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.



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 moreWritten 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

Ready to See If Princeton Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full Princeton guide for the bigger picture.