Princeton-psf-hq, 2010
Princeton’s story
180 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2010.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1846Princeton is settled
PrincetonMO
Population
970
2025 Census estimate · −4% since 2020
Typical home
$120K
−5.2% in a year
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
38.2
years
Jobs based here
368
Balanced
Is Princeton a good place to live?
Among 248 Missouri towns, just 2 have a lower January low than Princeton. Princeton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Princeton stand out
Where Princeton beats most towns.
A shrinking town
Princeton has shrunk 17% since 2010
1,166 counted in 2010 and 1,007 in 2020; an estimated 970 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Princeton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Princeton, and how to reach them.
PowerEvergy12.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPrinceton PWSNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Princeton’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMercerMercer County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6467364673 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Princeton.
Housing
Princeton stands out in Missouri and nationally: the median rent there is lower
Zillow values the typical Princeton home at about $120,000, down 5.2% in a year, 55% below the Missouri typical home. Among households here, 72% live in a home they own, where Missouri’s towns sit at 64% and U.S. towns at 73%.
$120KZillow home value
| Princeton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $547 a month | $971 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Princeton$120K
Missouri$265K
−5.2%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Princeton, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Princeton has chilly winters and warm summers. Summer afternoons peak near 86° in July, and January nights bottom out around 16°; snowfall runs to about 27 inches a winter.
27″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–37°
Spring41–63°
Summer63–84°
Fall42–64°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 25
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
High risk in Princeton, with inland flooding at the top
Storm and flood damage is expected to run higher than in 65% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Princeton after 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2019. Expected losses in Princeton break down as 37% from inland flooding and 21% from tornadoes.
65risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesDrought
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
About one in five working residents works right in Princeton
Among residents in Princeton, 18% live below the poverty line, above both the Missouri town median (14%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Commuting out is the norm here: 19% of working residents work locally. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Princeton dropped by 40, to 368. The top destinations are Morgan Township (19%), Trenton (7%) and Kansas City (4%).
19%work in town
| Princeton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 18% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 19% | 13% | 8% |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Princeton19%
Morgan Township19%
Trenton7%
Kansas City4%
Bethany2%
22 mi
median commute distance
368
jobs based in Princeton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Princeton is
14% of Princeton adults binge drink. In Princeton, 18% of adults report frequent physical distress, and 28% say their health is fair or poor.
| Princeton | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 30% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 22% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
0 better15 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Princeton | MO |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 12% | 8% |
| More uninsured adults | 12.4% | 8.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.6% | 6.8% |
Wright Memorial Hospital
22.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,020 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Princeton Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Princeton
17pages on Princeton
The big questions
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Princeton; the nearest are
North Central Missouri CollegeCommunity college · Public · Trenton22 mi$5,370 in-state tuitionTruman State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Kirksville55 mi$9,838 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Princeton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
Small town
970 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Famous people from Princeton
6 notable people were born in Princeton.
R
Russ DerryAmerican baseball player · 1916–2004
L
Laurance M. HydeAmerican judge · 1892–1978About Princeton
City in Missouri, U.S.
Princeton is the county seat and largest city of Mercer County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,007 at the 2020 census, down from the 2010 census, which counted 1,166 people. Princeton was the birthplace of the famous frontierswoman Calamity Jane.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1846
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 961 ft
- ZIP code
- 64673
- Area code
- 660
Questions about Princeton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Princeton, MO a good place to live?
Princeton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Princeton, MO known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Calamity Jane and Arthur M. Hyde.