The Town FilesPrinceton, North Carolina
Town in Johnston County · population 1,315 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,400
- Household income
- $45,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 34.0
Princeton is a town of 1,315 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $215,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 95% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $215,400, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $45,500, which is more affordable than 22% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $690 a month. 49.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $690 | $969 |
| Median household income | $45,500 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 49.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 26, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 3, 2016.
Severe weather in Johnston County since 1996
Johnston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Johnston County
Johnston County had 61,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Princeton
2 public schools with 1,808 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton High | 6-12 | 1,021 | 16.0 |
| Princeton Elementary | PK-5 | 787 | 14.8 |
Towns near Princeton
- Pine Level, NC6.2 mi · 2,046 people · home $221,000
- Selma, NC8.8 mi · 6,317 people · home $171,600
- Kenly, NC9.5 mi · 1,491 people · home $205,200
- Pikeville, NC10.1 mi · 712 people · home $140,800
- Mar-Mac, NC11.1 mi · 3,184 people · home $149,200
- Smithfield, NC11.3 mi · 11,292 people · home $242,500
- Fremont, NC11.9 mi · 1,196 people · home $147,800
- Goldsboro, NC12.4 mi · 33,657 people · home $200,400
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 54% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 22%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $215,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,500, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $690 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 88.3°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)