The Town FilesPrinceton, Minnesota
City in Mille Lacs County · population 4,819 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $218,700
- Household income
- $62,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.4
Princeton is a city of 4,819 people in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $218,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Minnesota towns, hipper than 89% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 88% of Minnesota towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $218,700, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $62,219, which is more affordable than 45% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $991 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,700 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $991 | $991 |
| Median household income | $62,219 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 3.8°F. About 30.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 13, 1981 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 27, 1990.
Severe weather in Mille Lacs County since 1996
Mille Lacs County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-4009: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County had 9,372 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,582 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Princeton
8 public schools with 3,171 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton High School | 9-12 | 974 | 18.7 |
| Princeton Middle School | 6-8 | 739 | 18.9 |
| Princeton Intermediate School | 3-5 | 686 | 15.2 |
| Princeton Primary School | PK-2 | 656 | 11.9 |
| Early Childhood Special Education | PK-PK | 73 | — |
| Princeton Area Learning Center | 9-12 | 29 | — |
| Onward Transition Program | 12-12 | 11 | — |
| Credit Recovery | 9-12 | 3 | — |
Towns near Princeton
- Blue Hill, MN6.2 mi · 2,507 people · home $373,300
- Zimmerman, MN8.8 mi · 6,189 people · home $323,600
- Livonia, MN9.4 mi · 6,174 people · home $411,200
- Orrock, MN11.2 mi · 3,544 people · home $407,300
- Bradford, MN13.1 mi · 3,427 people · home $336,800
- Milaca, MN13.4 mi · 3,021 people · home $203,400
- St. Francis, MN15.3 mi · 8,142 people · home $327,600
- Becker, MN16.0 mi · 5,496 people · home $418,700
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 17% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 11%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $218,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,219, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $991 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 3.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.7 inches of precipitation a year and 49.4 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 13, 1981. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)