Jim's Men and Boys Shop sign, Broadway, 1988
Trenton’s story
190 years in pictures
Census counts: 948 in 1870, 2,690 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1988 and 3 maps from 1906 on.
- 1836Trenton is laid out
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domain
Population
2,643
2025 Census estimate · −1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$207K
+1.1% in a year
Household income
$81K
median
Median age
38.0
years
Jobs based here
816
A commuter town
TownGrade
A+
#50 of 767 in IL
Is Trenton a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Trenton earns an A+, 50th among Illinois's 767 graded towns. It reports less crime per resident than 93% of U.S. towns, homes are within reach, about $206K for a typical one, or 2.6 years of the St. Louis metro’s $80K median household income, and it is more walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. The exception is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 73% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Trenton’s property crime rate is 0.8 per 1,000 residents, where Illinois’ towns sit at 7.9 and U.S. towns at 9.9.
What makes Trenton stand out
Where Trenton beats most towns.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Trenton1.9
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
27% less violent crime than IL
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 81% of U.S. towns
4.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Typical home value
Trenton$207K
Illinois$296K
Cost of livingA−
More affordable than 80% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Trenton for work
Where Trenton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
816jobs based in Trenton
8%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Trenton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Illinois), ordered by how far Trenton is from typical.
SafetyAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.4 of 20; 6.2% of households have no carA−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →HealthSt. Josephs Hospital 8.7 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsBeat 60% of Illinois districts on tests and graduationBOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 3% conserved landB+Open →HistoryLaid out 1836; 4 notable people born hereBOpen →Civic life3 library visits per resident; 4.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Trenton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Trenton, and how to reach them.
PowerAmeren Illinois Company16.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTrenton water system2 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayTrash dayTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Illinois you can register online until 16 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereClinton County ClerkClinton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code6229362293 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Trenton.
Trenton pairs an A+ overall with homes cheaper than the Illinois norm and has less no health insurance than most of Illinois.
93%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Trenton1.9
Illinois2.6
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Trenton0.8
Illinois15.6
U.S.15.5
93rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
94th
percentile among IL towns
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
#252for trails in IL
| Trenton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.7% | 3.7% | 4.3% |
2.7%
conserved · 32 of 1,200 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Trenton Nature Park | 0.6 mi | 7 |
| 2. Trenton Community Park | 0.5 mi | 19 |
| 3. St. Mary's Playground | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
With 0.6 jobs for every working resident, most of Trenton’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Trenton for work: only 8% work in town. 12% of residents live below the poverty line in Trenton. Jobs based in Trenton grew to 816 in 2023, 57 more than in 2013.
8%work in town
| Trenton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 8.4% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 10% | 11% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Trenton8%
Breese7%
Belleville7%
St. Louis6%
Highland5%
17 mi
median commute distance
816
jobs based in Trenton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 81% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade A−
For cost of living, Trenton earns an A−
Trenton grades A+ overall with a typical home of about $207K, below the Illinois typical value; only 48 of the 183 Illinois towns graded A− or better can say that.
The median rent in Trenton is $857 a month. The typical Trenton home is worth about $207,000, up 1.1% in a year, 30% below the Illinois typical home.
$207KZillow home value
| Trenton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $857 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Trenton$207K
Illinois$296K
+1.1%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthB+
Trenton is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns
Its widest gap with Illinois is no health insurance: 6.2% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 9.9% statewide.
Trenton beats the Illinois average on 6 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 19% of Trenton adults binge drink.
71%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Trenton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 23% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 37% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Illinois
6 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Trenton | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.2% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.2% | 15.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.8% | 7.6% |
St. Josephs Hospital
8.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
58th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Trenton
73risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Trenton
Trenton has chilly winters and warm summers. Trenton’s July high is 88°F.
10″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter26–42°
Spring45–66°
Summer66–87°
Fall47–68°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 12
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer middle-aged adults than Illinois overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 35% of residents (39% statewide). 31% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 38% across Illinois.
38median age · IL 39
| Trenton | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38 years | 40.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 20% | 19% | 18% |
TrentonIllinoisUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school28%
Some college15%
Associate’s20%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.7 points. Across Illinois, 50.6% of residents are women.
| Trenton | IL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.4% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.4% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.5% | 13.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.5% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.2% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 8.8% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.9% | 10% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.4% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.1% | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| High school | 27.9% | 25.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 14.8% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 19.5% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 19.9% | 22.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.8% | 15.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,600, single groups can be off by several points
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Trenton
20pages on Trenton
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 60% of IL districtsSafetyA1.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than IL on 6 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$207K typical home · up 1.1% in a yearWork & commuteB$81K median household income · 816 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 73% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Trenton
McKendree UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Lebanon7.1 mi$34,740 tuitionSouthwestern Illinois CollegeCommunity college · Public · Belleville14.4 mi$3,960 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Trenton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
Famous people from Trenton
4 notable people were born in Trenton.
About Trenton
City in Illinois, United States
Trenton is a city in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,690 at the 2020 census. There is, however, a small portion of St. Clair County, Illinois inside Trenton.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1855
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 482 ft
- ZIP code
- 62293
- Area code
- 618
Questions about Trenton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Trenton, IL a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Trenton grades A+ overall, better than 96% of U.S. towns and #50 of 767 in Illinois. It grades B+ for health, A for safety and B for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Trenton, IL expensive?
Not for the area. That is 2.6 years of the area's median household income ($80,196 across the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area).
What is Trenton, IL known for?
Trenton was laid out in 1836. 4 notable people were born here, including Russ Schoene and Florence Wyle.