The Town FilesPrinceton, Missouri
City in Mercer County · population 1,007 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,000
- Household income
- $58,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 38.2
Princeton is a city of 1,007 people in Mercer County, Missouri. The median home is worth $78,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 88% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Missouri towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $78,000, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $58,558, which is more affordable than 98% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $547 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,000 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $547 | $855 |
| Median household income | $58,558 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 88.7% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.7°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.8 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1973 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 5, 1971.
Severe weather in Mercer County since 1996
Mercer County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4929: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4200: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mercer County
Mercer County had 814 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,042 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Princeton
2 public schools with 331 students, about 9.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRINCETON R-V ELEM. | PK-6 | 170 | 8.9 |
| PRINCETON R-V JR.-SR. HIGH | 7-12 | 161 | 9.5 |
Towns near Princeton
- Trenton, MO21.8 mi · 5,609 people · home $99,500
- Lamoni, IA23.7 mi · 1,969 people · home $113,400
- Bethany, MO24.9 mi · 2,915 people · home $121,700
- Leon, IA25.4 mi · 1,822 people · home $99,800
- Milan, MO27.9 mi · 1,819 people · home $89,400
- Corydon, IA28.8 mi · 1,526 people · home $92,400
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 97% of Missouri towns and quieter than 77%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $78,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,558, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $547 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.8 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1973. The typical Missouri 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)