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City · 90,338 residents · Mercer County, New Jersey

Trenton , New Jersey

In Trenton, a typical home is worth $160,700 and typical rent is $1,294 a month. Compared with all of Mercer County, the typical home value is 57% lower, typical household income is 48% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 24 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $160,700

    57% below the county

    65% below New Jersey

    • Trenton
    • Mercer
    • New Jersey

  • Typical rent

    $1,294a month

    20% below the county

    25% below New Jersey

    • Trenton
    • Mercer
    • New Jersey

  • Typical household income

    $52,537a year

    48% below the county

    49% below New Jersey

    • Trenton
    • Mercer
    • New Jersey

  • Households that own their home

    38%

    24 points below the county

    26 points below New Jersey

    • Trenton
    • Mercer
    • New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$343,291
1.8% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,030 a month
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Trenton is in Mercer County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Mercer County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Trenton apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Trenton has the 6th lowest typical home value of the 293 cities in New Jersey with more than 5,000 people ($160,700).

  2. 38% of households in Trenton own their home, against 62% in Mercer County.

  3. Trenton has the 8th lowest typical household income of the 294 cities in New Jersey with more than 5,000 people ($52,537).

  4. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Trenton fell 1.8%; in New Jersey, it rose 4%.

  5. The typical rent in Trenton is $1,294 a month, 20% less than in Mercer County as a whole ($1,623).

  6. 15% of households in Trenton have no internet at home (6% in Mercer County).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Trenton

What homes there are in Trenton, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Trenton there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are attached houses (townhouses) (43%), more than in Mercer County (20%).

Year built

The typical home in Trenton was built in 1953, 16 years before the typical one in Mercer County.

In Trenton, 24% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 52% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59% in Mercer County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Trenton sit under the FHA limit for Mercer County ($541,287): about 96%.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 92% of rented homes in Trenton cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Mercer County ($2,242).

With a mortgage

$1,717 a month

Mercer County: $2,615 a month

Without a mortgage

$752 a month

Mercer County: $1,136 a month

Owners with a mortgage

54%

Mercer County: 62%

Owning costs less in Trenton: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,717 a month; in Mercer County, $2,615. Without one, $752.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Trenton gained value faster than in Mercer County: 68% against 30%.

The typical rent in Trenton rose 26% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Mercer County (28%).

The typical household income in Trenton rose 48% over that time; home values changed +68% and rent +26%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureTrentonMercer CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy 4.3%2.9%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.4%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 7.8%3.7%4.0%3.4%
People per household 2.742.562.622.53
Drive alone 58%60%62%69%
Carpool 16%9%8%9%
Public transit 7%5%8%3%
Walk or bike 4%4%3%3%
Work from home 7%20%17%15%
Other means 8%3%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Trenton, the rental vacancy rate is 4.3%; in Mercer County, 2.9%.

More households are short on space in Trenton: 7.8% have more than one person per room; in Mercer County, 3.7%.

On average, a household in Trenton has 2.74 people, more than in Mercer County (2.56).

In Trenton, 16% of workers share a car to get to work; in Mercer County, 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Trenton?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Trenton, worth $160,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income in Trenton, which is $52,537 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $67,452 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Mercer County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Trenton. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $5,625 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,574

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$157,789
Total interest
$227,021
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,714 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,226 a month

  • Tight

    $1,226 to $1,576 a month

    Your payment · 36%

  • Hard

    more than $1,576 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Trenton ($52,537 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,574
Principal & interest$1,069
Property tax$367
Home insurance$67
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$71

You need at least $5,625 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Trenton and Mercer County

Trenton is in Mercer County, New Jersey. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Trenton's own numbers

Typical home value
$160,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,294
Typical yearly household income
$52,537
Households that own their home
38%
Effective property tax rate
2.74%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Mercer County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,242
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+68%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Mercer County.

Everything about Mercer County

Buying

Buying a home in Trenton

A typical home in Trenton is worth $160,700: 57% below the county and 65% below New Jersey. With the typical household income in Trenton ($52,537 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Trenton 3.1 years
  • Mercer 3.8 years
  • New Jersey 4.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Mercer County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Mercer County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Mercer County.

