CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

40.34° N · 74.56° W · GEOID 3460975

Princeton Meadows

Middlesex County, New Jersey · part of the New York, NY metro

New JerseyPrinceton Meadows, NJPrinceton MeadowsPrinceton Meadows

The short answer

Princeton Meadows is home to 15,561 people. Median household income is $131,213 a year and median rent is $2,010 a month, 18.4% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $665,700, about 5.1x annual median household income.

Princeton Meadows stands out on value for money. Home values run 34% below what its fundamentals predict in the same metro area. Also notable: Owning with a mortgage costs about $1,644 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 96% of places its size.

45OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Average

Princeton Meadows scores better than 45% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 175th of 287 in New Jersey.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%45
Economy 20%72
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%13
Education 10%99
Commute 10%9
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$2,010
47% above the median place
Median household income
$131,213
63% above the median place
Median home value
$665,700
108% above the median place
Unemployment
4.6%
6% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Princeton Meadows

  • Life nearbyOpenStreetMap shows 0 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 93% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 287 New Jersey places we track.
01

Moving to Princeton Meadows

Middlesex County loses about 7.7 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in36,970
Moved out42,672
Net−5,702

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Somerset County, NJ3,2004,830−1,630
Union County, NJ4,3762,764+1,612
Monmouth County, NJ2,3393,282−943
Hudson County, NJ3,0741,362+1,712
Mercer County, NJ1,6522,407−755
Essex County, NJ2,0081,159+849
Kings County, NY2,034
Richmond County, NY1,527

Within New Jersey, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within New JerseyOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$87K
Leavers$96K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Middlesex County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
13.1% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 5.6% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Middlesex County report $87,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $95,600, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$80,400 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,010 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $3,654 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $665,700.
Getting to work
34 minutes each way on average; 33.3% work from home; 4.4% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Bothell East, WA matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
13.1%
127% above the median place
Moved from another state1
5.6%
182% above the median place
Income of households moving out7
$95,604
36% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasurePrinceton MeadowsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year113.1%127% above
Moved from another state15.6%182% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-7.7below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$87,05923% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$95,60436% above
02

What it costs to live here

32% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 95% of the 2,222 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Princeton Meadows18.4%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$80,400
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
18.4%
10% below the median place
Home price to income
5.1x
33% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
18%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$101,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Princeton Meadows, $2,010 a month, and local prices for everything else (105.2 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Princeton Meadows, but easier on the budget

Places that match Princeton Meadows on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Bothell East, WA5214.5% vs 18.4%$63,400Compare
Innsbrook, VA4515.4% vs 18.4%$10,400Compare
Bethesda, MD2915.4% vs 18.4%$60,400Compare
Cinco Ranch, TX2814.7% vs 18.4%$40,000Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Princeton Meadows.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Princeton Meadows? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
37.6%
43% below the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
31.9%
37% below the median place
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$3,654
95% above the median place
All 15 cost and housing measures
MeasurePrinceton MeadowsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,01047% above
Rent to income118.4%10% below
Home price to income15.1x33% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure112.612% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,62362% above
HUD area median income4County figure$154,80044% above
Property tax paid (median)1$10,001206% above
Median home value1$665,700108% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure6.1%91% above
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure62.2%21% above
Homeownership137.6%43% below
Renters paying 30%+131.9%37% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$3,65495% above
Vacant homes1County figure3.2%55% below
Median year built119860% above
03

Work and pay

Works from home is 33.3%, 168% above the median place.

Works from home1
33.3%
168% above the median place
Mean commute1
34 min
36% above the median place
Income per person1
$68,710
71% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Median household income$131,213 +63%
Commutes by transit4.4% 5.2×
Unemployment4.6% −6%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasurePrinceton MeadowsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$131,21363% above
Income per person1$68,71071% above
Unemployment14.6%6% below
Average annual pay6County figure$85,56430% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.8%3% above
Jobs6County figure431,665187% above
Poverty rate1County figure8.6%20% below
Mean commute134 min36% above
Works from home133.3%168% above
Commutes by transit14.4%above (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

52% of residents were born outside the US, more than in 99% of the 2,199 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

Born abroad1
51.5%
above the median place (median 8.8%)
Bachelor's or higher1
79.5%
148% above the median place
Homes with broadband1
99.0%
7% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

High school or higher98.5% +7%
No health insurance2.0% −69%
Median age34.7 −11%
Household size2.6 +3%
All 8 people measures
MeasurePrinceton MeadowsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population115,5612910th largest
Median age134.711% below
Bachelor's or higher179.5%148% above
High school or higher198.5%7% above
Household size12.63% above
Born abroad151.5%above (median 8.8%)
No health insurance12.0%69% below
Homes with broadband199.0%7% above
05

Life in Princeton Meadows

OpenStreetMap shows 1.3 parks per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 95% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.

