← Best suburbs near New York City

Princeton, NJ vs West Windsor, NJ

Two popular NJ suburbs of New York City, side by side. Here's how they compare on the metrics that matter most to families.

School rating
10/10
10/10
Commute to New York City
91 min
82 min
Median home price
$1.1M
$780K
Annual property tax
$18K
$14K
Walk score
65
35
Density
suburban
suburban

Summary: West Windsor, NJ leads in 3 of 6 metrics. It edges out on commute to new york city, median home price, annual property tax. The best choice depends on your family's priorities.

Character & vibe

Princeton, NJ

The intellectual suburb — Princeton University anchors a walkable downtown with world-class restaurants, galleries, and a perpetual seminar energy. NJ Transit dinky to Princeton Junction station.

walkableartsycommunity

West Windsor, NJ

NJ Transit Northeast Corridor access, nationally ranked schools, and new construction townhomes at half Princeton's price. The rational alternative to Princeton for families.

community

Who should pick which?

Pick Princeton, NJ if you...

  • ·Value walkability and a pedestrian-friendly downtown
  • ·Drawn to the walkable character

Pick West Windsor, NJ if you...

  • ·Want the shortest commute to New York City
  • ·Need to keep your home budget in check
  • ·Want lower annual property taxes

Still deciding?

Burbia scores both Princeton, NJ and West Windsor, NJ — and every other town in the New York City Area — based on your specific commute, budget, and priorities. Not a generic list.

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