Period County New Jersey U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.7% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +68% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +87% +88% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Trenton next to Mercer County, New Jersey and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Trenton $160,700
  • Mercer $377,700
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Trenton $1,294
  • Mercer $1,623
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Trenton $52,537
  • Mercer $100,645
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Trenton next to Mercer County and New Jersey
Measure Trenton Mercer County New Jersey U.S.
Typical home value $160,700 $377,700 $454,400 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,294 $1,623 $1,720 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $52,537 $100,645 $103,556 $80,734
Households that own their home 38% 62% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,404 $8,909 $9,590 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.74% 2.36% 2.11% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 58% 50% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Mercer County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Trenton

For a typical $160,700 home in Trenton, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Trenton's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,574a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $5,625
    Cash to close
    $10,446
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $71

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,544a month

    Down payment
    $8,035
    Cash to close
    $12,856
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $76

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,305a month

    Down payment
    $32,140
    Cash to close
    $36,961
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,453a month

    Down payment
    $24,105
    Cash to close
    $28,926
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Trenton and for Mercer County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Trenton

2.74%of the home’s value each year

$4,404 a year for the typical owner in Trenton.

  • Trenton 2.74%
  • Mercer 2.36%
  • New Jersey 2.11%

What New Jersey publishes ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ: one combined application (New Jersey Division of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Flood risk in Mercer County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Mercer County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.7%
1,826
Of those, with NFIP insurance
42%
County New Jersey U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.7% 6.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 42% 63% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Trenton

Typical rent in Trenton is $1,294 a month: 20% below the county. In Trenton, 58% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Mercer County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,242 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $43.12 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Mercer County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,561 $30.02 $62,440
1 bedroom $1,764 $33.92 $70,560
2 bedrooms $2,242 $43.12 $89,680
3 bedrooms $2,741 $52.71 $109,640
4 bedrooms $3,081 $59.25 $123,240

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Trenton

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Trenton has 5 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,760 in 08608 to $2,250 in 08638.

1 of the 5 is above the fair market rent for Mercer County ($2,242).

  • 08608 $1,760$2,110
  • 08609 $1,830$2,240
  • 08611 $2,030$2,480
  • 08618 $1,760$2,140
  • 08638 $2,250$2,750

4 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Trenton when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Trenton

HUD lists 72 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Trenton. These are the largest.

  • Josephson Apts 237 Oakland St, Trenton 08618 411 homes, 409 low-income · Run by Trenton Housing Authority · Average payment: $387 a month · Average wait: 32 months (609) 278-5042
  • Donnelly Homes 826 Southard St, Trenton 08638 376 homes, 375 low-income · Run by Trenton Housing Authority · Average payment: $512 a month (609) 278-5042
  • South Village I and II 312 Lalor St, Trenton 335 low-income homes · In service since 2015
  • South Village I & II 312 Lalor St, Trenton 08611 334 low-income homes · For older adults
  • Wilson HMS 101 Coolidge Ave, Trenton 08618 331 low-income homes · Run by Trenton Housing Authority · Average payment: $479 a month · Average wait: 64 months (609) 278-5042

See all 131 buildings in Mercer County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Trenton

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Mercer County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Trenton

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Trenton or Mercer County. The ones below are statewide in New Jersey: they work in Trenton the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Jersey

Housing counselors near Trenton

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Trenton, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Isles, Incorporated

    10 Wood St, Trenton · 0 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 2 more
    (609) 341-4700

  • Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey

    145 West Hanover Street, Trenton · 0 miles away

    (917) 974-5922

  • Operation Hope- Camden NJ Branch

    533 Fellowship Rd, Mount Laurel · 23 miles away

    (267) 539-8535

Every agency in Mercer County All counseling agencies in New Jersey

Help in Spanish near Trenton

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Trenton

HUD’s record names them for Trenton or Mercer County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

4 other authorities have an office in Mercer County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Mercer County

These cities are also in Mercer County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Mercer County Housing in New Jersey

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Trenton, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Mercer County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Trenton.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Trenton

Short answers with the numbers for Trenton and all of Mercer County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Trenton?

The typical home value in Trenton is $160,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Mercer County it is $377,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Trenton?

Typical rent in Trenton is $1,294 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Mercer County is $2,242.

What is the FHA loan limit in Trenton?

Trenton uses the FHA limit for all of Mercer County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Trenton?

The typical homeowner in Trenton pays $4,404 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.74% of the home’s value; in Mercer County, the rate is 2.36%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Trenton?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Mercer County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).