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Princeton

A city of 5,274 people in Minnesota
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Around town

The places and views that make it Princeton

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Outdoors in Princeton

Parks & trails →
Map of Princeton: conserved land, trails and the top places to walk
Conserved land2.1%70 of 3,321 acres
Trails3.6 mi0.7 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves413 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

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Know Princeton

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Princeton

City in Minnesota, United States
4,819Population
5.2 sq miArea
981 ftElevation

Princeton is a city in Mille Lacs and Sherburne counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota, at the junction of the Rum River and its West Branch. It is 50 miles (80 km) north of Minneapolis and 30 miles (48 km) east of St. Cloud, at the intersection of Highways 169 and 95. The population was 4,819 at the 2020 census and an estimated 5,311 in 2022. A majority of its residents live in Mille Lacs County.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code55371
Area code763
Living in Princeton

Housing in Princeton

$345K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $345,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Princeton

B−

Safety Grade B-

Princeton reports less crime per resident than 50% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000
Princeton 1.8
Minnesota 2.3
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
Princeton 8.5
Minnesota 14.3
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Princeton

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About one in 5 of Princeton’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Elk River (7%), Cambridge (4%) and St. Cloud (4%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

Elk River
7%
Cambridge
4%
St. Cloud
4%
Zimmerman
2%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Princeton →

Health in Princeton

B−

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 49% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 73% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Minnesota

11worse than MN

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 21 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Fairview Northland Regional HospitalPrinceton · 0.8 mi · ER
North Metro ClinicCoon Rapids · 32.6 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careNo shortage
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Princeton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Princeton →

Natural hazards in Princeton

44
Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 44% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Princeton →

Climate in Princeton

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Princeton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 4°, and about 49 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

25° / 7°Winter
54° / 33°Spring
79° / 58°Summer
56° / 37°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Princeton →

Schools in Princeton

All Princeton schools →
B+

School Grade B+

The public schools Princeton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 65% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

See how Princeton’s schools compare in MN →
DistrictPRINCETON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTSchools13

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.

Princeton’s library

Library details →
Princeton Area Library100 S. 4th Avenue · part of East Central Regional Library
E-books35 hrs a week
IMLS Public Libraries Survey · FY2024Princeton Area Library →
Famous people from PrincetonWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Princeton.Meet them →

Where Princeton is

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Locator map of Princeton
Wikimedia Commons · Map: Arkyan · CC BY-SA 3.0

Location map

How things work in Princeton

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The porch light’s on

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01