B+

Princeton, KS

Source:

Affordability Score: 76/100

Population: 961 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Princeton, KS aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 961 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (76/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $80,000, median home value of $205,900, median rent of $1,000 per month, and 36.3% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,020 per month (studio $784, 1BR $789, 3BR $1,223, 4BR $1,360). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $4,971 per year, consuming 6% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Princeton, KS include housing, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 3.4% and poverty 15.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$80,000
Median household income
Education C+
36.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B+
2.6x
Home value $205,900 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,020/mo
2BR fair market rent (15% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare A
$4,971/yr
Center-based infant care (6% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$80,000
▲ 29% vs national
Per Capita Income
$36,504
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Poverty Rate
15.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$205,900
▼ 25% vs national
Median Rent
$1,000/mo
Owner Occupied
92.6%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,020/mo
▼ 15% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$784
1BR
$789
2BR
$1,020
3BR
$1,223
4BR
$1,360

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
36.3%
▲ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
63.0%
Median Age
45.1
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$4,971/yr
6% of income
Toddler (Center)
$5,075/yr
Preschool (Center)
$5,075/yr
School-Age (Center)
$4,285/yr

What This Means

Princeton, KS receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (76/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 961. This area performs well in housing and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Princeton, KS affordable?
Princeton, KS receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (76/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $80,000. Median home value is $205,900.
What is the cost of living in Princeton?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,000/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,020/mo. Infant childcare $4,971/yr. Median home value $205,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →