The Town FilesTrent Woods, North Carolina
Town in Craven County · population 4,074 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $343,100
- Household income
- $107,802
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 57.8
Trent Woods is a town of 4,074 people in Craven County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $343,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 96% of North Carolina towns.
- #2 in The 13 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
- #12 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in North Carolina
- #21 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in North Carolina
- #23 in 25 Small Towns in North Carolina With the Mildest Winters
How Trent Woods ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Trent Woods is worth $343,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $107,802, which is more affordable than 72% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,385 a month. 91.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Trent Woods | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $343,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,385 | $969 |
| Median household income | $107,802 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 91.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Trent Woods
| People | Trent Woods | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 65.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Trent Woods
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 57.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Trent Woods since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 17, 1965 about 0.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 93 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 9, 1988.
Severe weather in Craven County since 1996
Craven County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Craven County
Craven County had 40,890 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,634 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Trent Woods itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Trent Woods
- New Bern, NC1.4 mi · 31,291 people · home $240,100
- Brices Creek, NC3.2 mi · 3,542 people · home $338,700
- River Bend, NC3.4 mi · 2,902 people · home $266,100
- James City, NC5.9 mi · 5,291 people · home $204,400
- Fairfield Harbour, NC7.6 mi · 2,767 people · home $300,600
- Havelock, NC16.2 mi · 16,621 people · home $207,700
- Newport, NC24.7 mi · 4,364 people · home $233,600
- Piney Green, NC24.9 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
Trent Woods questions
Is Trent Woods, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Trent Woods scores better for retirees than 98% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 86%. 35.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.8).
How much does a house cost in Trent Woods?
The median owner-occupied home in Trent Woods is valued at $343,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,802, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,385 a month.
What is the weather like in Trent Woods?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Trent Woods get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Trent Woods since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 17, 1965. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)