Princeton, Wisconsin · Wikideas1 / CC0St. John's Lutheran Church Princeton, WI · TheG3NERAL John 3:16 / CC BY-SA 4.0Twister front · Lisforlaurence / CC BY-SA 4.0Princeton sturgeon1 · Lisforlaurence / CC BY-SA 4.0
Princeton is a small town of 1,106 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $59,904
and a 10.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Princeton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 88.5
Princeton's overall cost of living index is 88.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Princeton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Princeton, WI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$99,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$720
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,904
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Princeton's violent crime rate is 10.6 per 100,000 residents
— 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
10.6 /100k
Property Crime
343.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Princeton is served primarily by Princeton School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Princeton, WI
National Avg
School District
Princeton School District
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Princeton sees average highs of 26.2°F in January
and 81.5°F in July,
with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 42.0 inches of snow per year.
Princeton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Princeton roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $99,100 and median rent is $720/month.
Princeton's violent crime rate is 10.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 343.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Princeton are operated by Princeton School District.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Princeton, WI has a population of 1,106, a median household income of $59,904, and an unemployment rate of 10.0%.
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.
Princeton averages 26.2°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches
with about 42.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Princeton, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54968.
The population of Princeton, Wisconsin is 1,106 with a median age of 45.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Princeton: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $99,100, median household income $59,904, crime index 8 (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.
