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Living in
Trenton.
About
Life in Trenton
Located about 18 miles southwest of Detroit as a Downriver suburb, Trenton is a small city of roughly 18,500 people with serious industrial roots and a waterfront identity that's actually part of daily life here, not just marketing. The economy runs on major manufacturing—Chrysler's Trenton Engine Plant is a significant employer, along with Stellantis operations, DTE Energy's power facilities, and Solutia—which means stable, union-backed jobs exist if you can get them, though the job market has been slower than national averages (current unemployment sits at 6.0%, slightly above the US average). Housing is genuinely affordable: median home values hover around $210,600 with median rents under $900 a month, and your tax burden is lighter than most places (sales tax 6.0%, income tax 4.3%, both below national averages), which matters when you're budgeting month-to-month.
Trenton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
48.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Foreign-Born
3.1%
Broadband Internet
92.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.1% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Trenton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Trenton, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (14.0%), and 1.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
24.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
23.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.8%
of households
Married Couples
46.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 22% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Trenton
In Trenton, rent runs 22% below the MI average, and home values are 9% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,220
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
83.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1960
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $243,203 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Trenton and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Wayne County, which includes Trenton, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Trenton: Wayne County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Wayne County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Trenton is about 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Trenton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute25.4 min avg
How Trenton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Trenton, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 81% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Trenton runs 81% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
61.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
459.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Trenton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Wayne County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Wayne County, which includes Trenton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2024 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $19.3M |
| 2022 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $130,000 |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $139.6M |
| 2020 | 27 | Lakeshore Flood | $950,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Lakeshore Flood | $67.8M |
| 2018 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Wayne County, county-wide
Trenton is about 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Wayne County, which includes Trenton, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
132
per year
Moderate Days
222
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Wayne County, county-wide
Trenton is about 1% of Wayne County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Trenton has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.4"
Annual Snowfall
53.5"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
120
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
142
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 2.23" |
| Feb | 35°F | 21°F | 2.08" |
| Mar | 46°F | 29°F | 2.43" |
| Apr | 59°F | 39°F | 3.26" |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 3.72" |
| Jun | 80°F | 60°F | 3.26" |
| Jul | 84°F | 64°F | 3.51" |
| Aug | 81°F | 63°F | 3.26" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.22" |
| Oct | 62°F | 44°F | 2.53" |
| Nov | 49°F | 34°F | 2.57" |
| Dec | 37°F | 25°F | 2.25" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Trenton
Trenton has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Corewell Health Trenton Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Wyandotte Hospital and Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.4 mi away · Wyandotte
Beaumont Hospital - Taylor
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Taylor
Beaumont Hospital - Dearborn
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.6 mi away · Dearborn
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Trenton
Trenton's student/teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Trenton (within 15 miles)
Wayne County Community College District
14.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 7,423 students · in-state tuition $3,112 · 20% graduate · median earnings $34,732 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Michigan-Dearborn
12.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,952 students · in-state tuition $16,240 · 61% graduate · median earnings $66,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Trenton
Trenton has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
18 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
39 mi awayJames A Garfield National Historic Site
National Historic Site
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Trenton
Trenton Veterans Memorial Library
2790 Westfield Road, Trenton
Cities Near Trenton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Trenton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Trenton FAQ
Is Trenton, Michigan affordable?⌄
Trenton's median rent is $880/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $82,212/year. Median home value is $210,600.
Is Trenton, Michigan safe?⌄
Trenton's violent crime rate was 62 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 460 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Trenton, Michigan?⌄
Wayne County, which includes Trenton, has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Trenton, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Trenton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $880/month and median household income is $82,212/year. The median home value is $210,600. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Trenton, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Trenton is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from