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Princeton vs Dobson

157 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (11.4× in Dobson) and growth since 2010 (+17.9 pts in Princeton).

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Princeton, NCOne of the healthiest townsNorth Carolina · 1,658 people
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Dobson, NCA regional job hubNorth Carolina · 1,652 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

PrincetonOne of the healthiest towns
Health88% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates HistorySettled in 18613 places on the National Register Housing$273K typical home18% below the NC typical home All about Princeton →
DobsonA regional job hub
Work2,877 jobsbased in Dobson, a regional job hub College town1 collegeSurry Community College HistorySettled in 18531 place on the National Register All about Dobson →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker11.4×
Dobson is more of a job hub
Dobson 5.01Princeton 0.44
Growth since 2010+17.9 pts
Princeton has grown faster since 2010
Princeton +10.1%Dobson -7.8%
Property tax bill+48%
Tax bills are bigger in Princeton
Princeton $1,906Dobson $1,290
Average commute12 min
Dobson has the shorter commute
Princeton 30 minDobson 18 min
Work in town+16 pts
More of Dobson’s workers stay in town
Dobson 17.4%Princeton 1.4%
Street grid+61%
Princeton has the more walkable street grid
Princeton 76.2Dobson 47.3
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every North Carolina ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
B−PrincetonBetter than 53% of districts in the state B+DobsonBetter than 72% of districts in the state
Health
DPrincetonHealthier than 12% of U.S. towns C+DobsonHealthier than 42% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Princeton$1,630/mo
Typical home $273K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $690/mo · Housing →
Dobson$1,560/mo
Typical home $266K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $528/mo · Housing →

The difference: $80 a month, about $900 a year, between Princeton and Dobson.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
PrincetonDobson
Snow a year1″8″
January low31°F25°F
July high92°F86°F
Growing season (days)220d186d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)20th20th
Outdoors & history
PrincetonDobson
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%0.2%
Settled18611853
National Register places31
Archive photos518
Famous people born here18
Community
PrincetonDobson
Library hours a week17 hrs41 hrs
Colleges in town—1
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

157 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PrincetonNCDobsonNC
Princeton ↔ Dobson157 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

PrincetonDobson
People
Population 1,658Highest 1,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +10.1%Highest NC: +9.5% -7.8%Lowest NC: +9.5%
Median age 34±10.2Lowest 13% below NC 35.8±2.3Highest 8% below NC
Dobson and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.8%±11.8Highest NC: 21.8% 20.5%±7.4Lowest NC: 21.8%
Princeton and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16.2%±1.3Lowest NC: 17.2% 18.6%±2.3Highest NC: 17.2%
Dobson and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.3%Lowest NC: 35.7% 24.3%Highest NC: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.2%±1.2Highest NC: 6.4% 3.5%±2.4Lowest NC: 6.4%
Princeton and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $45,500±$26kHighest 37% below NC $43,750±$19kLowest 40% below NC
Princeton and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $215,400±$85kHighest 25% below NC $173,900±$96kLowest 40% below NC
Princeton and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $690±$132Highest 44% below NC $528±$107Lowest 57% below NC
Princeton and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,906Highest about the NC average $1,290Lowest 32% below NC
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 24%±8.4Lowest NC: 48.9% 42.2%±16.6Highest NC: 48.9%
Dobson and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 9.7%Lowest NC: 13% 22.4%Highest NC: 13%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 49.7%Highest NC: 66.6% 48.7%Lowest NC: 66.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977Lowest 14 yrs older than NC 1979Highest 12 yrs older than NC
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minHighest 20% above NC 18 minLowest 28% below NC
Work from home 5.7%±5.4Highest NC: 16.3% 5.4%±7.3Lowest NC: 16.3%
Princeton and Dobson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.4%Lowest 17.4%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.3 miHighest 11.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.44Lowest 5.01Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Smithfield (13%)Mount Airy (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DobsonFew work in Princeton
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 76.2Highest 47.3Lowest
Schools
School district Johnston County Public SchoolsSurry County Schools
High school in town Princeton HighSurry Central High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.1Highest 16.7Lowest
North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Princeton neighborsTown Square →

1 neighbor in Princeton can answer.

Dobson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dobson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Princeton and Dobson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Princeton

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Yadkinville3,004 people · $184K homes
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Kenly2,359 people · $205K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks North Carolina towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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