Checked
Princeton, WV
City in Mercer County, West Virginia.
Population
5,736
Land area
3sq mi
People per sq mi
1,903
ZIP codes
0
Princeton and its ZIP codes
Princeton at a glance
- Princeton is about 26 times as dense as West Virginia as a whole.
- It is the 28th most populous of 429 cities and towns in West Virginia.
- Households here earn a median of $43,900 a year, 26% less than the West Virginia figure of $59,608.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $120,300 (26% below West Virginia) and median rent is $747 a month.
Local data for Princeton, WV
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes1
- Schools7
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks7
- Post Offices1
- Parks3
- Grocery Stores5
- Restaurants43
- Affordable Housing1
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Rehab & Long-Term Care Hospitals1
- Community Health Centers5
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment2
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities1
- Historic Places3
Housing and community stats
Princeton, WV, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$43,900
Poverty rate
16.9%
Median home value
$120,300
Median rent
$747/mo
Homeownership
56.8%
Bachelor's or higher
21.0%
Median age
44.2
Average commute
17.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,202), German Americans (682), Scottish Americans (82).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Mercer County. PPP loans are for Princeton.
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Sep 2026, -0.6 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,374
19,507 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,206
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$487M
FY 2026, $8,162 per person
How people get to work
Princeton, WV, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.9%
- Carpooled8.1%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked4.2%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home10.0%
Average one-way commute: 17.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Princeton, WV, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
498
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
187
0.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 22°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Princeton, WV, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.5%
U.S. 33.3% +8.2 pts
Diabetes
17.3%
U.S. 12.1% +5.2 pts
Smoking
21.7%
U.S. 12.8% +8.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.1%
U.S. 11.1% -2.0 pts
Cities near Princeton
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| AthensTown | 5.8 mi | 0.4 |
| LashmeetCensus-designated place | 6.9 mi | 0.8 |
| OakvaleTown | 7 mi | 0.4 |
| Rocky Gap, VACensus-designated place | 8.7 mi | 0.2 |
| MontcalmCensus-designated place | 8.8 mi | 2.7 |
| MatoakaCensus-designated place | 9 mi | 0.3 |
| BluewellCensus-designated place | 9.9 mi | 4.5 |
| BluefieldCity | 10 mi | 9 |
| Brush ForkCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 1.9 |
| BramwellTown | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| Glen Lyn, VATown | 13 mi | 0.6 |
| Bluefield, VATown | 13 mi | 9.5 |
| Falls Mills, VACensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.9 |
| CrumplerCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 1.5 |
| Pocahontas, VATown | 14 mi | 0.6 |
| MaybeuryCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 1.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Princeton, WV in?
- Princeton is in Mercer County, West Virginia.
- What is the population of Princeton, WV?
- About 5,736 people live in Princeton, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Princeton?
- Nearby places include Athens (5.8 mi), Lashmeet (6.9 mi), Oakvale (7 mi), Rocky Gap, VA (8.7 mi), Montcalm (8.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023