Princeton, TX
Census place 4859576 · pop 25,229
Named the fastest-growing city in the United States by the Census Bureau, with population surging over 30% in a single year.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
32 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
16.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
11 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.61% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
38.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,936/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$331,000 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
28.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
12.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
24.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
40 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
75.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$105,200 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
95.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
4.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.35 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+132.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Not measured for Princeton: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Princeton, TX a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Princeton scores 49/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is commute time. Texas overall ranks #38 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Princeton, TX expensive to live in?
- Princeton has a median home value of $331,000 and typical rent around $1,936/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Princeton, TX?
- Its weakest measured area is commute time (32 min) — 10/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Princeton, TX best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+132.6%) — 100/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Named the fastest-growing city in the United States by the Census Bureau, with population surging over 30% in a single year.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.