No town among the 21 in North Dakota we compare has a lower rent at the middle of the market than Trenton. Trenton’s trail density is 1.4 miles per square mile, above both North Dakota’s towns (0.7) and U.S. towns (0.4). Trenton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

406 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Trenton Township · 2 mi Hardscrabble Township · 5 mi Buford Township · 6 mi Judson Township · 7 mi Round Prairie Township · 8 mi Tri Township · 9 mi

Getting set up

Moving to Trenton: who provides what

Trenton is unincorporated, so Williams County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerMontana-Dakota Utilities11.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterNorthwest Rural Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & county servicesWilliams CountyWilliams County provides services here

SchoolsEight Mile Public School District 6Which school depends on your addressNCES

Who runs elections hereWilliams County AuditorWilliams County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015

ZIP codes58853, 5880158853 95% · 58801 5%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Jul 30, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Trenton.

Natural hazards

The FEMA risk score in Trenton is lower than in the typical North Dakota or U.S. town

36% of Trenton’s expected losses from natural hazards come from cold waves, followed by inland flooding at 34%. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 97% of U.S. communities.

3risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes

Full pageTrenton’s hazards pageOpen the full Hazards page

What it facesVery low risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters18 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready19 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Who lives here

More middle-aged adults than North Dakota overall

The midpoint age in Trenton is 37.7 years. Adults 35 to 64 are 49% of residents (35% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 14% of residents (25% statewide). College graduates make up a quarter of adults 25 and older, against 33% across North Dakota.

37.7median age · ND 35.9

	Trenton	North Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Median age	37.7 years	33.9 years	40.5 years
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	25%	30%	29%

TrentonNorth DakotaUnited States

NDU.S.

Ages · share of residents

25%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma8%

High school31%

Some college23%

Associate’s12%

Bachelor’s15%

Graduate10%

Women and men · all residents

45% women, 55% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.4 points. Across North Dakota, 48.8% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Trenton
	Trenton	ND	U.S.
Under 10	14.8%	13%	11.6%
10 to 17	10.6%	10.5%	10.3%
18 to 24	5.9%	11.1%	9.1%
25 to 34	8.1%	14.2%	13.7%
35 to 44	16.7%	13.2%	13.2%
45 to 54	24.6%	10.1%	12.2%
55 to 64	8.1%	11.4%	12.7%
65 to 74	4.2%	9.6%	10.2%
75 and older	6.9%	7%	7%
No diploma	8.2%	6%	10.4%
High school	31.2%	25.5%	26%
Some college	22.9%	21.8%	19.1%
Associate’s	12.2%	14%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	15.4%	23%	21.6%
Graduate	10%	9.7%	14.1%

Full pageTrenton by the numbersOpen the full page

Ages37.7 median age · 11% are 65 or older Schooling25% have a four-year degree Homes70% own their home · Homeowners Income$107K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 400, single groups can be off by several points

Climate

Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Trenton

Of the 24 North Dakota towns we compare, none has a higher July high than Trenton. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 2° and about 39 inches of snow falls in a winter.

39″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter6–26°

Spring30–56°

Summer53–82°

Fall31–57°

Sep 26

typical first frost

May 13

typical last frost

+1.9°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageTrenton’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

A year of weatherJuly highs 85°, January lows 2°Rain & snow39″ of snow a winter · 14 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commute

About one in three of Trenton’s working residents commute to Williston

The top destinations are Williston (35%), Williston Township (9%) and Judson Township (7%). Only 10% of working residents stay in Trenton for work; the rest commute out. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs locally rose by 69, to 263. The town’s typical household income stands at $107,000.

10%work in town

	Trenton	North Dakota towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	1.7%	9.8%	9.6%
Working residents who work in town	10%	39%	8%
Median household income	$107,000	$73,000	$80,000
Average trip to work	20 minutes	16 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Trenton10%

Williston35%

Williston Township9%

Judson Township7%

Minot4%

12 mi

median commute distance

263

jobs based in Trenton

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

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

The jobs here263 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work10% work in Trenton Commute times20 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 12 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Health

How healthy Trenton is

Two figures for adults in Trenton: 40% sleep under 7 hours, 19% smoke cigarettes. CDC measures, 32 in all: Trenton beats North Dakota on 1 and trails on 16. For adults locally, the share who binge drink is 23%. Among 24 North Dakota towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Trenton.