TrentonNova Scotia

A town in Nova Scotia, home to 2,499 people. It belongs to the New Glasgow metropolitan area.

6 places within 19 kmMap →

Photo: Verne Equinox · CC BY-SA 3.0

Population

2,499

people, 2025 estimate

Median age

47.6

years · Nova Scotia’s towns: 51.6

Postsecondary

46%

of residents 15 and over hold a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree · Canadian towns: 56%

Walk, cycle, transit

walk, cycle or take transit to work · Canadian towns: 8%

Is Trenton a good place to live?

Trenton’s best grade is for hazard risk (A). Health is a weak point (C−). Jobs & income is weaker too (C−). Elsewhere it is close to typical: B for cost of living and B− for walkability.

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Trenton has subject grades only.

Safety is the police detachment's figure, shared with the towns and countryside around it. No School Grade: this province doesn't publish comparable results school by school. Health is graded on the health region's survey figures and life expectancy, with the distance to hospital giving the town its own spread.

StrongestAHazard riskWeakestC⁻Health C⁻Jobs & income

How Trenton grades

Each subject compares Trenton with Canadian towns of 2,500 or more, ordered by how far it is from the middle. Towns in other countries are graded separately.

How grading works

Canadian towns get an overall grade from 2,500 residents, so Trenton has subject grades only.

Hazard riskIn the top fifth of the towns comparedAOpen →HealthBased on how healthy residents are for their agesC⁻Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work trail most townsC⁻Open →SafetyBehind most towns comparedCOpen →Cost of livingNear typical for the towns comparedBOpen →WalkabilityBased on walking, cycling and transit to everyday placesB⁻Open →

SchoolsThe province reports its assessments by regional centre, and that series stops in 2019–20, which leaves towns in Nova Scotia without a schools grade.–

How TownRatings grades Canadian towns →

What makes Trenton stand out

The 3 things Trenton does most differently from other towns.

Picked automatically from the data

Immigrants

Who lives here

1% are immigrants

Next to 6%, the median among Canadian towns

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

Home value ÷ household income

Housing

2 times household income

The middle of Canadian towns: 4.7 times

Median owner’s estimate $120,000, Census 2021; income for 2020.

Walk, cycle or transit to work

Getting around

4% walk, cycle or take transit

For the middle of Canadian towns, 8%

Statistics Canada, Census 2021

The data

Data highlights are ordered by what stands out in Trenton.

Natural hazardsHazard risk A

Hazard risk in Trenton is lower than in 94% of Canadian towns

Lowwildfire bandAHazard risk Grade

Fewer homes than usual carry radon here, 2% over the guideline where the typical town has 6.6%. Shaking is less of a worry than in most places, at $0.015 a year per $1,000 of building value ($0.030 typical).

Radon tests above the guideline · share of tested homes, 200 Bq/m³

Trenton2%

Nova Scotia’s towns13%

Canadian towns6.6%

Hazards	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Radon tests above the guideline	2%	13%	6.6%
Earthquake loss per $1,000 of buildings a year	$0.015	$0.018	$0.030

Low

wildfire band

2.4 km

to the nearest land burned since 1986

flood studies on the national inventory

Full pageTrenton’s flood & hazards pageOpen the full Flood & hazards page

WildfireLow wildfire band · No land burned within 25 km since 1986 Flood2 flood studies on record Earthquakes$0.015 a year per $1,000 · Canadian towns: $0.030 Radon2% of tests above the guideline Be readyAlerts, FireSmart and radon tests

NRCan seismic risk model and burned areas, Health Canada radon survey, the Flood Hazard Map Inventory · Radon tests: one figure for all of the Zone 4 health region

HealthHealth C⁻

Trenton scores below 85% of Canadian towns for health

42%very good or excellent healthC⁻Health Grade

Across the region, life runs to 79.3 years on average: women 81.5, men 77.1, in 2022/2024. Age-standardised, just over two fifths of the region’s adults put their health at very good or excellent, below both Nova Scotia’s towns (49%) and Canadian towns (52%). Smoking is commoner than in the province: 17% of adults, against 14% for Nova Scotia. Measured from where Trenton’s residents live, a hospital is 4.6 km away, near the 3.7 km most towns see. Trenton doesn’t get its own health survey and life expectancy figures; the ones here come from the Zone 2 - Northern.

