Princeton 82 Exceptional
Princeton Livability #62 ranked city in Illinois#1,086 ranked city in the USARanks better than 96% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
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Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Princeton

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

What's it like Living in Princeton?

Princeton is a smaller city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 7,860 inhabitants. The majority of Princeton residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. In Princeton, there seems to be a shift in population towards an older age group. The average age of the population is now 48, which is significantly higher than the nation’s average. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Princeton offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 15 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Princeton could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Illinois if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like crime, cost of living, health & safety, education, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Princeton and in the areas around Princeton is a much easier task.

The livability score in Princeton is 81/100 and the city is ranked in the 96th percentile of all cities across America. This is a great score, as Princeton ranks well in multiple categories! The cherry on top is that Princeton also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. If we take a closer look at each of the categories on their own, we see that Princeton ranks well for crime (A+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Unfortunately for Princeton, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F).

Low violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, assault) provide a safer environment for residents, reducing the risk of personal harm, property theft or violence. Low crime can also lead to increased property values and desirability. With 0 crimes per 100,000 residents, Princeton has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Princeton has an unemployment rate of 2.4% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Princeton can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Princeton real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Princeton. The median home price for Princeton homes is $211,839, which is 31.3% lower than the Illinois average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Princeton, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.8, which is 20% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Princeton

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Compare Princeton, IL Livability

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      Princeton transportation information

      Statistic Princeton Illinois National
      Average one way commute15min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work75.8%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.0%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.4%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.6%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk3.3%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home6.5%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Princeton, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.