Municipality · New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, municipality, in Mercer County, New Jersey. Princeton had 31,469 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 30,681 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 30,756 (±72). GEOID 3460900.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
31,469
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 30,681 · ACS 2020-2024: 30,756 ±72
Median household income
$192,079
±$24,402 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $103,556
Median home value
$1,050,600
±$46,184 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $454,400
Median gross rent
$2,636
±$281 (90% margin)
New Jersey: $1,720
Where is Princeton and what county is it in?
Princeton is a municipality in Mercer County, New Jersey. It covers 17.9 square miles of land, 1,710 residents per square mile in 2020.
Princeton is in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
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 31,469 people lived in Princeton on July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, in line with New Jersey (+2.8%). The 2020 Census counted 30,681 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 30,756 (±72).
| Measure | Princeton | Mercer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 30,756 ±72 | 385,864 | −244 |
| Households | 9,300 ±378 | 144,114 | −659 |
| Average household size | 2.54 ±0.10 | 2.56 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 9,906 ±388 | 151,138 | −1,103 |
Princeton's population since 2000
From 14,203 in 2000 to 31,469 in 2025: up 121.6%. 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 28.5 years old; 18.8% are under 18 and 13.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.8%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 21.5%. 30.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Princeton | Mercer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.5 ±1.5 | 39.5 | −5.3 |
| Under 18 years | 18.8% ±1.8 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.0% ±1.3 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Male | 49.3% ±1.5 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.0% ±1.6 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 57.8% ±2.9 pts | 42.7% | −9.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.1% ±1.1 pts | 17.9% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 21.5% ±2.1 pts | 12.3% | +4.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.4% ±1.1 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 30.9% ±2.4 pts | 27.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 35.2% ±3.1 pts | 35.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.6% ±0.5 pts | 3.4% | – |
| With a disability | 6.6% ±1.0 pts | 10.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.8% ±0.6 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.7% ±0.9 pts | 89.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 84.7% ±2.4 pts | 45.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 56.8% ±4.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.0% ±2.2 pts | 88.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 8.2% ±1.1 pts | 2.6% | – |
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 9,300 households earn less than $192,079 a year (±$24,402), against $100,645 in Mercer County and $103,556 in New Jersey. In 2015-2019 it was $169,432 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Princeton | Mercer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $192,079 ±$24,402 | $100,645 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $275,137 ±$19,081 | $142,368 | – |
| Per capita income | $87,301 ±$5,236 | $53,765 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.1% ±1.4 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.7% ±1.8 pts | 13.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.0% ±1.0 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.4% ±0.5 pts | 95.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.4% ±2.3 pts | 91.4% | – |
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 55.4% of Princeton's occupied homes and renters 44.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,050,600 by its owner (±$46,184). The median renter pays $2,636 a month including utilities, and 30.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Princeton | Mercer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,050,600 ±$46,184 | $377,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $2,636 ±$281 | $1,623 | +$751 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.7% ±5.7 pts | 41.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $2,615 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 55.4% ±3.9 pts | 62.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 44.6% ±3.9 pts | 37.8% | – |
| Housing units | 9,906 ±388 | 151,138 | −1,103 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.1% ±1.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 54.2% ±3.5 pts | 47.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.7% ±1.1 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.8% ±2.2 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.3% ±2.3 pts | 17.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.9% ±2.6 pts | 11.2% | – |
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 2.9 across New Jersey.
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?
32.1% of Princeton's workers drive alone and 32.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.3%.
| Measure | Princeton | Mercer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.3% ±2.1 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% ±1.1 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 32.1% ±4.2 pts | 60.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 2.1% ±0.8 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.7% ±1.8 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Walked | 19.9% ±2.7 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 32.7% ±4.1 pts | 19.5% | +23.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.2 min ±2.2 | 27.1 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?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Princeton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $110,375 (Tract 40) to $250,000 or more (Tract 42.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 45.01Mercer County | 6,678 | $197,434 |
| Tract 42.04Mercer County | 6,062 | $207,207 |
| Tract 40Mercer County | 5,705 | $110,375 |
| Tract 42.05Mercer County | 5,357 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 42.03Mercer County | 3,532 | $244,038 |
| Tract 42.06Mercer County | 2,401 | $181,528 |
| Tract 45.02Mercer County | 1,021 | $139,922 |
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 New Jersey?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Princeton is the 1,311th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 28th-most populous of 323 in New Jersey.
Princeton ranks 78th of 771 places in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 28th | 323 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 207th | 532 |
| Residents per square mile | 459th | 787 |
| Median household income | 78th | 771 |
| Per capita income | 82nd | 785 |
| Median home value | 25th | 777 |
| Median gross rent | 65th | 701 |
| Poverty rate | 301st | 539 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7th | 780 |
| Median age | 770th | 786 |
| Owner-occupied share | 671st | 777 |
| Work from home | 45th | 695 |
| Travel time to work | 692nd | 787 |
Princeton's figures with every place in New Jersey (CSV)
Every place in New Jersey, 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?
6 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.