The Town FilesTrenton, Illinois
City in Clinton County · population 2,690 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,200
- Household income
- $80,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 38.0
Trenton is a city of 2,690 people in Clinton County, Illinois. The median home is worth $178,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 86% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Illinois towns.
- #9 in The 22 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- #13 in 25 Small Towns in Illinois With the Mildest Winters
- #42 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #42 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Trenton ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Trenton is worth $178,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $80,795, which is more affordable than 50% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $857 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Trenton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $857 | $960 |
| Median household income | $80,795 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Trenton
| People | Trenton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Trenton
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Trenton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 25, 1956 about 1.1 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 82 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 28, 2012.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
| December 13, 1982 | Severe Storm | DR-674: Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 12,592 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Trenton itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Trenton
3 public schools with 1,053 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wesclin Middle School | 4-8 | 494 | 14.1 |
| Wesclin Sr High School | 9-12 | 355 | 12.7 |
| Trenton Elem School | PK-3 | 204 | 15.7 |
Towns near Trenton
- New Baden, IL5.1 mi · 3,428 people · home $172,200
- Lebanon, IL6.7 mi · 4,691 people · home $170,700
- Breese, IL8.7 mi · 4,641 people · home $229,600
- Mascoutah, IL8.8 mi · 8,754 people · home $224,900
- Scott AFB, IL10.1 mi · 3,688 people · home —
- Highland, IL11.2 mi · 9,991 people · home $202,900
- O'Fallon, IL12.4 mi · 32,289 people · home $295,700
- Shiloh, IL13.0 mi · 14,098 people · home $274,000
Trenton questions
Is Trenton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Trenton scores better for retirees than 96% of Illinois towns and quieter than 57%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Trenton?
The median owner-occupied home in Trenton is valued at $178,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,795, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $857 a month.
What is the weather like in Trenton?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 24.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 10.1 inches of snow.
Does Trenton get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Trenton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 25, 1956. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)