Very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised

Trenton42%

Nova Scotia’s towns49%

Canadian towns52%

Health	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Very good or excellent health	42%	49%	52%
Chronic conditions (average share)	21%	20%	17%
Smokers	17%	15%	12%
Life expectancy at birth	79.3	80.0	81.5

79.3

years of life expectancy, 2022/2024

4.6 km

from homes to a hospital, on average

17%

of adults smoke, age-standardised

4.6 km

from homes to a pharmacy, on average

Full pageTrenton’s health pageOpen the full Health page

Health survey42% very good or excellent health · adults, age-standardised Getting careA pharmacy 4.6 km away on average The wider areaLife expectancy: women 81.5, men 77.1 Conditions and habits21% with chronic conditions · adults, age-standardised

Statistics Canada, Canadian Community Health Survey 2023/2024 and life expectancy 2022/2024; Open Database of Healthcare Facilities

Work & commuteJobs & income C⁻

Trips to work from Trenton are shorter than from Nova Scotia’s towns or Canadian towns: 18 min on average

4%walk, cycle or take transit

How working residents got to work · census 2021

Car or van93%

Walk4%

Census 2021	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Average trip	18 min	23 min	26 min

$58,800

median household income, 2020

13%

worked from home, May 2021

11%

of commuters work inside the municipality

Full pageTrenton’s work & commute pageOpen the full Work & commute page

Unemployment16% unemployed · Of the labour force · Canadian towns: 9.9%Getting to work4% walk, cycle or take transit Where people commute to295 commuters · The biggest flow out: to New Glasgow

Statistics Canada, Census 2021 (labour and commuting) · The 2021 census was taken in May 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions: more people than usual worked from home or were off work.

SafetySafety C

Trenton gets a C for safety

84Crime Severity Index

Measured across the Pictou County detachment area: Crime Severity Index, Violent Crime Severity Index, violent crime and property crime per 1,000

Across the area its police cover, the Crime Severity Index averaged 84 over 2023–25, above Nova Scotia’s towns (71) and Canadian towns (67) alike. Where it is policed, 16.5 violent incidents per 1,000 residents are recorded each year. Thefts, break-ins and damage add up to 29.8 per 1,000 residents a year where it is policed.

Year by year · Crime Severity Index for each year

202387

202482

202583

2023–2025	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Crime Severity Index	84	71	67
Violent crime	16.5	14.5	12
Property crime per 1,000	29.8	36.2	31.2

non-violent Crime Severity Index

26%

of incidents cleared, 2023–25

Full pageTrenton’s safety reportOpen the full Safety report

Safety84 Crime Severity Index · The index weighs each crime Trenton’s police recorded by how serious it is.Questions“Is Trenton safe?”

Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023–2025 average

Climate

Trenton has cooler summers than 88% of Canadian towns

23.1°CJuly afternoons

Frost comes on 133 days a year, near Nova Scotia’s towns (133) and lower than Canadian towns (159). For the wettest month, look to October: 119 mm on average. A normal January brings 53 cm of snow, the most of any month. Trenton sees January nights of −8.9°C on average.

Average high by season · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

Winter0.0°C

Spring6.9°C

Summer21.5°C

Autumn13.7°C

Normals, 1991–2020	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Precipitation a year	1,134 mm	1,393 mm	883 mm
July afternoon high	23.1°C	23.1°C	25.5°C
Snowfall a year	187 cm	215 cm	141 cm
January night low	−8.9°C	−8.9°C	−13.5°C

187 cm

of snow a year

133

days with frost a year

124

days with precipitation a year

Full pageTrenton’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

The yearJuly highs 23.1°C, January lows −8.9°C Rain and snow1,134 mm a year · Canadian towns: 883 mm Snow187 cm of snow a year Weather station18 km to the station · Caribou Point

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Caribou Point)

Outdoors

Trenton has more protected land around it than 9 in 10 Canadian towns

18%of the land within 10 km protected

The nearest provincial park, Powells Point Provincial Park, is 4.5 km away. Prince Edward Island National Park is the closest national park, 91 km from town. Public parks and reserves within 10 km: 5, below Nova Scotia’s towns (23.5) but above Canadian towns (4). Named trails close by number 6, the Smelt Brook Trail and Morash Trail among them.

