2019 · Old Gurley Mill · Wikimedia Commons
Princeton’s story
Princeton in pictures
5 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 3 places on the National Register.
PrincetonNC
A town of 1,658. Healthier than 88% of U.S. towns.
Population
1,658
+10.1% since 2010
Typical home
$273K
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$46K
median
Median age
34.0
years
Jobs based here
285
A commuter town
What makes Princeton stand out
The 2 things Princeton does most differently from other towns.
A growing town
Princeton has grown 10.1% since 2010
1,194 people in 2010; 1,658 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Princeton’s report card
Now in Princeton
What neighbors are saying. Town Square →
Residents weigh in
Live in Princeton? Is a D for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Princeton’s Town Square.
Weather
Forecast →80°
Clear
H 84° · L 61°
Local news
All →- East Duplin vs Pender - Girls Varsity Soccer 04/30/2027 | Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 28
- North Johnston JV Football @ Princetonmaxpreps.com · Sep 26
- Princeton vs WRHS - Girls Varsity Basketball 01/29/2027 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 26
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Princeton. Another town gets a different order.
Health
Healthier than 12% of U.S. towns
Princeton beats the North Carolina average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 17.
DHealth Grade
32 measures vs. North Carolina
0 better15 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Princeton | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 26.8% | 13.9% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 23.4% | 15.2% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 12.4% | 8.1% |
Johnston Health
9.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
15th
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 20% of U.S. communities.
20risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHurricanes
2
paid flood claims since 2021
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Princeton
Most working residents leave Princeton for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Smithfield (13%), Raleigh (13%) and Goldsboro (6%). Half commute less than 27 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Princeton1%
Smithfield13%
Raleigh13%
Goldsboro6%
Clayton3%
27 mi
median commute distance
285
jobs based in Princeton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Who lives here
More children than North Carolina overall, and fewer college graduates
Children under 18 are 31% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 32% of residents (38% statewide). 15% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 36% across North Carolina.
34median age · NC 39.1
PrincetonNorth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
25%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma18%
High school26%
Some college28%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s10%
Graduate5%
| Princeton | NC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 24.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 5.9% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.8% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 16.4% | 13.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 19.4% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 6.6% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 5.7% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.2% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 17.6% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.1% | 24.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.6% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.3% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 9.8% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.4% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,700, single groups can be off by several pointsBy the numbers →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Princeton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 32°, and snow is almost unheard of.
90°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–55°
Spring49–73°
Summer68–89°
Fall51–73°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Mar 29
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
90°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Housing
A typical Princeton home is worth about $273K
The typical Princeton home is worth about $273,000, up 3.3% in a year, 18% below the North Carolina typical home.
$273KZillow home value
Typical home value
Princeton$273K
North Carolina$335K
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Schools
Princeton’s public schools outperform 53% of North Carolina districts
The public schools Princeton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 53% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton Elementary | PK–5 | 770 | B− |
| Princeton High | 6–12 | 988 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Outdoors
0% of Princeton is conserved land
0.3 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 824 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Princeton Park | 0.3 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Princeton for work
Where Princeton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
285jobs based in Princeton
1%of working residents work in town
27 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
3 places in Princeton on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Princeton
Town in North Carolina, United States
Princeton is a town in Johnston County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Princeton had a population of 1,315. Each May the town celebrates Princeton Community Day, a festival dedicated to promoting community involvement and town pride. The town holds municipal elections in November in odd-number years to elect its mayor and town council.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 1,315
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 151 ft
- ZIP code
- 27569
- Area code
- 919
More about Princeton
Still missing for Princeton:a photo of Princetonupcoming events