College Towns That Have Unexpected Celebrity Connections

4. Princeton, New Jersey – A Haven for Intellectual Superstars

Princeton, New Jersey, isn’t just one of America’s most prestigious Ivy League towns—it’s also an unexpected hotspot for some of the world’s greatest minds, artists, and intellectuals. One of Princeton’s most famous former residents is Albert Einstein, who lived in the town for over two decades while working at the Institute for Advanced Study. His former home remains a cherished landmark, and his legacy still looms large over Princeton’s intellectual culture. Beyond Einstein, Princeton has also been home to literary greats like F. Scott Fitzgerald, who briefly attended the university, and Toni Morrison, the legendary Nobel Prize-winning author who was a professor here for many years. Hollywood has also found a quiet home in Princeton. Ethan Hawke has been spotted frequenting the town’s bookstores and coffee shops, while Christopher Reeve (best known for playing Superman) was born and raised in Princeton.