Protected land · of the land within 10 km

Trenton18%

Nova Scotia’s towns8.7%

Canadian towns2.3%

Outdoors	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Protected land within 10 km	18%	8.7%	2.3%
Public protected areas within 10 km	5	23.5	4

91 km

to Prince Edward Island National Park

4.5 km

to Powells Point Provincial Park

public protected areas within 10 km

Full pageTrenton’s outdoors pageOpen the full Outdoors page

Protected landof the land within 10 km Protected areas5 protected areas within 10 km · Scallop Buffer Zone (SFA 24)National & provincial parks91 km to a national park · Prince Edward Island National Park Footpaths & routes6 named routes · Smelt Brook Trail

Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), OpenStreetMap routes and beaches

HousingCost of living B

Trenton gets a B for cost of living

$120,000median home value, 2021BCost of living Grade

Shelter took 30% or more of income for 13% of households, about level with Nova Scotia’s towns (13%) and below Canadian towns (18%). The owner-occupied share of households is 74%. Nobody publishes rent as a share of income and monthly rent for a two-bedroom for Trenton alone, so this card uses the figure for the New Glasgow metro area.

What homes were worth · The median owner’s estimate at the 2021 census

Trenton$120,000

Nova Scotia$250,000

Canadian towns$406,000

Census 2021	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Households spending 30%+ on shelter	13%	13%	18%
Households owning their home	74%	82%	74%
Rent as a share of income	22%	21%	20%

$1,070

monthly rent for a two-bedroom

$670

median monthly shelter cost for owners, 2021

Full pageTrenton’s cost of living pageOpen the full Cost of living page

Cost of livingThe median owner’s estimate, $120,000, against the median household income Renting$1,070 a month · A two-bedroom apartment, CMHC’s survey Owners and renters74% own their home

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; CMHC Rental Market Survey via Statistics Canada · The 2021 census asked owners what their home was worth; those values, and 2020 incomes, are what this compares.

Schools

In and around Trenton, 5 schools: 4 elementary schools and 1 secondary school

5schools within 3 km

School	Level	Students	System
Trenton Elementary SchoolIn TrentonElementary	Elementary	–	English public
CCRCE Alternate High SchoolIn TrentonSecondary · Grades 8–12	Secondary · Grades 8–12	–	English public

See all 5 schools →

0.3 km

to the nearest secondary school

Full pageTrenton’s schools pageOpen the full Schools page

Every school5 schools within 3 km · 4 elementary schools and 1 secondary school Language0 of 5 teach in French · 6% of schools in Nova Scotia Questions“What schools are there in Trenton?”

Provincial school lists and results, 2025-26 · Why no schools grade in Nova Scotia? The province reports its assessments by regional centre, and that series stops in 2019–20.

Weather

Trenton in November: highs near 8°C, lows near 2°C

8°Ca normal November afternoon

Expect around 7 cm of snow in November. Next comes December, with normal highs of 3°C and lows of −4°C. November normally sees 118 mm of precipitation. At the extremes, July afternoons reach 23°C and February nights −9°C.

Normal highs, the months ahead · ECCC normals, 1991–2020

November8°C

December3°C

January−1°C

February−2°C

Season	High	Low	Rain and snow
Winter	0°C	−7°C	278 mm
Spring	7°C	0°C	241 mm
Summer	21°C	14°C	263 mm
Autumn	14°C	7°C	352 mm

2°C

a normal November night

118 mm

of rain and snow in a normal November

Full pageTrenton’s weather pageOpen the full Weather page

Next 24 hoursTemperature and chance of rain, hour by hour The week aheadECCC’s days ahead, beside the normals The yearWarmest July, coldest February

ECCC normals, 1991–2020 (Caribou Point); the forecast is on the Weather page

Town hall

Trenton’s MP is Sean Fraser (Liberal Party of Canada), for Central Nova

The Liberal Party of Canada has 11 of the 11 MPs elected in Nova Scotia.

Full pageTrenton’s town hall & politics pageOpen the full Town hall & politics page

Who runs itTown

Wikidata, MAMH, MMAH, Statistics Canada

Library & civic lifeCivic life grade A

Trenton’s public library is Trenton Public Library

It stands 0.5 km from the centre of Trenton.

Full pageTrenton’s library & civic life pageOpen the full Library & civic life page

The libraries1 Libraries Places to belong2.8 charities per 1,000 residents

Provincial library statistics, OpenStreetMap, the CRA and Statistics Canada

Who lives here

Who lives in Trenton: a median age of 47.6, 1,090 households

47.6median age

People 65 and over make up nearly a quarter of the town. Visible minorities make up 2.7% of the population, lower than both Nova Scotia’s towns (4%) and Canadian towns (15%). One measure of family life: 14% of residents are under 15.

