What are the schools like in Princeton, MN?

Princeton is served primarily by PRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.9:1.

What is the median household income in Princeton?

The median household income in Princeton, MN is $48,951 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

What is the weather like in Princeton, MN?

Princeton has an average high temperature of 22.1°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Princeton, MN affordable or expensive?

Princeton's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Princeton is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $190,300 and the median rent is $976 per month.

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

Princeton has a violent crime rate of 55.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2399.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Princeton, MN a Good Place to Live?

Princeton is a small town of 4,898 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $48,951 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Princeton stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 104.5

Princeton's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Princeton costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Princeton, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$190,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$976	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,951	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Princeton's violent crime rate is 55.4 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

55.4 /100k

Property Crime

2399.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Princeton is served primarily by PRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Princeton, MN	National Avg
School District	PRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Princeton sees average highs of 22.1°F in January and 80.9°F in July, with 30.7 inches of annual precipitation and 49.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Princeton, MN
Average High — January	22.1°F
Average High — July	80.9°F
Annual Precipitation	30.7"
Annual Snowfall	49.4"

Demographics

Metric	Princeton, MN	National Avg
Population	4,898	—
Median Age	38.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	19.0%	22.2%
65 and over	21.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Zimmerman, MN 9 mi Pease, MN 10 mi Foreston, MN 12 mi Milaca, MN 13 mi Bock, MN 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Princeton

Princeton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55371

Princeton vs Other Cities

Princeton, MN vs Zimmerman, MN Princeton, MN vs Pease, MN Princeton, MN vs Foreston, MN Princeton, MN vs Milaca, MN Princeton, MN vs Bock, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Princeton, MN affordable or expensive?

Princeton's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Princeton roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $190,300 and median rent is $976/month.

What is the crime rate in Princeton, MN?

Princeton's violent crime rate is 55.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2399.4 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 PRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. 12.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Princeton, MN a good place to live?

Princeton, MN has a population of 4,898, a median household income of $48,951, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. 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 22.1°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.7 inches with about 49.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Princeton?

Princeton, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55371.

What is the population of Princeton?

The population of Princeton, Minnesota is 4,898 with a median age of 38.1. 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 104 (100 = US average), median home $190,300, median household income $48,951, crime index 54 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.