Princeton Guide
Living or Moving to Princeton New Jersey
Princeton is a great place to live for many reasons. 1.Convenient 
commute by train and bus and close proximity to New York and Philadelphia are one of the main attractions of this area. 2.Excellent Princeton public school system as well as some of the worlds best private schools. 3.Plenty of options for dinning, shopping and recreation. The worlds best culture and entertainment are only one hour away in New York. 4. Variety of housing styles, prices and neighborhoods.
Princeton New Jersey Overview
Princeton, New Jersey is located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States.According to Wikipedia Princeton lies at latitude 40°21′ North, longitude 74°40′ West.
Legally Princeton is comprised of two municipalities: a Township and a Borough. The borough is located in the center and is surrounded surrounded by the township. The segregation of the Borough from the Township dates back to 1894 in a dispute over school taxes. Although there were several attempts to combine the two municipalities, these referendums were defeated. Today Princeton Regional Schools, and some other public services serve both municipalities. Princeton is not the capital if New Jersey, but New Jersey Governor’s official residence is located here.
Princeton Zip Codes
United States Postal Zip Codes for Princeton include 08542 (largely the Borough), 08544 (the University), and 08540. The latter covers areas outside Princeton proper, including portions of Lawrence, Hopewell, and West Windsor Townships in Mercer County, Montgomery and Franklin Townships in Somerset County, and Plainsboro and South Brunswick Townships in Middlesex County.
Note: Because 08540 zip code spans several municipalities, homes for sale could be advertised as “Princeton address”, but in fact not be located in Princeton.
Princeton Population *
Princeton Borough population was 13,684 people, with the population density of 7,388 people per square mile. The median age is 24.4 as compared to the US median of 37.6. Most (66.32%) of people in Princeton, NJ, are married.
Princeton Townships population was 17,353, with the population density of 1,057 people per square mile. The median age is 40 vs. the US median of 37.6. The majority (66.41%) of people in Princeton Township are married. Approximately 34 % have children.
*According to Sterlings Best data for 2007.
Princeton Housing*
In Princeton Borough most houses (58%) are older with the median house age of 42 years. There were only 1.5% of houses built in 1999-2005. 445 of homes are owned. The median home price was $670,000. The housing price ranges: <$599,000: 45%; $500K-$749K: 26%, $750K-$1mln: 10%; $1mln+ 19%.
In Princeton Township the average age of the homes is 40 years and 12% were built in 1999-2005. The median home value was $678,000. The home price ranges are <$499,000:33%;$500K-$749K: 23%; $750K-$999k: 16%; $1mln+:28%
*According to Sterlings Best data for 2007.
Housing prices
There is a tremendous variety in the types of housing and house prices in Princeton and surrounding towns. You can find anything from a $250,000 condo to a $12,000,000 estate, a brand new house or a 250-year-old historical property. It is difficult to find better housing values, given the quality of schools and proximity to jobs. The average Princeton real price for 2008 was $1,006,832, representing approximately 10% increase from 2007. Based on Trend MLS 01-03/2009
Princeton NJ Real estate market housing reports 2009
Princeton NJ Real Estate Market Report 2004-2008
Hopewell Real Estate Housing Market Report 2004-2008
Montgomery Township Real Estate Housing Report 2004-2008
Princeton Neigboehoods
Princeton Neighborhoods
Campbell Woods - Princeton Neighborhood
Princeton Ridge | Princeton Neighborhood
Princeton Ridge Homes Sold - Prices and Market Statistics
Preserve - Preserve Neighborhood - Princeton Homes For Sale
Ettl Farm Luxury Homes -Princeton Real Estate
Princeton Public schools
Princeton has six public schools serving both the Borough and the Township. There are four elementary schools: Community Park, Johnson Park, Littlebrook and Riverside. The high school also serves students from Cranbury NJ. Other non-residents could attend Princeton schools if they pay tuition. Read More:Princeton Regional Schools - For Non -Residents
Princeton Charter School (grades K-8) is independent of the Princeton regional schools. It is funded on a per student basis from local tax revenues.
Princeton, Montgomery, West windsor School rankings
How To Select The Best School
Princeton Private Schools
Among the private schools in Princeton are: American Boychoir School, Hun School, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Princeton Day School, Princeton Friends School, Stuart School, St. Paul School and the Lewis School.
