Living in Princeton, Texas
Princeton
The Onion Capital of Texas, on U.S. 380 just north of Lavon Lake.
What it's like
The short version
Princeton sits in Collin County on U.S. Highway 380, about 8 miles east of McKinney. Founded in 1881, it takes its name from landowner Prince Dowlin. Onions built its name, and Lavon Lake's Tickey Creek and Clear Lake parks lie south of town.
What's for sale
Homes sold at a median near $322,000 in September 2026.
What it does well
Strong here
- Parks and trails●●○
Sister Grove Park sits on the edge of town, and city parks include sports fields, disc golf and a dog park. - Lake days●●○
Lake Lavon spans 21,000 acres, with Tickey Creek and Clear Lake parks south of Princeton. - Established neighborhoods●●○
Founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1912.
The honest part
What to know first
- Construction on the city's main road brings overnight lane closures.
- Princeton is not among the 12 cities in DART's service area.
Not its strength: transit options, quiet, small-town pace, vibrant, big-city energy, new construction, luxury homes.
Not rated yet: walkable, a real downtown, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, golf, land and acreage, horses welcome. That means I haven't confirmed it either way, not that it isn't here.
Get outside
- Sister Grove Park
Two three-mile trail routes at the northern tip of Lavon Lake, popular for biking and hiking. - Tickey Creek Park
A Lavon Lake park south of town with a swim beach, picnic tables and a boat ramp. - Clear Lake Park
Camping, RV sites, a boat ramp, a playground, fire pits and a pavilion south of town. - J.M. Caldwell Sr. Community Park
A former World War II prisoner of war camp, now with sports fields, a disc golf course, pavilions, a solar-lit walking trail and a dog park. - Veterans Memorial Park
A World War II memorial park that hosts weddings and community events.
On the calendar
- Onion Festival
An April festival of the city's farming heritage, with a 5K, food trucks, vendor booths and a live auction. - Freedom & Fireworks
A city parks and recreation special event. - Pumpkin BooLooza
A city parks and recreation special event.
What's coming
- A Marketplace-format store now under way in the 66-acre retail complex at Beauchamp Boulevard and U.S. 380, due in 2027.
- Paving, excavation and drainage work is under way on the highway through town, from FM 1827 to County Road 560.
Taxes
2025 combined rate per $100 with Princeton ISD: city 0.440226, Princeton ISD 1.207200, Collin County 0.149343, Collin College 0.081220. Homestead not applied.
Check the unit list on the address.
School facts
- Princeton ISD: TEA rating B, 2026
Take it with you
Want this on paper?
Get the printable Princeton report sent to your email.
Sources
- 2026 NCTCOG Population Estimates
- Redfin: Princeton Housing Market
- City of Princeton: Adopted Budget Fiscal Year 2025-26
- 2025 DFW Tax Rates, Republic Title
- Community Impact: Collin County property tax rates for FY 2025-26 (Sep 8, 2025)
- Texas Tribune Schools Explorer: Princeton ISD
- Wikipedia: Princeton, Texas
- City of Princeton: Parks & Recreation
- Princeton EDC: Entertainment
- Princeton Herald: Layers of fun set for April 25 (Apr 2, 2026)
- CultureMap Dallas: Kroger breaks ground in Princeton (Jul 14, 2026)
- City of Princeton: US 380 and County Roads Updates
- DART: Facts about Dallas Area Rapid Transit
- DART: Collin County Transit Service Area
- Redfin: Princeton Market