If you have been scrolling new construction listings in McKinney and wincing at the prices, someone has probably told you to look at Princeton. We hear it from relocating buyers every week. Princeton sits about 20 minutes east of McKinney on US 380, it is growing at a pace few American cities can match, and the price gap with McKinney is real. So is it worth it? Here is our honest take, with real numbers and the tradeoffs nobody puts in the builder brochure.
Why Everybody Is Suddenly Asking About Princeton
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimates rank Princeton as the third fastest growing American city with more than 20,000 residents. It grew 18.1 percent from July 2024 to July 2025.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments puts the 2025 growth even higher, about 30 percent, roughly 10,000 new residents in a single year.
Zoom out and the arc is remarkable. Princeton counted 17,501 residents in 2020. World Population Review estimates 48,362 in 2026.
That growth is not an accident. Princeton sits in the path of the US 380 corridor expansion and about 20 minutes from McKinney National Airport, where a new 46,000 square foot passenger terminal is under construction and commercial flights are expected to begin late 2026. We covered the airport story in depth here: Homes Near McKinney Airport: Why Princeton, TX Is the Move Before the New Terminal Opens.
What Your Money Buys Compared With McKinney
Here is the number that starts the conversation. The Census Bureau’s 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey puts the median owner occupied home value in McKinney at $471,800. In Princeton, the same survey vintage puts it at $294,071, via HomeSnacks.
That is a gap of about 178,000 dollars at the median. In plain terms, Princeton runs roughly 38 percent less than McKinney at the median home value.
Those are survey averages, not today’s list prices, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote. If you want to see what is actually for sale right now, start with current McKinney area listings and compare side by side.
Most of Princeton’s housing stock is new. Builders stay active along the 380 corridor, which means you will see new construction incentives that rarely exist in McKinney’s established neighborhoods.
The Honest Tradeoffs: Traffic, Dining, and Growing Pains
Princeton is largely a bedroom community. The average commute runs 33 minutes, and about 23.7 percent of residents work outside Collin County.
US 380 is the road that ties Princeton to McKinney, and it is also the road TxDOT plans to bypass with an 8 lane freeway around north McKinney. We explain the route, the 3.27 billion dollar price tag, and the timeline in plain English here: The US 380 Bypass Explained in Plain English. Until that freeway exists, drive 380 at your real commute hours before you commit to an address. A Saturday afternoon test drive tells you nothing about Tuesday at 7:30 in the morning.
Dining and retail are the other honest tradeoff. Princeton added roughly 10,000 residents in a single year. Restaurants, coffee shops, and everyday retail are still racing to catch up with that kind of growth. McKinney’s historic downtown and its restaurant row are a short drive west, and plenty of Princeton buyers make that drive gladly. But if a walkable dinner scene is a must have on your list, spend a Friday evening in Princeton before you decide.
Schools are scaling fast too. Princeton ISD has added nearly 1,000 students recently. Always verify campus assignment by street address before you buy, and never shop by a rating you saw on a national website.
One more check before you fall in love with a floor plan: Texas stacks property tax with MUD or PID assessments in many new communities. Our plain English breakdown of how those work is here: Texas Property Taxes, MUD and PID Fees Explained.
The Loan Programs Princeton Buyers Ask Us About
Because so much of Princeton is new construction, most of our buyer conversations start with the same three loan programs: conventional, FHA, and VA. Each one treats new builds a little differently, especially around timelines, appraisals, and what the builder can contribute toward your costs.
A quick note on how we talk about money here. We never quote rates, payments, or down payment amounts on the blog, because the right numbers depend on your credit, your income, and the loan program. What we can do on a call is run your real numbers against two or three Princeton floor plans and show you the true side by side.
If you are relocating and buying before you sell your current home, tell us early. The strategy changes, and the earlier we map it, the smoother your move goes.
Arlicia Jones, NMLS 1550570, Elite Lending Solutions, Inc., Company NMLS 1829246
Who Princeton Fits, and Who Should Keep Looking
Princeton fits buyers who got priced out of McKinney or Frisco and still want a new home in Collin County. It fits first time buyers who want new construction and room to grow. It fits commuters headed to McKinney or the 380 corridor who would rather trade drive time for square footage.
Keep looking if you need a short commute into Dallas every day. Princeton will wear on you. If you want mature trees and established neighborhoods, look at east McKinney instead. If nightlife within walking distance matters, this is not your town yet.
Our bottom line: Princeton is worth a serious look for buyers who want new construction in Collin County at a real discount to McKinney, and who go in with eyes open about the commute and the growing pains. Drive the corridor, spend an evening there, verify the campus and the tax picture by address, and then decide.
Ready to see what is out there? View homes in the McKinney area. New to the area entirely? Download our free Start Here guide or start at the homepage.
Luke Jones, REALTOR, eXp Realty, Texas license #793146
Texas Real Estate Commission Information About Brokerage Services