annual precipitation and 8.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Princeton, KY
Average High — January	46.3°F
Average High — July	89.2°F
Annual Precipitation	50.9"
Annual Snowfall	8.5"

Demographics

Metric	Princeton, KY	National Avg
Population	6,248	—
Median Age	40.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	20.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Eddyville, KY 11 mi Dawson Springs, KY 12 mi Fredonia, KY 12 mi Kuttawa, KY 13 mi Cerulean, KY 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Princeton

Princeton, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code:

42445

Princeton vs Other Cities

Princeton, KY vs Eddyville, KY Princeton, KY vs Dawson Springs, KY Princeton, KY vs Fredonia, KY Princeton, KY vs Kuttawa, KY Princeton, KY vs Cerulean, KY

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Princeton, KY affordable or expensive?

Princeton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Princeton roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $86,400 and median rent is $695/month.

What is the crime rate in Princeton, KY?

Princeton's violent crime rate is 16.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1717.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Princeton?

Public schools in Princeton are operated by Caldwell County. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 16.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Princeton, KY a good place to live?

Princeton, KY has a population of 6,248, a median household income of $46,317, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Princeton?

Princeton averages 46.3°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.9 inches with about 8.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Princeton?

Princeton, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 42445.

What is the population of Princeton?

The population of Princeton, Kentucky is 6,248 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Princeton?

Key numbers for living in Princeton: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $86,400, median household income $46,317, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Princeton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.