Princeton, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 365, Princeton's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Princeton is a small community located in California, within Colusa County. The total population is 365. It ranks as the 1281st most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Princeton is 26.5 years. This is 30% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 38.1% of the population under 18, Princeton has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Princeton is $53,750. This is 46% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.0%. This is 75% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.8%. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $295,800. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x. 68.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Princeton is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 31.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (23.0% vs 5.2%).

Education

7.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 80% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 79.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Princeton, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.