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City · 6,241 residents · Caldwell County, Kentucky

Princeton , Kentucky

In Princeton, a typical home is worth $96,600 and typical rent is $762 a month. Compared with all of Caldwell County, typical household income is 20% lower, the typical home value is 18% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $96,600

    18% below the county

    53% below Kentucky

    • Princeton
    • Caldwell
    • Kentucky

  • Typical rent

    $762a month

    About the same as the county

    21% below Kentucky

    • Princeton
    • Caldwell
    • Kentucky

  • Typical household income

    $47,411a year

    20% below the county

    26% below Kentucky

    • Princeton
    • Caldwell
    • Kentucky

  • Households that own their home

    53%

    17 points below the county

    16 points below Kentucky

    • Princeton
    • Caldwell
    • Kentucky

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$145,479
5.6% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Princeton is in Caldwell County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Caldwell County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Princeton apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Princeton has the lowest typical home value of the 83 cities in Kentucky with more than 5,000 people: $96,600.

  2. 53% of households in Princeton own their home, against 70% in Caldwell County.

  3. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Princeton fell 5.6%; in Kentucky, it barely changed.

  4. The typical household income in Princeton is $47,411, 20% less than in Caldwell County as a whole ($59,583).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Princeton

What homes there are in Princeton, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Princeton, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Caldwell County.

Year built

Homes in Princeton are older: the typical year built is 1969; in Caldwell County, 1975.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,004 a month

Caldwell County: $1,288 a month

Without a mortgage

$392 a month

Caldwell County: $405 a month

Owners with a mortgage

51%

Caldwell County: 48%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Princeton is $1,004 a month, less than in Caldwell County ($1,288); without one, $392.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, home values in Princeton moved so little that the Census cannot say whether they rose or fell.

The typical rent in Princeton rose 31% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Caldwell County (33%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePrincetonCaldwell CountyKentuckyUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.0%3.4%
People per household 2.572.472.432.53
Drive alone 71%81%77%69%
Carpool 22%13%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate4%10%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Princeton has 2.57 people on average, about the same as in Caldwell County (2.47).

In Princeton, 22% of workers share a car to get to work; in Caldwell County, 13%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Princeton?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Princeton, worth $96,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 19% of the typical household income in Princeton, which is $47,411 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Caldwell County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Princeton. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,381 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$770

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$94,850
Total interest
$136,467
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,631 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,106 a month

    Your payment · 19%

  • Tight

    $1,106 to $1,422 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,422 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Princeton ($47,411 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$770
Principal & interest$643
Property tax$44
Home insurance$40
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$43

You need at least $3,381 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Princeton and Caldwell County

Princeton is in Caldwell County, Kentucky. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Princeton's own numbers

Typical home value
$96,600
Typical monthly rent
$762
Typical yearly household income
$47,411
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
0.55%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Caldwell County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$909
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Caldwell County.

Everything about Caldwell County

Buying

Buying a home in Princeton

A typical home in Princeton is worth $96,600: 18% below the county and 53% below Kentucky. With the typical household income in Princeton ($47,411 a year), a typical home costs 2.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Princeton 2.0 years
  • Caldwell 2.0 years
  • Kentucky 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Caldwell County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Caldwell County rose 86% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Caldwell County.

Period County Kentucky U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.8% +3.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +50% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +86% +84% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Princeton next to Caldwell County, Kentucky and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Princeton $96,600
  • Caldwell $118,500
  • Kentucky $205,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Princeton $762
  • Caldwell $767
  • Kentucky $967
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Princeton $47,411
  • Caldwell $59,583
  • Kentucky $63,726
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Princeton next to Caldwell County and Kentucky
Measure Princeton Caldwell County Kentucky U.S.
Typical home value $96,600 $118,500 $205,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $762 $767 $967 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $47,411 $59,583 $63,726 $80,734
Households that own their home 53% 70% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $535 $643 $1,544 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.55% 0.54% 0.75% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 44% 41% 45% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Caldwell County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Princeton

For a typical $96,600 home in Princeton, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Princeton's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $770a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,381
    Cash to close
    $6,279
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $43

  • Conventional, 5% down $752a month

    Down payment
    $4,830
    Cash to close
    $7,728
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $46

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $608a month

    Down payment
    $19,320
    Cash to close
    $22,218
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $697a month

    Down payment
    $14,490
    Cash to close
    $17,388
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Princeton and for Caldwell County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Princeton

0.55%of the home’s value each year

$535 a year for the typical owner in Princeton.

  • Princeton 0.55%
  • Caldwell 0.54%
  • Kentucky 0.75%

What Kentucky publishes Homestead exemption for owners 65 or older or totally disabled (Kentucky Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Kentucky

Flood risk in Caldwell County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Caldwell County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.5%
88
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Kentucky U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.5% 3.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Princeton

Typical rent in Princeton is $762 a month: about the same as the county. In Princeton, 44% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Caldwell County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($909 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $17.48 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Caldwell County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $650 $12.50 $26,000
1 bedroom $695 $13.37 $27,800
2 bedrooms $909 $17.48 $36,360
3 bedrooms $1,083 $20.83 $43,320
4 bedrooms $1,270 $24.42 $50,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Princeton

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Princeton is in ZIP code 42445.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,220: $311 more than the fair market rent for Caldwell County ($909).

  • 42445 $1,220$1,690

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Princeton when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Princeton

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Princeton. These are the largest.

  • Hillview CT 115 Hillview Ct, Princeton 42445 106 homes, 105 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of Princeton · Average payment: $407 a month · Average wait: 4 months (270) 365-5769
  • Princeton Manor 655 Grace Ct, Princeton 42445 40 low-income homes · For families (270) 365-5280
  • Legion Manor Apartments Cadiz ST., Princeton 42445 20 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · In service since 1999
  • Karp - Caldwell County Mcgoodwin ST., Princeton 42445 2 low-income homes · 2 bd: 2 · In service since 2004

See all 4 buildings in Caldwell County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Princeton

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Caldwell County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Princeton

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Princeton or Caldwell County. The ones below are statewide in Kentucky: they work in Princeton the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Kentucky

  • KHC Down Payment Assistance (DPA)

    Statewide in Kentucky

    Kentucky state corporation loan of up to $12,500 for the down payment and closing costs, repaid over 15 years as a second loan, for buyers who take a KHC mortgage. Offered by Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Princeton

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Princeton, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    100 South Railroad Street, # 120, Madisonville · 26 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    401 W 9th St Ste D, Hopkinsville · 27 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    216 Berger Rd, Paducah · 42 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740

All counseling agencies in Kentucky

Help in Spanish near Princeton

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Princeton

HUD’s record names them for Princeton or Caldwell County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in Kentucky Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Princeton, with the typical home value.

Everything about Caldwell County Housing in Kentucky

Neighboring counties

If Caldwell County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Princeton.

All guides
A mother and her daughters smile together on a mountain trail with a snowy peak behind them.

Questions

Housing questions about Princeton

Short answers with the numbers for Princeton and all of Caldwell County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Princeton?

The typical home value in Princeton is $96,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Caldwell County it is $118,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Princeton?

Typical rent in Princeton is $762 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Caldwell County is $909.

What is the FHA loan limit in Princeton?

Princeton uses the FHA limit for all of Caldwell County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Princeton?

The typical homeowner in Princeton pays $535 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.55% of the home’s value; in Caldwell County, the rate is 0.54%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Princeton?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Caldwell County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).