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CITY

Princeton

West Virginia · 5,578 residents (2025 est.) · 3.014 sq mi
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#214Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-8.7%
The short version

Princeton has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $43,900. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $120,300. With a median age of 44.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 26% less than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,736
−10%since 2000
from 6,347 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,903 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 2,106 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.2
−1%since 2000
from 44.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,578 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K6K7K7K1990201020202024Princeton
20246K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$43,900
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $21,736 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,035
+88%since 2000
from $14,931 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
22.6%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.9%
−7.2 ptssince 2000
from 24.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+1%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing2.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction0.6%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$120,300
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$747
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $367 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.8%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 63.3% in 2000
43.2% rent
Vacancy rate
16.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
7.8%
−19.1 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.0%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+2%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
53
RELATED:See current rent listings in Princeton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.7%(5,818)
Black6.2%(391)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(33)
Asian0.4%(27)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.8%(1,069)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(5,053)
Black2.6%(147)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(34)
Asian0.1%(4)
Other8.7%(498)
Diversity Score27%(1,547)
Diversity Score
27
+60%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.0%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+25.3 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.4 min
+27%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.9%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 72.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.0%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.2%
+5.8 ptssince 2011
from 48.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.4%
−28.0 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
Female
51.7%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 55.3% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
28.4%
+2.3 ptssince 2012
from 26.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−77.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.2%
+25.0 ptssince 2017
from 64.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.0%
+2.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Princeton, West Virginia?

Princeton, West Virginia has about 5,736 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Princeton, West Virginia?

The typical household in Princeton, West Virginia earns about $43,900 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Princeton, West Virginia expensive?

In Princeton, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $120,300, and the typical rent is about $747 a month.

How educated are people in Princeton, West Virginia?

About 21.0% of adults age 25 and over in Princeton, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Princeton, West Virginia?

About 16.9% of people in Princeton, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Princeton, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Princeton, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,307 residents, a change of about -19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →