Princeton, NJ Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Princeton, NJ Crime

Is Princeton, NJ safe in 2026?

Princeton ranks as Very Safe with a city-wide safety rating of A — one of the strongest possible grades. Across all 5 neighborhoods analyzed, 100% earned an A grade, meaning not a single neighborhood fell into the B, C, D, or F tier. Three neighborhoods — Princeton Courtside Estates, Princeton Manor, and Princeton Walk — achieved the top grade of A+, while Greater Kingston and Kingston Village each earned an A-. Princeton's overall crime grade of B on a national comparison scale still places it well above average among U.S. towns of similar size, and locally, every corner of the community performs at an elite safety level. With a population of 31,161, a median household income of $146,127, and an unemployment rate of just 3.7%, the socioeconomic foundations that correlate with low crime are firmly in place.

What is the crime rate in Princeton, NJ?

Princeton's crime environment earns an overall grade of B when benchmarked against all U.S. communities, but when measured strictly within its own neighborhood boundaries, the picture is even more impressive: 100% of analyzed neighborhoods score an A. The grade distribution breaks down as follows — Grade A: 5 neighborhoods (100%), Grade B through F: 0 neighborhoods (0%). The combined A+B "safe" rate is 100%. For context, Princeton's poverty rate of 7.1% is well below the national average, and its 3.7% unemployment rate reflects a stable, employed population — both factors that research consistently links to lower crime incidence. No neighborhood in Princeton falls below an A- rating, making it statistically one of the most uniformly safe communities in New Jersey.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Princeton?

All five analyzed neighborhoods in Princeton are safe, but the top performers by grade are:

• Princeton Courtside Estates — Grade A+: Population of approximately 200 residents; median household income of $207,690. The highest-income neighborhood in the dataset and a co-holder of the top safety grade.
• Princeton Manor — Grade A+: Population of roughly 770; median household income of $207,021. Consistently earns top marks and is one of the larger A+ communities.
• Princeton Walk — Grade A+: Population of approximately 870; median household income of $204,981. The most populous A+ neighborhood, demonstrating that safety scales well even with a larger resident base.
• Greater Kingston — Grade A-: Population of 656; median household income of $121,784. Earns the highest grade among neighborhoods with a more moderate income profile, showing Princeton's safety extends beyond its wealthiest enclaves.
• Kingston Village — Grade A-: Population of 58; median household income of $95,350. The smallest and most affordable neighborhood analyzed, yet still achieves an A- safety grade.

Notably, even the lowest-graded neighborhoods in Princeton — Greater Kingston and Kingston Village — still earn an A-, placing them in the top safety tier by any standard measure.

Which Princeton neighborhoods have the most crime?

In a city where every neighborhood earns an A grade, "higher crime" is relative. The neighborhoods with the comparatively lowest grades are Greater Kingston (A-) and Kingston Village (A-). Greater Kingston has a median household income of $121,784 — solid, but lower than the $200,000+ incomes seen in the A+ neighborhoods — and Kingston Village's median income of $95,350 is the most modest in the dataset. Even so, both communities remain in the top safety tier. No neighborhood in Princeton received a B, C, D, or F grade. For residents evaluating relative risk, the difference between an A+ and an A- in Princeton is narrow; the city as a whole represents a low-crime environment across all its neighborhoods.

Is Princeton a good place to live based on crime and safety data?

The data makes a compelling case. Princeton's 100% A-grade neighborhood rate is exceptionally rare among U.S. communities. Pair that with a median home value of $863,085, a median household income of $146,127, and a poverty rate of just 7.1%, and Princeton profiles as one of the most desirable and safest places to live in New Jersey. The unemployment rate of 3.7% is below the national average, and median rent of $1,704 reflects a community with strong housing demand. Families, academics affiliated with Princeton University, and professionals consistently cite safety as a top reason for choosing the area. With 5 out of 5 neighborhoods graded A or higher and a combined safe-neighborhood rate of 100%, the crime data strongly supports Princeton's reputation as an outstanding place to live, raise a family, or retire.