City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Princeton, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Princeton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

422
Residents
$73,958
Median income
$405,600
Median home
$1,306
Median rent (state)

Princeton - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Princeton lands in the 55th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

55th
percentile, household income
78th
percentile, home value
47th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Princeton, CA

Princeton is a small town in California, home to 422 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Princeton brings in $73,958 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.6%. Princeton's housing stock carries a median value of $405,600, and the median resident age is 39.3 years. Educational attainment runs 4.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 50.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 3 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,306 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 81.1 out of 100 (High).

Population

422 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$73,958 /yr

Poverty 9.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Princeton compare to other US cities?

Here's how Princeton stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 55% higher than other cities
Home value 78% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Princeton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Princeton near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Princeton ranks #1,410 - the 3rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Princeton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#865 of 1,338
35th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,410 of 1,458
3rd percentile in California
Median Home Value
#856 of 1,343
36th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#515 of 1,450
64th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,334 of 1,458
8th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

55thIncome percentile

55th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Princeton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$405,600 22nd percentile more affordable than 22% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Princeton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Princeton, CA Princeton, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Princeton, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Princeton, CA median $73,958/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Princeton, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Princeton, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
422
Median Income
$73,958
Median Home Value
$405,600
Median Age
39.3
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Labor force participation
50.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.9%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.9%
Carpool
9.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
11.3%

Based on 142 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Princeton sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,306/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Potrero
423 people
Rio Oso
421 people
Seville
423 people
Smith Corner
423 people
Trinidad
424 people
Tonyville
417 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Princeton's 422 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Miltonvale, KS
422 people
Broomes Island, MD
422 people
Webb, MS
422 people
Paden, OK
422 people
Moro, OR
422 people
Carmichaels, PA
422 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Princeton's $73,958 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bennett Springs, MO
$73,950 median income
Sinking Spring, PA
$73,950 median income
Reno Beach, OH
$73,972 median income
Jersey Shore, PA
$73,942 median income
Lake Park, IA
$73,977 median income
Tuscarawas, OH
$73,977 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Princeton, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Princeton, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 78.0% 11.8% 9.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 26.1% White 78.0% Black or African American 11.8% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 9.0% Two or more races 0.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Princeton compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Princeton (this city) 422 $73,958
Potrero 423 N/A
Rio Oso 421 $172,500
Seville 423 $47,857
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Princeton, CA?

What is the population of Princeton, CA? +

Princeton, CA counts 422 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Princeton, CA? +

Median annual household income in Princeton runs $73,958, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Princeton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Princeton; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Princeton, CA? +

A typical home in Princeton is worth $405,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.