Why buyers look at the Princeton area
For buyers leaving New York, the Princeton area combines three things that are hard to find together: a train station with express service to New York Penn Station in about 55 minutes, nationally known schools and a university town, and open land within a short drive. Mercer County’s towns also sit right across the Delaware River from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, so many buyers compare both sides before choosing.
Karen Langsfeld is licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, so she can show you Princeton on Saturday morning and Yardley that afternoon.
The towns
| Town | Character | Typical single-family value (Zillow, Sept 2026) | Train to New York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | University town, walkable downtown, historic estates | About $1.05 million (08540) | Dinky to Princeton Junction |
| West Windsor | Suburban township around Princeton Junction | About $1.03 million (08550) | Princeton Junction, in town |
| Pennington and Hopewell | Historic boroughs, farmland, Hopewell Valley schools | About $701,000 (08534) | Drive to Trenton, Hamilton, or Princeton Junction |
| Lambertville | Delaware River town across from New Hope, Hunterdon County | About $638,000 (08530) | Drive to Trenton, or bus |
Commuting to New York
NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor Line serves three stations in the area. Express trains reach New York Penn Station in about 55 minutes from Princeton Junction, about an hour from Hamilton, and about 1 hour 10 minutes from Trenton, according to the 2026 weekday timetable. Monthly passes cost $549, $563, and $585 at fares effective July 1, 2026.
The guide to the NYC commute from Bucks County and Princeton covers parking, buses, Amtrak, and which station fits each town.
Taxes to plan for
- Property taxes are the biggest line item. Mercer County’s 2025 average residential bill was $9,887, but Princeton’s was $23,373, West Windsor’s $16,604, and Pennington’s $16,171.
- Selling over $1 million: since July 2025, New Jersey’s graduated fee on sales over $1 million is paid by the seller, starting at 1 percent of the full price.
- Income tax: New Jersey residents who work in New York pay New York tax on those wages and claim a New Jersey credit. The guide to living in PA or NJ and working in New York explains how it works.
Across the river
Many Princeton-area buyers also look at Bucks County, where property taxes are generally lower and towns like Yardley, Washington Crossing, and New Hope are 10 to 30 minutes from Trenton’s station. The Bucks County overview and the guide to moving from New York City to Bucks County or Princeton compare both sides.
Working with Karen in the Princeton area
Karen Langsfeld is a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She helps New York buyers narrow the map by commute, schools, and taxes, and helps sellers on both sides of the river price against the sales that truly compare.
Reach Karen directly at (215) 495-2914 or through the contact page.