Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Princeton, North Carolina
A $166,000 home here costs
$1,446per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $62,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $905. The real number is $541 higher every month, 60% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Johnston County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Princeton from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,543 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Johnston County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Princeton against Johnston County and North Carolina
| Measure | Princeton | Johnston County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,800 | $267,600 |
| Median property tax | $1,470 | $1,840 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.887% | 0.688% |
| Median gross rent | $686 | $1,007 |
| Population | 1,543 | 226,623 |
The weather behind that power bill
Princeton sits in Johnston County, which averages a high of 91.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.4°F in its coldest, with 49.37" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,871 cooling and 3,078 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Johnston County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Johnston County
Full Johnston County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Princeton averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Princeton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Princeton I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Princeton?
A $166,000 home in Princeton, North Carolina costs approximately $1,446 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $905 principal and interest, $123 property tax, $60 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $138 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Princeton?
Princeton has an effective property tax rate of 0.887%, based on a median home value of $165,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,470. That is higher than the Johnston County average of 0.688%.
What is the average home price in Princeton?
The median owner-occupied home value in Princeton, North Carolina is $165,800, against $267,600 across Johnston County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Princeton?
Median gross rent in Princeton is $686 a month, against $1,446 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Princeton?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Princeton, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $62,000 a year. That covers the full $1,446 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Princeton, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.