Home / Home Buying by state / New Jersey / Mercer County / Princeton

Buying a home in Princeton, New Jersey

The typical owner-occupied home in Princeton is worth about $1,050,600, 2.3 times the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 3.2 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 0.95% of their home's value, lower than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $192,079 a year, so the median home costs 5.5 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 55% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Princeton at a glance

Princeton New Jersey U.S.
Median home value $1,050,600 $454,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.95% 2.11% 0.94%
Median household income $192,079 $103,556 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 55% 64% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $4,001 $2,829 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.6% 22.9% 21.0%
Median rent $2,636 $1,720 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 24.8% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1965 1970 1980
Vacant homes 6.1% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 30,756 9,343,809 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Princeton

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Princeton home of $1,050,600 with 20% down costs about $6,923 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $8,843, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $296,719 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 43% of the median Princeton household income of $192,079; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $680,000.

The median rent here is $2,636 a month, so owning the median home costs about $4,287 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$210,120
Loan amount$840,480
Principal and interest$5,654
Property taxes (0.95% a year)$832
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$438
PMI$0
Total per month$6,923

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$36,771
Loan amount$1,031,571
Principal and interest$6,939
Property taxes (0.95% a year)$832
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$438
FHA mortgage insurance$634
Total per month$8,843

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Princeton

What is the median home value in Princeton?

About $1,050,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Princeton?

Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 0.95% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Princeton?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $6,923 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $296,719 a year.

More about Princeton

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data