Trenton, NJ Local Data & Statistics

State: NJ

Total population: 90,338 Household income: $52,537 Rent: $1,294

Overview

Total population

90,338

Rent

$1,294

Year built

1953

Household income

$52,537

Per capita income

$28,236

Poverty rate

21.6%

Unemployment rate

6.7%

Household size

2.7 persons

Rent over 30% of income

55.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

New Jersey

Total population

90,338

Adults over 25

57,850

Total households

32,052

Household size

2.7 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$52,537

Per capita income

$28,236

Poverty rate

21.6%

Unemployment rate

6.7%

Rent over 30% of income

55.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,294

Year built

1953

Households that rent

62.1%

Households that own

37.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

14.2%

Black

41.3%

Asian

0.4%

Two or more races

13.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

46.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

53.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

92.9%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

7.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

38.6%

High school graduate or GED

37.5%

Some college or associate degree

7.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

16.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Trenton, NJ with: New Jersey United States

Trenton, NJ

Total population90,338

Rent$1,294

Year built1953

Household income$52,537

Per capita income$28,236

Poverty rate21.6%

Unemployment rate6.7%

New Jersey State

Total population9,343,809

Rent$1,720

Year built1970

Household income$103,556

Per capita income$54,253

Poverty rate9.7%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityTrenton, NJ	StateNew Jersey	CountryUnited States
Total population	90,338	9,343,809	334,922,499
Rent	$1,294	$1,720	$1,413
Year built	1953	1970	1980
Household income	$52,537	$103,556	$80,734
Per capita income	$28,236	$54,253	$44,673
Poverty rate	21.6%	9.7%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	6.7%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Trenton, NJ, New Jersey and United States →

Summary for Trenton, NJ

Trenton is located in New Jersey.

Rent & Income

In Trenton, the typical monthly rent is $1,294 and the typical household income is $52,537. Rent here is lower than in both New Jersey and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 21.6%, which is higher than in both New Jersey and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 62.1% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 55.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 16.2% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education. The local unemployment rate is 6.7%, which is higher than both New Jersey and the national rate.

Trenton, NJ — Rent vs Household Income

Trenton, NJ — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Trenton, NJ compares in New Jersey (17 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,294	3 / 17	from lower rent	$1,226 – $2,938
Household income	$52,537	15 / 17	from higher income	$40,546 – $180,579
Poverty rate	21.6%	12 / 17	from lower poverty	7.8% – 32%
Unemployment rate	6.7%	14 / 17	from lower unemployment	2.4% – 8.6%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in New Jersey with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Trenton, NJ

Rent

For typical rent levels, Trenton is ranked 3rd out of 17 major areas in New Jersey. Statewide values span from $1,226 in Camden, NJ to $2,938 in Hoboken, NJ.

Household income

Looking at household income, Trenton places 15th out of 17 significant areas. Incomes across New Jersey range between $40,546 in Camden, NJ and $180,579 in Hoboken, NJ.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Trenton in 12th place among 17 significant areas. Across New Jersey, poverty ranges between 7.8% and 32%.

Unemployment rate

Trenton places 14th among 17 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.4% to 8.6%.

💰 Rent in Trenton, NJ (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,294 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Trenton, NJ

Annual Household Income: $52,537

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Trenton, NJ

Estimated Rate: 21.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Trenton, NJ

In Trenton, NJ, households that rent: 19,900 (62.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	19,900	62.1%
Owner-Occupied	12,152	37.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Trenton, NJ

In Trenton, NJ, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 11,094 (55.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	11,094	55.7%
Other renter households	8,806	44.3%
Total renter households	19,900	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Trenton, NJ

Less than High School: 22,348 people (38.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 21,698 people (37.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,442 people (7.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 9,362 people (16.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 57,850

📊 Unemployment Rate in Trenton, NJ

Estimated Rate: 6.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

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ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.