The Town FilesPrinceton, Indiana
City in Gibson County · population 8,301 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $128,700
- Household income
- $57,618
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 38.0
Princeton is a city of 8,301 people in Gibson County, Indiana. The median home is worth $128,700, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more vibrant than 86% of Indiana towns, more walkable than 83% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Indiana towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $128,700, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $57,618, which is more affordable than 68% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $1,022 a month. 61.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $128,700 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $1,022 | $888 |
| Median household income | $57,618 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 61.3% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 21.1°F. About 49.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.2 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 3, 1996.
Severe weather in Gibson County since 1996
Gibson County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| May 4, 2018 | Flood | DR-4363: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1997: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And |
Jobs and pay in Gibson County
Gibson County had 21,424 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,856 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Princeton
4 public schools with 1,917 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton Community High School | 9-12 | 600 | 13.0 |
| Princeton Comm Primary School | K-2 | 448 | 12.8 |
| Princeton Comm Intermediate School | 3-5 | 440 | 15.2 |
| Princeton Community Middle | 6-8 | 429 | 13.4 |
Towns near Princeton
- Fort Branch, IN7.5 mi · 2,965 people · home $195,900
- Mount Carmel, IL11.2 mi · 7,015 people · home $89,300
- Highland, IN21.3 mi · 4,435 people · home $240,400
- Vincennes, IN22.6 mi · 16,759 people · home $111,600
- Melody Hill, IN23.1 mi · 3,689 people · home $201,600
- Chandler, IN24.6 mi · 3,693 people · home $131,100
- Evansville, IN25.5 mi · 117,298 people · home $143,100
- Lawrenceville, IL26.3 mi · 4,164 people · home $71,300
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 53% of Indiana towns and quieter than 33%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $128,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,618, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,022 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 21.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12.2 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)