76 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents1.3 −87%
Playgrounds per 10k5.1 −45%
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k3.2 −71%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.4 +86%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Great Kills Park 27 miles
  • Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River 29 miles
  • Gateway National Recreation Area 31 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars20.5 −1%
Shops27.6 −9%
Arts, recreation and fitness2.9 −29%
Doctors' offices and clinics22.6 +12%
Child care centers2.3 +0%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
27.3
11% below the median place
Public schools12
213
above the median place (median 9)
Public school students12
129,255
above the median place (median 4,897)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasurePrinceton MeadowsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure213above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure129,255above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure11.923% below
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure20.51% below
Shops per 10k8County figure27.69% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure2.929% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure22.612% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.30% above
Parks per 10k91.387% below
Playgrounds per 10k95.145% below
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k93.271% below
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.486% above
Nearest National Park Service site1027.311% below
National Park Service sites within 60 miles1023above (median 2)
National Register listings11County figure76above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

Median air quality index is 36, 16% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Princeton Meadows. Larger places are fetched first.

Median air quality index15
36
16% below the median place
Natural hazard risk14
97.8
6% above the median place
Good air days15
81.5%
19% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasurePrinceton MeadowsAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure87°F0% above
January average low13County figure24°F6% below
Average temperature13County figure54°F1% below
Annual precipitation13County figure47.7 in9% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure97.86% above
Hurricane risk14County figure92.631% above
Tornado risk14County figure94.516% above
Wildfire risk14County figure79.730% above
Heat wave risk14County figure96.57% above
Median air quality index15County figure3616% below
Good air days15County figure81.5%19% above
08

Princeton Meadows in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 19% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 18% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Princeton Meadows does better than 44% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 63%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$2,010/mo (2024)$2,570/mo$2,110 to $3,130/mo+4.2%
Median household income$131,213 (2024)$165,500$140,000 to $196,000+4.0%
Median home value$665,700 (2024)$963,000$699,000 to $1,326,000+6.3%

The median home would be worth 5.8 years of the median income in 2030, against 5.1 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Princeton Meadows

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Grandview Heights, OH$1,750$117,672Compare
Merrifield, VA$2,368$136,373Compare
Brookhaven, GA$1,882$117,663Compare
Dunwoody, GA$1,859$121,903Compare
Dunwoody, GABrookhaven, GAMerrifield, VAGrandview Heights, OHPrinceton Meadows, NJPrinceton MeadowsGrandview HeightsMerrifieldBrookhavenDunwoodyPrinceton MeadowsMerrifieldBrookhavenDunwoody

Places built like Princeton Meadows

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Princeton Meadows performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Princeton Meadows, NJ18.4%4.7%/yrn/a
Edgewater, NJ24.9%-0.5%/yr8.1%Compare
Merrifield, VA20.8%3.6%/yrn/aCompare
Secaucus, NJ20.5%4.0%/yr2.0%Compare
Foster City, CA21.1%4.7%/yr-4.1%Compare
McNair, VA22.4%3.2%/yrn/aCompare
Monmouth Junction, NJ17.4%-2.4%/yrn/aCompare

Common questions

Is Princeton Meadows a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 45 out of 100, better than 45% of the places we rate and 175th of 287 in New Jersey. OpenStreetMap shows 0 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 93% of the 2,301 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 287 New Jersey places we track. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Princeton Meadows expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 18.4% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $665,700.

What salary do you need to live in Princeton Meadows?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $80,400 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Princeton Meadows?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Grandview Heights, OH, Merrifield, VA, Brookhaven, GA and Dunwoody, GA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Princeton Meadows with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Princeton Meadows itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/princeton-meadows-new-jersey

Citytistics. “Princeton Meadows, New Jersey.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/princeton-meadows-new-jersey/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.