Population 53,422 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Princeton
Household size in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.77 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.82 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.78 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.76 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Princeton run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.60, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the east.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7 | 39.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.2 | 40.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +1.8 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Princeton are younger than 40.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 38.7 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the east.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 11.6% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 11.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.0% of households in Princeton, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Princeton
Renters in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0% | 33.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.1% | 35.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.4% | 36.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 38.1% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +3.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly four in ten households in Princeton rent their homes (38.1%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 47.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share has risen 3.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 9.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 9.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 6.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Princeton: 7.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of New Jersey. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.9 points, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1966 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1967 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1969 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Princeton are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in New Jersey as a whole, where the median home dates to 1969. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,381 | $1,246 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,593 | $1,324 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,763 | $1,522 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,272 | $1,896 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$891 | +$651 | +$606 |
The median renter in Princeton pays $2,272 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $891 a month since 2006–10, up 64%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 27.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Princeton
Bachelor's degrees in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.2% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 79.0% | 36.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 80.2% | 39.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 83.3% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Princeton is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (83.3%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 6.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 415 New Jersey cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.5% | 87.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.3% | 88.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.9% | 89.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.1% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +3.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Princeton: 97.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 0.6 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Princeton has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of New Jersey cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Princeton
| Period | Princeton | New Jersey | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 9.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 5.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Princeton than nationally: unemployment was 4.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Princeton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | 2.56 | 40.2 | 7.0% | 38.1% | 7.8% | 1977 | $2,272 | 83.3% | 97.1% | 4.4% |
| Kingston | 2.27 | 51.6 | 1.9% | 22.1% | 2.9% | 1954 | $1,953 | 59.9% | 98.5% | 2.4% |
| Rocky Hill | 2.34 | 50.6 | 7.5% | 34.4% | 0.7% | 1973 | $1,922 | 71.0% | 97.7% | 3.6% |
| Penns Neck | 2.71 | 33.6 | 21.5% | 52.8% | 6.7% | 2002 | $2,207 | 81.7% | 95.8% | 7.3% |
| Plainsboro | 2.94 | 46.2 | 4.1% | 18.9% | 4.1% | 1992 | $2,229 | 84.5% | 97.0% | 2.3% |
| East Rocky Hill | 3.13 | 46.4 | 4.5% | 7.6% | 5.2% | 1984 | $2,081 | 69.8% | 93.6% | 5.8% |
| Rosedale | 3.07 | 44.7 | 6.7% | 0.9% | 5.7% | 1979 | $2,586 | 80.8% | 97.7% | 2.3% |
| Skillman | 2.85 | 46.2 | 7.0% | 8.8% | 0.9% | 1996 | $1,874 | 81.5% | 98.5% | 2.8% |
| Heathcote | 2.38 | 41.9 | 4.1% | 26.2% | 1.5% | 1988 | $1,891 | 65.7% | 93.8% | 3.9% |
| Princeton Meadows | 2.49 | 35.9 | 6.3% | 69.3% | 2.8% | 1985 | $2,022 | 79.1% | 98.4% | 4.6% |
| Princeton Junction | 2.79 | 46.9 | 4.2% | 25.3% | 3.2% | 1987 | $2,515 | 84.4% | 98.3% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Dunwoody, GA · Stratford, CT · West New York, NJ · Glendora, CA · Findlay, OH · Evans, GA · Encinitas, CA · Edina, MN · Valley Stream, NY · Davis, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Princeton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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