The Town FilesPrinceton, Wisconsin
City in Green Lake County · population 1,267 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,700
- Household income
- $54,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 46.7
Princeton is a city of 1,267 people in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $116,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns, quieter than 74% of Wisconsin towns, hipper than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Princeton ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Princeton is worth $116,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $54,205, which is more affordable than 94% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $755 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Princeton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $755 | $951 |
| Median household income | $54,205 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in Princeton
| People | Princeton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Princeton
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Green Lake County since 1996
Green Lake County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Green Lake County
Green Lake County had 5,899 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,517 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Princeton itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Princeton
1 public school with 310 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton School | PK-12 | 310 | 11.1 |
Towns near Princeton
- Princeton, WI2.1 mi · 1,519 people · home $274,700
- Mecan, WI4.8 mi · 752 people · home $209,900
- Neshkoro, WI6.7 mi · 565 people · home $239,900
- Marquette, WI7.1 mi · 523 people · home $305,800
- Brooklyn, WI8.1 mi · 1,787 people · home $332,600
- Shields, WI8.5 mi · 585 people · home $217,200
- Green Lake, WI8.5 mi · 1,001 people · home $218,200
- Green Lake, WI9.3 mi · 1,169 people · home $370,300
Princeton questions
Is Princeton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Princeton scores better for retirees than 90% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 74%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home in Princeton is valued at $116,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,205, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $755 a month.
What is the weather like in Princeton?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Princeton get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Princeton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)