The Town FilesPrinceton, Illinois
City in Bureau County · population 7,832 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,700
- Household income
- $61,946
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 46.0
Princeton is a city of 7,832 people in Bureau County, Illinois. The median home is worth $134,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Illinois towns, hipper than 94% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 72% of Illinois towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $134,700, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $61,946, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $782 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $782 | $960 |
| Median household income | $61,946 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 39.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 22, 2016 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 13, 1981.
Severe weather in Bureau County since 1996
Bureau County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Bureau County
Bureau County had 10,032 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,297 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Princeton
5 public schools with 1,558 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton High School | 9-12 | 486 | 16.8 |
| Logan Jr High School | 5-8 | 413 | 13.8 |
| Douglas Elementary School | PK-K | 230 | 23.0 |
| Lincoln Elem School | 3-4 | 222 | 13.9 |
| Jefferson Elem School | K-3 | 207 | 12.2 |
Towns near Princeton
- Spring Valley, IL15.1 mi · 5,582 people · home $153,300
- Peru, IL16.9 mi · 9,896 people · home $154,300
- LaSalle, IL19.3 mi · 9,582 people · home $113,500
- Oglesby, IL21.3 mi · 3,712 people · home $139,700
- Mendota, IL22.4 mi · 7,061 people · home $134,100
- Kewanee, IL25.9 mi · 12,509 people · home $73,200
- Rock Falls, IL29.6 mi · 8,789 people · home $83,900
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 72% of Illinois towns and quieter than 55%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $134,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,946, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $782 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.8 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 22, 2016. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)