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Buying a home in Princeton, West Virginia

The typical owner-occupied home in Princeton is worth about $120,300, 26% below the West Virginia median of $162,600 and 64% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $742 a year in property taxes, about 0.62% of their home's value, higher than the West Virginia rate of 0.53%. The median household earns $43,900 a year, so the median home costs 2.7 times the median income (2.7 times for West Virginia). 57% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 40% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Princeton at a glance

Princeton West Virginia U.S.
Median home value $120,300 $162,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $742 $865 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.62% 0.53% 0.94%
Median household income $43,900 $59,608 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 57% 75% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 40% 46% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,090 $1,255 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.9% 17.3% 21.0%
Median rent $747 $872 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.2% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1953 1976 1980
Vacant homes 16.9% 15.4% 10.1%
Population 5,736 1,778,373 334,922,499

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 $120,300 with 20% down costs about $760 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $960, 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 $32,558 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 21% of the median Princeton household income of $43,900; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $162,000.

The median rent here is $747 a month, so owning the median home costs about $13 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$24,060
Loan amount$96,240
Principal and interest$647
Property taxes (0.62% a year)$62
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$50
PMI$0
Total per month$760

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,210
Loan amount$118,121
Principal and interest$795
Property taxes (0.62% a year)$62
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$50
FHA mortgage insurance$53
Total per month$960

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Questions about home buying in Princeton

What is the median home value in Princeton?

About $120,300 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 $742 a year, which is about 0.62% 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 $760 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $32,558 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