The Town FilesPrinceton, Iowa
City in Scott County · population 923 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,200
- Household income
- $87,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 50.0
Princeton is a city of 923 people in Scott County, Iowa. The median home is worth $266,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Iowa towns, better for families than 84% of Iowa towns, quieter than 84% of Iowa towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $266,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $87,188, which is more affordable than 10% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $600 a month. 84.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $600 | $820 |
| Median household income | $87,188 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 13, 1990 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 7.00 inches on September 27, 1959.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 90,947 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,138 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Princeton
1 public school with 177 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom Elementary School | PK-6 | 177 | 13.6 |
Towns near Princeton
- Cordova, IL2.0 mi · 671 people · home $181,300
- Port Byron, IL3.4 mi · 1,668 people · home $278,200
- Le Claire, IA5.2 mi · 4,710 people · home $318,700
- Rapids City, IL6.3 mi · 964 people · home $203,700
- Hampton, IL8.2 mi · 1,779 people · home $184,900
- Bettendorf, IA9.4 mi · 39,102 people · home $306,500
- Camanche, IA9.5 mi · 4,570 people · home $172,400
- Park View, IA9.5 mi · 2,709 people · home $276,000
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 66% of Iowa towns and quieter than 84%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $266,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,188, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $600 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 31.4 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 13, 1990. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)