Princeton, NC housing market
The typical Princeton home is worth about $273,000, up 3.3% in a year, 18% below the North Carolina typical home.
Home values, sales, trends and how Princeton compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Princeton at a glance
Only 1 sale in May 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Typical home value, 2016–2026
Show as a table
| January | Princeton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $145,000 | $179,000 |
| 2018 | $154,000 | $190,000 |
| 2019 | $163,000 | $203,000 |
| 2020 | $169,000 | $215,000 |
| 2021 | $191,000 | $242,000 |
| 2022 | $216,000 | $287,000 |
| 2023 | $245,000 | $320,000 |
| 2024 | $263,000 | $332,000 |
| 2025 | $267,000 | $338,000 |
| 2026 | $268,000 | $336,000 |
| August 2026 | $273,000 | $335,000 |
No new homes permitted in 2021
No permits for new homes were issued in Princeton in 2021. The last year with any was 2020 (1 new home).
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Princeton gained 121 residents while 93 new homes were permitted: about 1.3 new residents per new home. Building outpaced population growth, which usually means smaller households or homes used part of the year. Across North Carolina: 1.7 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $330,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | 4 | 8 | $2.3 million |
| 2018 | 13 | 10 | 3 | $1.7 million |
| 2017 | 20 | 16 | 4 | $2.6 million |
| 2016 | 15 | 6 | 9 | $1.3 million |
| 2015 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2014 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $802,000 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $496,000 |
| 2011 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $414,000 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $790,000 |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $218,000 |
Princeton's permit office didn't report to the Census in 2021, so the 2021 figures are Census estimates.
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey.
6 years of income
The typical Princeton home costs about 6 years of the town's median household income, more than across North Carolina (4.6 years).
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,350
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Princeton is $1,350 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Princeton pay a median of $690, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 36% of the town's median household income, above the 30% guideline for affordable housing.
Studio $1,170 · 4 bedrooms $2,200
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (27569; Goldsboro, NC MSA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Recent listings in Princeton
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.