SFOT RH 2026

Princeton tops nation in percentage growth

by | May 22, 2025 | Area News, Latest

Traffic on Hwy 380 traffic is a visible—and often frustrating— sign of Princeton’s growth.

Princeton has moved from third in the nation for percentage population growth to No. 1, according to U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 data released Thursday, May 15.

The Census Bureau said Princeton had a 30.6% growth rate, up from last year’s 22.3%.

Princeton increased its population by nearly one-third in just one year and has more than doubled it since 2020, from roughly 17,000 to 37,000 as of July 2024, the Census Bureau said.

Meanwhile, local officials estimate the city’s current population at more than 40,000 people.

“All I can say is we must be doing something right for people to choose Princeton to become their hometown,” Mayor pro tem Steve Deffibaugh said. “Along with this rapid growth comes challenges [and] transportation probably rates as the top issue. Great things will be happening in Princeton over the next couple years and when U.S. Highway 380 is expanded, we will see the growth to continue.”

For more on this story see the May 22, 2025 print, or digital edition of The Princeton Herald. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.

SFOT RH 2026

0 Comments

Subscribe Love

Related News

City takes new look at drainage needs

City takes new look at drainage needs

New Public Works Director Rifat Alam. Courtesy Art Princeton is preparing to restart work on a citywide stormwater and drainage master plan after public works officials concluded an earlier proposal did not adequately address the city’s rapid growth or long-term...

read more
College expert weighs data center impacts 

College expert weighs data center impacts 

What happens when a 75-megawatt data center moves into a rural neighborhood? At first, probably construction traffic, dust and noise. Once it begins operating, traffic should decline dramatically, but the facility would become a substantial consumer of electricity...

read more
Clean kids on the block

Clean kids on the block

Four Princeton kids patrol their neighborhood to pick up litter strewn along the road. From left, Tucker, 9; Ray’lynn,9; Brecklyn, 9 and Luna, 7. Courtesy Photo For the past three years, four Princeton youngsters have been hiking around their block near FM 1377,...

read more
Data stolen in city cyberattack

Data stolen in city cyberattack

Two weeks after first reporting a potential data breach, the city of Princeton has confirmed that confidential information and personally identifiable information was downloaded from municipal computer systems. On Sept. 18, Princeton said it was investigating what was...

read more
Local creativity earns State Fair honors

Local creativity earns State Fair honors

Princeton resident Kimberly Lindsey placed second in Craft Creations for her handmade basket. Courtesy art When the State Fair of Texas opened Friday, Sept. 25, visitors found plenty of local talent among the award-winning entries inside the Creative Arts Building....

read more
Photos online