Princeton 72 Excellent
Princeton Livability #53 ranked city in West Virginia#6,278 ranked city in the USARanks better than 78% of areas
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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.

  • Schools Schools

    The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.

  • 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
  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Employment Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.

What's it like Living in Princeton?

Princeton, West Virginia is a small city with a population of 5,861 residents. According to the most recent Census, 88% of Princeton residents are White, 7% Black and 2% Asian. 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 19 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Princeton could be a positive experience compared to other cities in West Virginia 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. The best areas in Princeton and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from amenities, health & safety, employment, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the West Virginia and national averages.

With a livability score of 71/100, Princeton is ranked #5,875 in the United States and #47 in West Virginia. If we check out each of the categories on their own, we see that Princeton ranks well for crime (B), education (B+) and housing (A+). Regrettably for Princeton, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (D) and employment (F).

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Princeton apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that Princeton meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Princeton. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Princeton are simply unattainable. The median home price for Princeton homes is $176,420, which is 8.2% lower than the West Virginia 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 9.7% lower than the West Virginia average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Princeton

See all the best places to live around Princeton

How Do You Rate The Livability In Princeton?

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Compare Princeton, WV Livability

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      Princeton transportation information

      Statistic Princeton West Virginia National
      Average one way commute19min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work85.2%82.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.0%9.9%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.6%0.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.1%2.9%2.8%
      Working from home3.1%3.1%4.6%
      Source: The Princeton, WV 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.