Cheese House, 1984
Trenton’s story
Trenton in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1984.
Explore the history →
TrentonME
A town of 1,656. Public schools that outperform most of Maine.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,656
2025 Census estimate · +4.1% since 2020
Typical home
$475K
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$60K
median
Median age
43.5
years
Jobs based here
723
Balanced
Is Trenton a good place to live?
The best of Trenton’s subject grades are a B+ for schools and health; the weakest is a D for incomes. 18% of residents live below the poverty line in Trenton, above both the Maine town median (9%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 73% of U.S. towns. On history, just 4 of Maine’s 285 towns do worse. The biggest park or preserve is Jordan River Preserve, at 195 acres. Trenton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Trenton stand out
Where Trenton beats most towns.
By the sea
Trenton lives by the ocean
Coastal flooding makes up 14% of the storm damage FEMA expects here.
14%of expected storm damage is coastal flooding
98thpercentile for coastal flood risk nationally
2paid flood-insurance claims since 2021
4storm & flood disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA · OpenStreetMap
How Trenton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maine), ordered by how far Trenton is from typical.
Jobs & income$60K median household income; 723 jobs based hereDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 5.1% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →HealthNorthern Light Maine Coast Hospital 5.8 miles awayB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 31% of U.S. communities; hurricanes tops the listB+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 3% conserved landC+Open →History2 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life1.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.5; 42% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 12 attractions →Acadia National Park and 8 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Trenton. Close and well known come first.
Big draw3 mi National ParkAcadia National Park4.1M visitors a year
11 mi MountainCadillac Mountain
21 mi LandmarkFort Knox
17 mi LighthouseBass Harbor Head Light
11 mi MuseumAbbe Museum
26 mi MuseumPenobscot Marine MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Acadia National Park: Plh1234us, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cadillac Mountain: The original uploader was NightThree at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0 · Fort Knox: Unknown, Public domain · Bass Harbor Head Light: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Abbe Museum: AbbeMuseum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Penobscot Marine Museum: John Smith, Public domain
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.
PowerVersant Power30.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBirch Haven Trailer Park1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Trenton’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Maine you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTrenton Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2026
ZIP code0460504605 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Trenton.
SchoolsB+
On state tests, Trenton’s schools beat 73% of Maine districts
Its public schools are run by the Trenton Public Schools. Its one school is below.
73%of ME districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 120 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within ME on state tests
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Trenton is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns
Trenton beats the Maine average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 30% of Trenton adults sleep under 7 hours, where Maine’s towns sit at 33% and U.S. towns at 36%. 82% of Trenton adults had a checkup this year.
73%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Trenton | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 33% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 33% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 82% | 81% | 79% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 23% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Maine
1 better31 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Trenton | ME |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 11.9% | 14.8% |
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
5.8 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Trenton faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by hurricanes
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities. Since 2021, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Trenton.
31risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingCoastal flooding
2
paid flood claims since 2021
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Trenton, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Trenton has cold winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Trenton’s July high is 78°F.
78°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–33°
Spring33–51°
Summer56–75°
Fall41–57°
Oct 9
typical first frost
May 8
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
78°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer middle-aged adults than Maine overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 32% of residents (40% statewide). 26% of residents are 65 or older in Trenton. Trenton has grown 4.1% since 2020, to 1,656 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
43.5median age · ME 44.8
| Trenton | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 26% | 22% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 32% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 18% | 22% |
| Median age | 43.5 years | 44.9 years | 40.5 years |
TrentonMaineUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school35%
Some college12%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s28%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.5 points. Across Maine, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Trenton | ME | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.5% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.6% | 8.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.5% | 8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13% | 12% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.1% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.6% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.3% | 15.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.3% | 13.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.1% | 8.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.3% | 5.2% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.8% | 30.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.1% | 18.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.5% | 10.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 28.4% | 22.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.9% | 13.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,700, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Most working residents commute out of Trenton
Most working residents leave Trenton for work: only 8% work in town. The average trip to work in Trenton is 29 minutes. The top destinations are Ellsworth (22%), Bar Harbor (20%) and Hancock (5%).
8%work in town
| Trenton | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $78,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 11% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 8.1% | 12% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Trenton8%
Ellsworth22%
Bar Harbor20%
Hancock5%
Bangor5%
10 mi
median commute distance
723
jobs based in Trenton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 27% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade C+
A typical Trenton home is worth about $475K
The typical Trenton home is worth about $475,000, up 3.4% in a year, 15% above the Maine typical home.
$475KZillow home value
| Trenton | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 77% | 81% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,102 a month | $1,106 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Trenton$475K
Maine$412K
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
2.6%conserved
| Trenton | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.6% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
2.6%
conserved · 460 of 18,050 acres
2.9 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jordan River Preserve | 0.1 mi | 195 |
| 2. Acadia National Park | — | 103 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Trenton
19pages on Trenton
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Trenton
About 5 of every 100 Trenton residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maine.
About Trenton
Town in Maine, United States
Trenton is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States, near Acadia National Park. The population was 1,584 at the 2020 census. Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport is located in Trenton. In January 1969, town voters defeated 144–77 an attempt to build a nuclear power plant and aluminum refinery in Trenton.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 28 sq mi
- Elevation
- 49 ft
- Area code
- 207
Trenton’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Trenton.
Bar HarborLamoineSurryEllsworthMount DesertTrenton
How the neighbors grade
| Town | ME rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | — | — | C+ | — | B+ | B+ |
| Bar Harbor | #18 | A− | D | A | A+ | A− |
| Lamoine | — | — | C+ | — | A+ | B+ |
| Surry | — | — | B− | — | C | B+ |
| Ellsworth | #75 | C+ | C | C | B | A− |
| Mount Desert | — | — | C− | — | A+ | A |
Trenton, Lamoine, Surry and Mount Desert have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Trenton, Lamoine, Surry and Mount Desert report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Trenton with a neighbor →
Questions about Trenton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Trenton, ME a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Maine.
Is Trenton, ME expensive?
That is 6.5 years of the area's median household income ($72,744 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.