Fun Facts

Princeton Is Full of Surprises (Jersey pride trivia)

Think you really know Princeton? It's a city with the Dinky that could outrun your latte, Hoagie Haven that you'll have to devour to appreciate, and Gothic dorms that are cosplaying as wizarding schools. Let's run through the facts, stats, and Wawa wisdom that showcase what makes Princeton's orange and black brainiac glow.

Back to Princeton Guide
Princeton fun facts hero image
Diane Briante local expert profile picture
Diane Briante profile picture
Diane Briante
Princeton Local Expert

Diane, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move

Diane has been rooted in New Jersey since day one and has lived everywhere from Hillside to Elizabeth to Springfield before landing in Fanwood. When she and her family moved into their current place, she was very pregnant and still refused to stop lifting boxes or scrubbing things because she wanted it done right. She is the kind of New Jerseyan who can talk about Revolutionary War history, walk you through Duke Gardens, or recommend the best apple picking without checking a map. Her food loyalties are fierce, especially when it comes to pork roll on a hard roll with melted cheese, though she will happily join any naming debate. She is a lifelong reader who once tried to leave the library with more books than her card allowed. She even crossed paths with Sinatra during an honorary degree event at Stevens. At Snappy Scout she brings sharp local insight with a Jersey wink.

Read more

Written with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts

What Makes Princeton Princeton?

The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.

Common nicknames for Princeton

P-ton, The Orange Bubble, Tiger Town

Local Reality Check

People expect ivy cloisters. Reality: vibrant town, pricey taxes, real traffic.

You're most likely moving from

Brooklyn, Hoboken, Jersey City, Upper West Side, Philly suburbs.

Strangely large concentration of

Nobel laureates and theoretical physicists per square mile.

Music scene

McCarter Theatre, Richardson Auditorium, choir legacy, plus Princeton Record Exchange vinyl pilgrims.

You'll have to see it to believe it

The Dinky, a tiny train linking campus to Princeton Junction.train station

Unique Geography

Carnegie Lake built for crew, canal towpath trails, and the Institute Woods.

Princeton is home to

Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study.

Well known for its

eating clubs lining Prospect Avenue.

Fun history fact

George Washington won the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777.

Celebrity sightings

Albert Einstein, Toni Morrison, John Nash, Brooke Shields seen around town.

Noteworthy Census stat

Population 30,681 in 2020 Census.

Most interesting sub-culture within Princeton

Lecture hoppers chasing free cookies at every department talk.

Population

not among NJ largest cities, not in top 200 nationwide

Princeton is roughly the same geographic size as

Burlington, Vermont

New Jersey footer CTA image

Ready to See If Princeton Fits You?

Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Princeton guide for the bigger picture.