TrentonNova ScotiaCanada

Nova ScotiaCanada

Ages · Share of residents in each age group, Census 2021

14%

Schooling · Highest qualification, residents 15 and over

No certificate, diploma or degree23%

Postsecondary qualification46%

Women and men · all residents

Women make up 51.3% of Trenton

Of the 2021 count, 1,230 were women and 1,170 men (women across Canada: 50.9%).

Who lives in Trenton
	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Under 15	14%	14%	16%
15 to 64	64%	62%	64%
65+	23%	25%	19%
No certificate, diploma or degree	23%	18%	16%
Postsecondary qualification	46%	54%	56%

Full pageTrenton’s Who lives here pageOpen the full Who lives here page

Ages47.6 median age · 23% are 65 or over Households1,090 households · 2.2 people per household Immigrants1% are immigrants · 3% belong to a visible minority English and French3% speak both · 0% speak French but not English

Statistics Canada, Census 2021; Nova Scotia and Canada: medians of towns of 2,500+

History

In Trenton, 51% of homes go back before 1961

51%built before 1961

51%

of homes built before 1961 · Canadian towns 18%

Heritage	Trenton	Nova Scotia	Canada
Homes built before 1961	51%	28%	18%

Full pageTrenton’s history pageOpen the full History page

Older homes51% built before 1961 · Canadian towns: 18%Questions“How many historic places does Trenton have?”

Canadian Register of Historic Places, Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel, Wikidata; Census 2021 homes by period

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Trenton

15pages on Trenton

The big questions

SafetyCCrime Severity Index 84 Housing & costBHomes 2 × income Property pricesSchools5 schools within 3 km HealthC⁻Life expectancy 79.3 in its region Work & commuteC⁻46% of adults in work Natural hazardsAWildfire band: low

Out and about

Outdoors18% of the land within 10 km protected AttractionsClimateJuly afternoons around 23°C WeatherECCC’s forecast, beside the normals

The story

Who lives hereMedian age 47.6 HistoryTown hallFamous people

Famous people from Trenton

3 notable people were born in Trenton.

See all 3 →

Pat DunnCanadian politician · born 1950

Donald R. MacLeodCanadian politician · 1902–1976

Ross LandryCanadian politician

About Trenton

Town in Nova Scotia

Statistics Canada treats Trenton as a single census subdivision in Nova Scotia, and TownRatings keeps to that line.

Statistics Canada: population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155), Census of Population 2021, 2021 census boundaries.

Population: 2,499 (people, 2025 estimate)
Province or territory: Nova Scotia
Census division: Pictou
Metro area: New Glasgow
Census subdivision: 1212016

Trenton’s neighbours

The nearest places of 1,000 or more. Statistics Canada

New GlasgowStellartonPictou County, Subdivision CWestvillePictouPictou County, Subdivision BTrenton

How the neighbours grade

Town	People	km	Overall	Cost	Safety	Health
Trenton	2,499	—	—	B	C	C⁻
New Glasgow	10,378	2.7	D	C⁺	D	C⁻
Stellarton	4,251	6.4	D	B⁻	C⁻	C⁻
Pictou County, Subdivision C	8,847	6.5	D	B⁺	C	D
Westville	3,731	9.1	C⁻	B	C	D
Pictou	3,307	9.3	D	C⁺	D	C⁻
Pictou County, Subdivision B	6,482	13	D	B⁺	C	D

People: Statistics Canada, Census 2021. Distances: centre to centre.

Questions about Trenton

What kind of homes are in Trenton?

Households hold 2.2 people on average, and 34% have just one.

Has Trenton grown?

It lost people: 2,474 in 2016, 2,407 in 2021, 2.7% fewer, while the middle of Canadian towns grew 4.1%. Statistics Canada’s 2025 estimate is 2,499.

How old are the people of Trenton?

At 47.6, its median age compares with 45.2 across Canadian towns. Children make up 14% of the population and seniors 23%.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 · population estimates 2025 (17-10-0155) and 2021 census boundaries · Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2023–25 (35-10-0026, 35-10-0183 to 35-10-0190) · CMHC rents as published by Statistics Canada (34-10-0133) · grades by TownRatings. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.

Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).