Although technically not in Princeton, these schools are located in the neighboring towns: Lawrence Township - Chapin and Princeton Junior schools; Montgomery Township - Princeton Montessori and Waldorf schools; West Windsor Township - Eden Institute.
Commuting to and from Princeton
The town is roughly equidistant between New York and Philadelphia. Princeton has been home to New York commuters (via Princeton Junction) since the end of World War II. [1] The town is close to many major highways that can take residents to both cities. While the Amtrak ride time is similar to each city, the more usual commuter train ride to New York via the New Jersey Transit Northeast Corridor Line, is generally much shorter than the equivalent train ride to Philadelphia, which involves a transfer to SEPTA trains in Trenton.
How Princeton Compares to the Best Places To Live
One way to look at Princeton is to see how it fares compared to the 100 best places to live, which the Money magazine publishes each year. The most striking points of this comparison for 2007**:
- Princeton is a safe place to live, with the crime rate 89% lower then the average of the 100 best.
- Princeton is 77% more diverse then the average of the 100 best (measured by a racial diversity index).
Income
- Princeton median family income is $145, 559 and is 61% higher then average.
- Princetonians have 62% more buying power, partially because of the high income.
Quality of Life
- Princeton is a very safe place. Property and personal crime are 89% lower then average.
- Princetonians have a relatively short commute -16.5 minutes compared to 23.1 minutes average
- Five times as many people walk or bike to work.
- Princeton area has more libraries - 79, compared to the 71 average
- Arts funding - state funds per person spend on art is 3 times higher.
- Surprisingly, we have more ski resorts (within 100 miles).
Health
- We have more people who have health plans.
- We are as lean as the 100 best average body mass index 27.
- We have a bit more people with hypertension and somewhat fewer elder care facilities.
Neighbors
- We are a bit older but still young, with a median age of 41.2 compared to 36.8
- We are very well educated 87.2% completed at least some college, compared to the 72.4% average.
- This is a community of mostly married people 60.8, exactly the same as the average.
- We have less divorces 6.8% of residents, compared to 8.0% average
- We pride ourselves on diversity almost 77% better then average.
- We love vacations and spend a bit more then average.
More Princeton NJ Statistics
- Princeton is a very safe place. Property and personal crime are 89% lower then average.
- Princetonians have a relatively short commute -16.5 minutes compared to 23.1 minutes average
- Five times as many people walk or bike to work.
- Princeton area has more libraries - 79, compared to the 71 average
- Our arts funding - state funds per person spend on art is 3 times higher.
- Surprisingly, we have more ski resorts (within 100 miles).
Princeton and the surrounding communities of West Windsor, Montgomery Township and Hopewell offer opportunities for people with various backgrounds, housing budgets and life styles. I love the 20 years that my family lived here, and my clients share the sentiment.
Recreation
If you can think of something to do, you most likely can to do it here. You can bike, run, walk, fish, kayak, ice skate, bird watch and play many sports. Princeton Township alone has 21 public parks with over 800 acres of land. There are 3 tennis clubs, golf clubs, numerous tennis courts, sports fields and health clubs in this area.
Shopping/Restaurants/ Entertainment
A theater with good quality productions, a museum with great exhibits, lectures and events are right in town. There are boutique shops for apparel, home decor and your pets in downtown Princeton. Most large chains, discount stores and supermarkets are within 15 minutes. There are new restaurants opening all the time offering every type of cuisine and ranging from sophisticated and pricey to simple and inexpensive. If those choices are not enough Broadway and the worlds best restaurants and shops are only an hour away.
In downtown Princeton you will find not only the famous Princeton University, but also many cultural and entertainment opportunities. McCarter Theatre
is one of the nations most active cultural centers, with over 200,000 visitors each season. Princeton Art Museum is a leading university art museum, with over 60,000 works of art ranging from ancient to contemporary. Parks, sports arenas, shopping malls and boutiques, top class dinning all of this is within stone throw away from this home.
* Information based on Sterlings Best data for 2007; ** Information based on Moneys Best Places to Live 2007. Information accuracy is not guaranteed.
Important Institutions and Companies
Princeton University has been sited in the town since 1756. Although Princeton is a “college town”, there are other important institutions in the area, including the Institute for Advanced Study, Educational Testing Service (ETS), Opinion Research Corporation, Siemens Corporate Research, Sarnoff Corporation, FMC Corporation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton Theological Seminary, Westminster Choir College, Church and Dwight and Dow Jones & Company.