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Princeton, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Princeton, NJ

Princeton is a borough in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township, both of which are now defunct. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 30,681, an increase of 2,109 (+7.4%) from the 2010 census combined count of 28,572. In the 2000 census, the two communities had a total population of 30,230, with 14,203 residents in the borough and 16,027 in the township.

Princeton was founded before the American Revolutionary War. The borough is the home of Princeton University, one of the world’s most acclaimed research universities, which bears its name and moved to the community in 1756 from the educational institution's previous location in Newark. Although its association with the university is primarily what makes Princeton a college town, other important institutions in the area include the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton Theological Seminary, Opinion Research Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Siemens Corporate Research, SRI International, FMC Corporation, Educational Testing Service, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Amrep, Church and Dwight, Berlitz International, and Dow Jones & Company.

Princeton is roughly equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia. It is close to many major highways that serve both cities (e.g., Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1) and receives major television and radio broadcasts from each. It is also close to Trenton, New Jersey's capital city, New Brunswick, and Edison.

The New Jersey governor's official residence has been in Princeton since 1945 when Morven (in what was then Princeton Borough) became the first governor's mansion. In 1982, it was replaced by the larger Drumthwacket, a colonial mansion located in the former township, but not all have lived in these houses. Morven became a museum and garden, owned and operated by the New Jersey Historical Society.

Throughout its history, the community was split into two separate municipalities: a township and a borough. The central borough was completely surrounded by the township. The borough seceded from the township in 1894 in a dispute over school taxes; the two municipalities later formed the Princeton Public Schools, and some other public services were conducted together before reuniting into a single Princeton in January 2013. Princeton Borough contained Nassau Street, the main commercial street, and most of the university campus, and it incorporated most of the urban area until the postwar suburbanization. The borough and township had roughly equal populations. Major streets include Harrison, Witherspoon, Nassau, Bayard, and Stockton.

Princeton is located just south of a long, curving ridge known as Princeton Ridge. As Princeton is in a low-lying area, there have been issues with cell phone signals. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Princeton had a total area of 18.41 square miles (47.69 km2), including 17.95 square miles (46.48 km2) of land and 0.47 square miles (1.21 km2) of water (2.53%).

Health and wellness are integral aspects of life in Princeton, with a variety of resources and facilities dedicated to promoting well-being. Princeton HealthCare System, now part of Penn Medicine, offers comprehensive medical services, including primary care, specialized treatment, and preventive care. Elements Massage offers customized massages tailored to individual needs, including Swedish, deep tissue, and hot stone massages. Tranquility Den provides a serene environment for massages, facials, and other wellness treatments. Yoga Del Soul offers various yoga classes including vinyasa flow, restorative yoga, and meditation. Princeton Orthopaedic Associates provides physical therapy services for sports injuries, orthopedic conditions, and post-surgical rehabilitation. NovaCare Rehabilitation specializes in personalized physical therapy plans for injury recovery and pain management.

Top sites in Princeton, NJ are Princeton Art Museum, Morven Museum, and Nassau Hall. 

Population: 31,445 (2024). ZIP codes: 08540-08544. Area code(s): 609. Elevation: 167 feet (51 m). Area: 18.14 square miles (47.01 km²).

FAQs

Is Princeton, NJ expensive to live in?

Based on our Princeton cost of living calculator, Princeton is 31% more expensive than the national average and 10% more expensive to live in than the average city in New Jersey. This assumes a $72,000 annual salary and a 2-bedroom Apt. Food costs in Princeton are less affordable than average in the United States.

Is Princeton, NJ a good place to live?

Princeton is a with a population of 30,450. Princeton is in Mercer County and is one of the best places to live in New Jersey. Living in Princeton offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Princeton, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

What makes Princeton, NJ famous?

Princeton was the setting of the Academy Award-winning A Beautiful Mind about the schizophrenic mathematician John Nash. It was largely filmed in central New Jersey, including some Princeton locations. However, many scenes of "Princeton" were filmed at Fordham University's Rose Hill campus in the Bronx.

Sources

Town of Princeton

Wikipedia

Niche 

Erieri

Princeton HealthCare System

Elements Massage

Tranquility Den

Yoga Del Soul

Princeton Orthopaedic Associates

NovaCare Rehabilitation

Princeton Art Museum

Morven Museum

Nassau Hall

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.