Town guide · Mercer County
Living in Princeton, NJ
Princeton is a historic college town of about 18 square miles. Its walkable downtown runs along Nassau Street, with wooded neighborhoods, parks and preserved land around it. It was the site of a key Revolutionary War battle and once hosted the Continental Congress.
- County
- Mercer
- Population
- About 30,700 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 18 square miles
- Setting
- Historic downtown surrounded by wooded residential neighborhoods and parkland
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 206, Route 27 and County Roads 526, 533, 571 and 583, with U.S. Route 1 nearby
First things first
One Princeton since 2013, and a mailing address that reaches further
For most of its history there were two Princetons: Princeton Borough, the downtown, and Princeton Township, which completely surrounded it. Voters in both approved a merger on November 8, 2011, and since January 1, 2013 they have been one municipality, simply called Princeton, with one government and one tax rate.
The Princeton mailing address also reaches into neighboring towns, including some in Somerset County. Before we price or show a home, we check which municipality it is really in, since that sets the tax rate and the services.
Neighborhoods
A downtown and the places around it
The old borough is the downtown core, with Nassau Street, Witherspoon Street and the streets around them. The former township wraps around it with residential neighborhoods, woods and preserved land. Some older place names still carry their own identity.
- Downtown: The former borough, centered on Nassau Street and Witherspoon Street.
- Witherspoon Jackson: A historic neighborhood designated as one of Princeton's local historic districts in 2016.
- Jugtown: An old crossroads hamlet whose name is still in use.
- Cedar Grove: Another older community name still heard around town.
- Princeton North: An unincorporated community in the former township, counted as its own census place until 2010.
Homes
What you will find
- Historic homes near downtown: Older houses and attached homes on the streets around Nassau Street, some of them inside local historic districts.
- Single family homes on wooded lots: Most of the former township is single family neighborhoods, many on larger, wooded lots.
- Condominiums and townhouses: Attached homes in several associations around town.
Worth knowing: Princeton has many local historic districts, reviewed by the municipality's Historic Preservation Commission. If a home is in one, exterior changes, additions and demolition can need approval before work starts. We check whether a property is in a district before you buy or plan a renovation. Condominium and townhouse buyers should also see the association budget and rules before committing.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Princeton
- 1.814%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $23,3732025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,300,000 on today's market would pay roughly $23,582 a year at Princeton's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
U.S. Route 206 and Route 27 run through Princeton, and U.S. Route 1 runs nearby through Lawrence, West Windsor and South Brunswick. Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike are both a short drive away. For rail, NJ Transit's Princeton Branch, known as the Dinky, runs 2.7 miles from Princeton station on the university campus to Princeton Junction in West Windsor. There riders connect to the Northeast Corridor Line toward Newark and New York Penn Station and to Amtrak. Everyday shopping is downtown along Nassau Street and on the roads leading out of town.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Princeton Battlefield State Park: The site of the January 1777 Battle of Princeton, with the 1772 Clarke House Museum and an Ionic colonnade.
- Lake Carnegie: A lake opened in 1906 and funded by Andrew Carnegie, used for rowing, fishing and skating, with the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath along its eastern shore.
- Marquand Park: A 17 acre arboretum on Lovers Lane with walking paths, a ball field and a play area.
- Morven Museum and Garden: An 18th century house on Stockton Street that served as the New Jersey governor's mansion for nearly four decades.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Princeton
What are property taxes in Princeton, NJ?
Princeton's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.814 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $23,373, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Are Princeton Borough and Princeton Township still separate?
No. Voters approved consolidating the two in November 2011, and since January 1, 2013 they have been one municipality called Princeton. There is now one government and one property tax rate.
Does a Princeton mailing address mean the home is in Princeton?
Not always. The Princeton postal area extends into some neighboring towns, including the area around Princeton Airport, which sits across the line in Somerset County. The municipality, not the mailing address, decides the tax rate, so we confirm it on every property.
How do you get from Princeton to New York by train?
Take NJ Transit's Dinky, a 2.7 mile shuttle from Princeton station to Princeton Junction in West Windsor. From there, Northeast Corridor Line trains run to Newark and New York Penn Station, and some Amtrak trains stop as well.
Do I need approval to renovate a historic home in Princeton?
Possibly. Princeton has many local historic districts, and the Historic Preservation Commission reviews exterior changes, additions and demolition for homes inside them. We check a property's status before you buy so you know what you can change.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Princeton
Buying or selling in Princeton?
Know the street, not just the town
In Princeton, a historic district or a mailing address can change what you are allowed to do with a home and what you pay in taxes. We check both first, then talk through value and your options.
Call or text either of us directly.