What are the schools like in Princeton, NJ?

Princeton is served primarily by Princeton Public School District. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

What is the median household income in Princeton?

The median household income in Princeton, NJ is $176,695 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.

What is the weather like in Princeton, NJ?

Princeton has an average high temperature of 40.5°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Princeton, NJ affordable or expensive?

Princeton's cost of living index is 102, where 100 represents the national average. This means Princeton is 2% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $971,200 and the median rent is $2,320 per month.

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

Princeton has a violent crime rate of 48.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 716.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Princeton, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Princeton is a small city of 30,450 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $176,695 and a 4.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Princeton stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. 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: 102.1

Princeton's overall cost of living index is 102.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Princeton costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric	Princeton, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$971,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,320	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$176,695	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Princeton's violent crime rate is 48.6 per 100,000 residents — 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

48.6 /100k

Property Crime

716.6 /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 11.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Princeton, NJ	National Avg
School District	Princeton Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	85.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Princeton sees average highs of 40.5°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 49.4 inches of annual precipitation and 23.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Princeton, NJ
Average High — January	40.5°F
Average High — July	86.7°F
Annual Precipitation	49.4"
Annual Snowfall	23.7"

Demographics

Metric	Princeton, NJ	National Avg
Population	30,450	—
Median Age	28.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	64.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.1%	18.9%
Asian	19.2%	6.3%
Under 18	19.0%	22.2%
65 and over	13.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kingston, NJ 3 mi Rocky Hill, NJ 3 mi Princeton Junction, NJ 3 mi Blawenburg, NJ 3 mi Plainsboro Center, NJ 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Princeton

Princeton, NJ is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

08540 08542 08544

Princeton vs Other Cities

Princeton, NJ vs Kingston, NJ Princeton, NJ vs Rocky Hill, NJ Princeton, NJ vs Princeton Junction, NJ Princeton, NJ vs Blawenburg, NJ Princeton, NJ vs Plainsboro Center, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Princeton, NJ affordable or expensive?

Princeton's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Princeton roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $971,200 and median rent is $2,320/month.

What is the crime rate in Princeton, NJ?

Princeton's violent crime rate is 48.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 716.6 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 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 85.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Princeton, NJ a good place to live?

Princeton, NJ has a population of 30,450, a median household income of $176,695, and an unemployment rate of 4.8%. 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 40.5°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.4 inches with about 23.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Princeton?

Princeton, NJ is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 08540, 08542, 08544.

What is the population of Princeton?

The population of Princeton, New Jersey is 30,450 with a median age of 28.6. 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 102 (100 = US average), median home $971,200, median household income $176,695, crime index 21 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. 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.