# Living in Princeton, TX: Realust Score 76

> Source: Realust (realust.com), data as of October 2026. Cite: https://realust.com/city/princeton/

URL: https://realust.com/city/princeton/
County: Collin
Realust Score: 76/100 (B, Good), tied for #46 of 84. Base 76 + price-tier bonus 0.
Category scores: Prosperity 69, Schools 80, Safety 78, Lifestyle 81, Market 77, Affordability 93, Commute 57, Growth 86
Median home price: $283K
Population: 25,229
Market momentum: Strong growth (home prices -10.0% over 1 year, -4.4% over 5 years)

Princeton, TX is a rapidly growing city along the US-380 corridor east of McKinney that still blends “new-build suburb” with pockets of semi-rural North Texas. A lot of the housing is newer construction in large subdivisions, and it often attracts buyers chasing more space and a lower entry price than closer-in Collin County cities. The vibe is more practical and growth-driven than polished—less established charm, more “everything is being built right now.” Daily life is very car-dependent, with many errands and bigger shopping/dining trips pulling you toward McKinney (and beyond to Allen/Plano), while local options continue to expand. Traffic and travel times can be the biggest quality-of-life variable, especially on US-380 where development has outpaced road capacity in spots; commutes west can feel longer than the map suggests during peak hours. The upside is value, newer neighborhoods, and steady improvement in services as the population rises; the tradeoffs are ongoing construction, congestion along main routes, and the reality that infrastructure and amenities are still catching up.

Strengths:
- More affordable than McKinney, Allen, or Frisco
- Development is starting to catch up with population growth
- Lake Lavon and surrounding parks are major perks

Trade-offs:
- Rapid growth has outpaced road infrastructure causing traffic congestion on US-380
- Fast enrollment growth has crowded Princeton ISD
- New developments mean frequent roadwork and expansion projects

Data:
- Demographics / Population: Total Population 25,229; People per sq mile 1,746; 5-Year Growth +132.6%
- Demographics / Mobility & Migration: Moved Last Year 11.8%; Same Home 1+ Year 88.2%; From Out of State 1.8%; From Different County 2.2%
- Demographics / Age Distribution: Under 18 30.5%; 25-34 16.3%; 35-44 18.8%; 65+ 7.0%; Median Age 32.4 years
- Demographics / Households: Avg Household Size 3.2; Family Households 82.8%; Homeownership Rate 75.7%; With Kids 52.2%; Married 59.7%; Single Parent 10.5%; Living Alone 12.9%; Seniors Alone 3.4%
- Demographics / Education Level: High School+ 91.1%; Bachelor's+ 28.6%; Graduate Degree 6.9%
- Demographics / Connectivity & Remote Work: Broadband Access 95.1%; Have Computer 96.9%; Work From Home 12.1%
- Real Estate / Home Prices: Per Sq Ft $167; Starter Home $295,995; Median Price $283,245; Premium Home $420,386
- Real Estate / Home Price Trends: 1-Year Change -10%; 5-Year Change -4.4%
- Real Estate / Rent Trends: 1-Year Change -2.5%
- Real Estate / Market Health: Active Listings 288; Median Days on Market 70; Under Contract 43.2%; Price Reduced 31%; Sale-to-List Ratio 96.3%
- Real Estate / Market Insights: Cheaper to Buy $431/mo; Seller's market 1.3 mo; Rental Yield 8.5%; Income to Buy 2.7x; vs Region Avg -26%
- Real Estate / Fit Scores: Remote Work Fit 76; Family Fit 62; Investment 100
- Real Estate / Typical Home: Sq Ft 2,052; Beds 3.6; Baths 2.7; Lot Sq Ft 45,456; Year Built 2023; Garage 2-car
- Real Estate / Property Mix: Single Family 99.5%; Townhome 0%; Condo 0%
- Real Estate / Common Features: Garage 96.5%; Single Story 43%; Fireplace 3%; Central Air 13.5%; Waterfront 1%
- Real Estate / Costs & Ownership: Est. Monthly Payment $1,569; Median Rent $2,000; Avg HOA Fee $52/mo; Have HOA 13%
- Real Estate / Investment Indicators: Rental Vacancy 0%; New Construction 89.5%; Per Bedroom $92,284
- Lifestyle / Lifestyle Scores: Area Feel Sparse Suburban; Family Friendly 6.7; Outdoor Activities 4; Nightlife 4.7; Health & Fitness 6; Diversity 8; Weather 6.7
- Lifestyle / Nearby Amenities (within 5 miles): Restaurants 60+; Parks 36; Gyms 6; Coffee 11; Bars 2; Daycares 60+; Hospitals 3; Pharmacies 3; Dentists 9; Libraries 1; Dog Parks 60+
- Lifestyle / Getting Around: Walk Score 13; Bike Score 27
- Lifestyle / Seasonal Temperatures (high / low): January 56° / 39°; April 74° / 55°; July 94° / 77°; October 77° / 58°
- Lifestyle / Annual Conditions: Sunny Days/Year 218; Rainy Days/Year 147; Annual Rainfall 53.3"
- Crime & Safety / Safety Overview: Safety Grade B; Violent crime (per 1,000) 2.73; Property crime (per 1,000) 8.72
- Crime & Safety / Violent Crime (per 100,000): Assault 213.88; Robbery 18.76; Murder 0; Rape 37.52
- Crime & Safety / Property Crime (per 100,000): Burglary 247.65; Theft 544.09; Vehicle Theft 52.53
- Job Market / Income: Median Household $105,200; Average Household $118,130; Per Capita $37,704
- Job Market / Employment: Unemployment Rate 2.5%; Job Growth (1 yr) +20.0%; Poverty Rate 4.1%
- Job Market / Income Distribution: $150k+ 23.5%; $100k-$150k 30.3%; $75k-$100k 16.4%; $50k-$75k 12.3%; $25k-$50k 12.3%; Under $25k 5.2%
- Education / School District: Primary district Princeton ISD; District Grade B+; State Ranking Top 44%
- Education / Schools: Elementary 8; Middle 3; High School 1
- Education / Elementary Schools: Harper Elementary A (91); Lowe Elementary B (87)
- Education / Middle Schools: Southard Middle B (86); Mattei Middle B (80)
- Education / High Schools: Lovelady High School B (86); Princeton Sr High School B (81)
- Education / Academic Info: Student-Teacher Ratio 16:1
- Education / Graduation Rates (Class of 2024): Graduation Rate 97.7%; Dropout Rate 1.7%
- Education / College Readiness (Class of 2023): Took SAT/ACT 33%; College Ready 26.0%; TSI Ready 42.8%
- Transportation / Mobility Scores: Walk Score 13; Bike Score 27
- Transportation / Commute: Avg Minutes 32; Drive Alone 70.1%; Carpool 15.2%; Work from Home 12.1%
- Transportation / Distance To: Downtown Dallas 40.3 mi; DFW Airport 41.7 mi; Love Field 42.6 mi
- Transportation / EV Charging: Public Stations 3; DC Fast Ports 0; Level 2 Ports 4
- Cost of Living / Cost Index (100 = National Average): Overall 100; Housing 113; Utilities 97; Groceries 100; Transportation 102; Healthcare 100
- Cost of Living / Monthly Utilities: Electric $142; Water $52; Gas $44; Internet $72
- Cost of Living / Everyday Costs: Monthly Groceries (Family of 4) $823; Gas Price (per gallon) $2.82
- Cost of Living / Taxes: Sales Tax Rate 8.3%; Property Tax Rate 2.2%

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