Grace Episcopal Church · National Register of Historic Places
Trenton’s story
Trenton in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
TrentonNC
A town of 251.
Foscue Plantation House · Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
251
2025 Census estimate · +4.1% since 2020
Typical home
$127K
−3.1% in a year
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
36.4
years
Jobs based here
178
A job hub
Is Trenton a good place to live?
47% of households own their home in Trenton, against 67% in North Carolina’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. Only 5 of the 235 North Carolina towns we compare have a lower typical home value than Trenton. Trenton has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Foscue Plantation House and Grace Episcopal Church. Trenton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Trenton stand out
Where Trenton beats most towns.
Small town
251 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby 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.
PowerJones-Onslow Elec Member13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterJones County Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Trenton’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereJones County Board of ElectionsJones County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code2858528585 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Trenton.
Housing
A typical Trenton home is worth about $127K
The typical Trenton home is worth about $127,000, down 3.1% in a year, 62% below the North Carolina typical home. Trenton’s median rent is $979 a month, where North Carolina’s towns sit at $1,085 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month.
$127KZillow home value
Typical home value
Trenton$127K
North Carolina$332K
−3.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
With 1.8 jobs for every working resident, Trenton draws in 174 commuters
Most working residents leave Trenton for work: only 4% work in town. Trenton’s median household income is $48,000. Since 2013, Trenton has lost 50 jobs, to 178 in 2023.
4%work in town
| Trenton | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.1% | 6.8% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 13% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Trenton4%
New Bern21%
Jacksonville4%
James City4%
Morehead City3%
20 mi
median commute distance
178
jobs based in Trenton
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Trenton, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 99% of U.S. communities. Since 1999, 21 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Trenton.
99risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland flooding
21
paid flood claims since 1999
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Trenton, expect mild winters and hot summers
Trenton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Trenton is 90°F.
3″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–57°
Spring49–73°
Summer68–88°
Fall52–74°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Apr 1
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Trenton is
Trenton beats the North Carolina average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19. 48% of adults have high blood pressure in Trenton.
| Trenton | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 13% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 38% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 19% | 19% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
2 better11 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Trenton | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.7% | 14.7% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.7% | 76.7% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 28.1% | 15.2% |
Carolina East Medical Center
16.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 13 attractions →Tryon Palace and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Trenton. Close and well known come first.
18 mi MuseumTryon Palace
19 mi MuseumCSS Neuse
18 mi TheatreMasonic Temple and Theater
36 mi MuseumAurora Fossil Museum
19 mi PlanetariumNeuseway Nature Center and PlanetariumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Tryon Palace: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · CSS Neuse: Katyrw, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Masonic Temple and Theater: Archie A. Biggs, Photographer, Public domain · Aurora Fossil Museum: RadioFan, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Neuseway Nature Center and Planetarium: RadioFan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Trenton
17pages on Trenton
The big questions
Out and about
The story
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 North Carolina.
A job hub
Every workday, about 174 people come to Trenton for work
Where Trenton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
178jobs based in Trenton
4%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
2 places in Trenton on the National Register of Historic Places.
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About Trenton
Town in North Carolina, United States
Trenton is a town in Jones County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 238 in 2020 census. It is the county seat of Jones County. Trenton is part of the New Bern, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 13 ft
- ZIP code
- 28585
- Area code
- 252
Questions about Trenton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Trenton, NC a good place to live?
Trenton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.