How old are the homes in Trenton, NJ?

79.3% (±4.2 points) of the homes in Trenton, NJ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

38.1% were built before 1940.

4.7% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on .

Built before 1980
79.3% (±4.2 points)
Built before 1940
38.1%
Built 2010 or later
4.7%

When the homes in Trenton were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year builtTrentonMercer CountyNew JerseyUnited States
2020 or later0.7% (±0.4 points)0.9%1.1%2.0%
2010 to 20194.0% (±1.3 points)4.8%6.2%9.4%
2000 to 20095.9% (±1.5 points)9.0%9.2%13.6%
1990 to 19994.5% (±1.4 points)8.5%8.9%12.4%
1980 to 19895.4% (±1.2 points)12.6%11.8%12.9%
1970 to 19799.2% (±1.9 points)12.9%12.3%14.2%
1960 to 196910.1% (±1.6 points)12.9%12.8%9.9%
1950 to 195915.0% (±1.9 points)15.0%13.8%9.5%
1940 to 19496.9% (±1.2 points)5.5%6.5%4.4%
1939 or earlier38.1% (±2.5 points)17.9%17.4%11.7%

In Trenton, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in Mercer County (64.2%).

It is also higher than in New Jersey (62.8%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In Mercer County, Trenton ranks 1 of 12 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 147 of 564.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (70.1%) and the share built before 1980 (79.3%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Trenton

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Trenton
PlaceDistanceHomes built before 1980Compared with this place
Trenton—79.3% (±4.2 points)—
Morrisville1.4 mi84.0% (±13.3 points)Not measurably different
The College of New Jersey3.2 mi0.0% (±19.2 points)Lower
Ewing Township3.3 mi71.6% (±5.6 points)Lower
Falls Township (Bucks County)3.3 mi79.3% (±5.9 points)Not measurably different
Mercerville3.9 mi88.6% (±8.6 points)Not measurably different
White Horse4.0 mi84.3% (±12.1 points)Not measurably different
Yardley4.1 mi75.5% (±14.1 points)Not measurably different
Hamilton Township (Mercer County)4.8 mi74.6% (±3.6 points)Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: The College of New Jersey, NJ (0.0%), Ewing Township, NJ (71.6%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Mercer County, place by place

RankPlaceHomes built before 1980
1Trenton79.3% (±4.2 points)
2Hopewell Borough79.0% (±10.5 points)
3Hightstown Borough75.6% (±16.6 points)
4Hamilton Township (Mercer County)74.6% (±3.6 points)
5Ewing Township71.6% (±5.6 points)
6Pennington Borough71.2% (±10.2 points)
7Princeton63.8% (±6.0 points)

Showing 7 of 12 places in Mercer County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Trenton

How old are most homes in Trenton?

79.3% of homes in Trenton, NJ were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Trenton need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 70.1% and 79.3% of homes in Trenton were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Trenton?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Trenton city, Mercer County, New Jersey (county subdivision:74000, in state:34 county:021).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.

Figures last updated on .

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