The Town FilesPrinceton, Maine
Town in Washington County · population 745 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $120,800
- Household income
- $56,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 86 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 39.1
Princeton is a town of 745 people in Washington County, Maine. The median home is worth $120,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Maine towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $120,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $56,406, which is more affordable than 95% of Maine towns. Median rent is $675 a month. 74.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $120,800 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $675 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $56,406 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 74.3% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 90.0% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 86.2 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 29, 1961 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 1961.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 21, 1985.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 10,211 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,219 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Princeton
1 public school with 110 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton Elementary School | PK-8 | 110 | 8.5 |
Towns near Princeton
- Alexander, ME4.8 mi · 525 people · home $193,800
- Baileyville, ME4.9 mi · 1,318 people · home $112,100
- Woodland, ME5.8 mi · 853 people · home $105,400
- Calais, ME15.1 mi · 3,079 people · home $111,100
- Robbinston, ME19.1 mi · 539 people · home $228,000
- Perry, ME23.6 mi · 802 people · home $196,400
- Pembroke, ME24.8 mi · 788 people · home $142,800
- East Machias, ME26.0 mi · 1,326 people · home $210,800
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 38% of Maine towns and quieter than 50%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $120,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,406, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $675 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 86.2 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 29, 1961. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- 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)