Princeton, NJ at a glance
Median household income
$192,079$16,007 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Princeton, NJ?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Princeton, NJ? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,344 | $16,128 | $53,760 | 8.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,545 | $18,540 | $61,800 | 9.7% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,950 | $23,400 | $78,000 | 12.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,338 | $28,056 | $93,520 | 14.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,670 | $32,040 | $106,800 | 16.7% |
What a typical income covers in Princeton, NJ
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $192,079 a year ($16,007 a month before tax).
What $192,079 leaves after New Jersey taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New Jersey tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New Jersey
Living in Princeton, NJ: common questions
What is the median household income in Princeton, NJ?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Princeton, NJ is $192,079 per year (approximately $16,007 per month).
What is the average rent in Princeton, NJ?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,344 for a studio, $1,545 for one bedroom, $1,950 for two, $2,338 for three and $2,670 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Princeton, NJ expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.2% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 103.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Princeton, NJ?
To keep a $1,950 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $78,000 a year, or $6,500 a month. That is 41% of what the typical household in Princeton, NJ earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Princeton, NJ?
On the local median income of $192,079 ($16,007 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $8,003 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $4,802 for everything else and $3,201 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,950 takes 24% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Princeton, NJ?
Homes in New Jersey paid 25¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $225. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.