Princeton vs Trenton
Princeton, New Jersey versus Trenton, New Jersey: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Princeton edges out Trenton on overall objective livability (45 vs 38 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Princeton | Trenton |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $177k | $44k |
| Cost of Living | $57k | $57k |
| Home Value | $971k | $111k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $4k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.03% | 3.73% |
| Income Tax | 10.70% | 10.70% |
| Sales Tax | 6.60% | 6.60% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 18.54% | 22.20% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | 10.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 31°F | 33°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 76°F | 77°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4 in | 47.9 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 23.7 in | 26.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 211 days | 241 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 64°F |
| Comfortable Days | 79 days | 83 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 57.8 | 81.3 |
| Air Quality | 51 AQI | 52 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | — | 2488/100k |
| Property Crime | — | 1869/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 30,450 | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 28.6 | 35.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.53 | 0.69 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.00 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+41 | D+41 |
| White (%) | 62.2% | 13.3% |
| Black (%) | 7.3% | 44.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.2% | 38.7% |
| Asian (%) | 19.0% | 1.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 2.7% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 24 min | 26 min |
| Walkability | 12.2/20 | 15.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 35 mi | 34 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 92.2% | 76.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 69.95 | 45.64 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Princeton or Trenton more affordable?
- Trenton has the lower cost of living: its index is $57k, compared with Princeton's $57k and Trenton's $57k. Median rent is $2k in Princeton versus $1k in Trenton.
- Are homes cheaper in Princeton or Trenton?
- The median home value is $971k in Princeton and $111k in Trenton, so homes are more affordable in Trenton.