City · Kentucky
Princeton, Kentucky
Princeton, city, in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Princeton had 6,168 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,270 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,241 (±18). GEOID 2163138.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,168
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,270 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,241 ±18
Median household income
$47,411
±$13,154 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$96,600
±$14,605 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$762
±$78 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
Where is Princeton and what county is it in?
Princeton is a city in Caldwell County, Kentucky. It covers 9.0 square miles of land, 698 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Princeton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,168 people lived in Princeton on July 1, 2025, down 1.7% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020 Census counted 6,270 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,241 (±18).
| Measure | Princeton | Caldwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,241 ±18 | 12,618 | +125 |
| Households | 2,367 ±165 | 5,025 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.57 ±0.18 | 2.47 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,837 ±164 | 6,064 | no clear change |
Princeton's population since 2000
From 6,536 in 2000 to 6,168 in 2025: down 5.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Princeton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Princeton?
The median resident of Princeton is 40.5 years old; 24.9% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 11.7%.
| Measure | Princeton | Caldwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 ±6.4 | 42.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.9% ±3.4 pts | 22.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.1% ±4.3 pts | 21.4% | – |
| Male | 49.0% ±2.7 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.2% ±1.3 pts | 1.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.3% ±2.4 pts | 89.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 11.7% ±2.1 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2% ±2.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.3% ±4.2 pts | 8.0% | – |
| With a disability | 26.3% ±5.6 pts | 27.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.3% ±2.5 pts | 8.2% | −4.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.9% ±5.7 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.7% ±5.7 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.9% ±3.2 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.0% ±2.9 pts | 93.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0% ±1.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Princeton earn?
Half of Princeton's 2,367 households earn less than $47,411 a year (±$13,154), against $59,583 in Caldwell County and $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $49,934 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Princeton | Caldwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,411 ±$13,154 | $59,583 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $66,945 ±$8,034 | $73,080 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,952 ±$3,383 | $30,830 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.8% ±7.0 pts | 15.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.7% ±12.1 pts | 19.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.3% ±8.1 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.9% ±3.3 pts | 93.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.8% ±3.1 pts | 87.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Princeton?
Owners occupy 52.8% of Princeton's occupied homes and renters 47.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $96,600 by its owner (±$14,605). The median renter pays $762 a month including utilities, and 22.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Princeton | Caldwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $96,600 ±$14,605 | $118,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $762 ±$78 | $767 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 22.4% ±11.3 pts | 24.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,004 ±$190 | $1,288 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 52.8% ±8.7 pts | 70.2% | −14.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 47.2% ±8.7 pts | 29.8% | – |
| Housing units | 2,837 ±164 | 6,064 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.6% ±6.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.1% ±7.2 pts | 80.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.3% ±3.0 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.2% ±3.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.3% ±3.0 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.6% ±5.6 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 9.3% ±5.2 pts | 5.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Princeton building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Princeton in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.2 across Kentucky.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Princeton work and get to work?
71.2% of Princeton's workers drive alone and 5.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes.
| Measure | Princeton | Caldwell County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.8% ±6.4 pts | 56.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% ±3.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 71.2% ±9.8 pts | 80.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 21.6% ±9.5 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 2.0% ±2.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.2% ±3.2 pts | 4.0% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.0 min ±3.3 | 24.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Princeton?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Princeton, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $49,022 (Tract 9203.01) to $52,743 (Tract 9202).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9202Caldwell County | 5,177 | $52,743 |
| Tract 9203.01Caldwell County | 2,953 | $49,022 |
| Tract 9203.02Caldwell County | 2,054 | $66,904 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Princeton) · Census block assignment files
How does Princeton compare with other places in Kentucky?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Princeton is the 4,354th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 72nd-most populous of 418 in Kentucky.
Princeton ranks 159th of 230 places in Kentucky with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 72nd | 418 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 153rd | 204 |
| Residents per square mile | 174th | 232 |
| Median household income | 159th | 230 |
| Per capita income | 137th | 232 |
| Median home value | 205th | 225 |
| Median gross rent | 138th | 217 |
| Poverty rate | 134th | 203 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 154th | 223 |
| Median age | 82nd | 232 |
| Owner-occupied share | 170th | 229 |
| Work from home | 124th | 130 |
| Travel time to work | 135th | 232 |
Princeton's figures with every place in Kentucky (CSV)
Every place in Kentucky, sortable · Compare Princeton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Princeton?
16 of the 57 figures for Princeton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Princeton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Princeton.