Metro area profile · New Jersey
Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Trenton-Princeton metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 399,289
- +3.3% since 2020
- Households
- 144,114
- Median household income
- $100,645
- +24.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $377,700
- Jobs located here
- 262,034
- Highest market score
- 87
- HVAC and plumbing, #2 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Trenton-Princeton metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Trenton-Princeton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 399,289 people live in the Trenton-Princeton metro area, in 144,114 households. Population estimates show the Trenton-Princeton metro area grew 3.3% from 2020 to 2025, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Trenton-Princeton metro area is $100,645 a year, 25% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Trenton-Princeton metro area spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 133, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on gasoline and other fuels (73).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Trenton-Princeton metro area are for HVAC and plumbing companies (87), pest control companies (81) and electricians (80). The Trenton-Princeton metro area ranks #2 of 387 scored metro areas for HVAC and plumbing companies.
The Trenton-Princeton metro area is made up of one county, Mercer County. For its number of households, the Trenton-Princeton metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (67% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for car washes and detailers (42% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Trenton-Princeton metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Trenton-Princeton metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC and plumbing | 87 | #2 of 387 | 78 | 5.4 | $6.7M | 141 | 85 |
| Pest control | 81 | #10 of 345 | 15 | 1.0 | $14.2M | 138 | 9 |
| Electricians | 80 | #8 of 383 | 34 | 2.4 | $15.4M | 128 | 74 |
| Home repair trades | 79 | #8 of 387 | 186 | 12.9 | $2.8M | 116 | 200 |
| Home inspectors | 79 | #8 of 243 | 8 | 0.6 | Index only | 139 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 76 | #17 of 387 | 389 | 27.0 | Index only | 137 | 88 |
| Real estate | 74 | #23 of 387 | 491 | 34.1 | Index only | 137 | 210 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 71 | #39 of 290 | 5 | 0.3 | $24.5M | 178 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 69 | #76 of 387 | 207 | 14.4 | $3.2M | 105 | 284 |
| Spas and skin care | 68 | #43 of 387 | 125 | 8.7 | $1.3M | 152 | 39 |
| Chiropractors | 68 | #66 of 386 | 69 | 4.8 | $2.9M | 120 | 32 |
| Convenience stores | 68 | #69 of 387 | 98 | 6.8 | $10.8M | 137 | 52 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 67 | #44 of 373 | 50 | 3.5 | Index only | 149 | 25 |
| House cleaning | 67 | #60 of 375 | 25 | 1.7 | $8.5M | 133 | 88 |
| Auto repair and car care | 67 | #70 of 387 | 374 | 26.0 | $328K | 122 | 177 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 67 | #78 of 387 | 227 | 15.8 | $1.7M | 132 | 130 |
| Property management | 66 | #58 of 374 | 44 | 3.1 | Index only | 119 | 67 |
| Veterinarians | 66 | #80 of 384 | 34 | 2.4 | $3.2M | 119 | 27 |
| Car washes and detailing | 65 | #76 of 387 | 32 | 2.2 | $3.8M | 152 | 20 |
| Tire shops | 64 | #106 of 386 | 35 | 2.4 | $3.5M | 140 | 17 |
| Hair salons | 63 | #71 of 387 | 309 | 21.4 | $537K | 125 | 136 |
| Pizza | 63 | #102 of 387 | 134 | 9.3 | $5M | 98 | 284 |
| Gyms | 62 | #83 of 387 | 111 | 7.7 | $1.6M | 121 | 66 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 62 | #95 of 387 | 145 | 10.1 | $4.6M | 124 | 116 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 62 | #113 of 387 | 340 | 23.6 | $1.1M | 127 | 189 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 61 | #73 of 387 | 623 | 43.2 | $266K | 125 | 272 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 61 | #121 of 387 | 267 | 18.5 | $4M | 117 | 166 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 60 | #81 of 347 | 30 | 2.1 | $5.8M | 144 | 66 |
| Pet businesses | 60 | #112 of 387 | 115 | 8.0 | $957K | 109 | 69 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #105 of 387 | 73 | 5.1 | $2.3M | 136 | 67 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 59 | #136 of 381 | 31 | 2.2 | $4M | 128 | 31 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 58 | #67 of 197 | 8 | 0.6 | $24.7M | 101 | 12 |
| Insurance agencies | 58 | #139 of 387 | 146 | 10.1 | $1.4M | 115 | 89 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 57 | #119 of 387 | 246 | 17.1 | $713K | 108 | 156 |
| Auto repair shops | 56 | #146 of 387 | 245 | 17.0 | $500K | 112 | 132 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 54 | #164 of 387 | 1,756 | 121.8 | $379K | 102 | 707 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 51 | #172 of 387 | 137 | 9.5 | $1.5M | 92 | 345 |
| Gas stations | 51 | #190 of 387 | 114 | 7.9 | $2.4M | 100 | 92 |
| Roofing and gutters | 51 | #191 of 381 | 74 | 5.1 | $7.1M | 84 | 41 |
| Child care and preschools | 50 | #193 of 387 | 127 | 8.8 | $879K | 88 | 110 |
| Laundromats | 47 | #197 of 364 | 31 | 2.2 | $12.3M | 98 | 25 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 47 | #236 of 386 | 77 | 5.3 | $2.6M | 82 | 23 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 46 | #228 of 386 | 43 | 3.0 | $2.6M | 101 | 33 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 46 | #239 of 387 | 174 | 12.1 | $3.8M | 92 | 131 |
| Dry cleaners | 45 | #167 of 272 | 24 | 1.7 | $15.8M | 101 | 34 |
| Physical therapy | 45 | #227 of 386 | 103 | 7.1 | $1.9M | 80 | 62 |
| Pet stores | 45 | #228 of 382 | 29 | 2.0 | $3.8M | 84 | 9 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 45 | #241 of 387 | 114 | 7.9 | $1.7M | 97 | 313 |
| Barbershops | 45 | #248 of 387 | 95 | 6.6 | $1.7M | 93 | 28 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 44 | #240 of 387 | 1,380 | 95.8 | $143K | 94 | 614 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 44 | #240 of 387 | 1,092 | 75.8 | $610K | 92 | 301 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 42 | #236 of 385 | 97 | 6.7 | $2.2M | 75 | 248 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 41 | #277 of 387 | 105 | 7.3 | $1.7M | 83 | 90 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #262 of 387 | 126 | 8.7 | $8.4M | 90 | 114 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 39 | #282 of 387 | 217 | 15.1 | $911K | 93 | 172 |
| Funeral homes | 33 | #295 of 377 | 50 | 3.5 | $419K | 62 | 25 |
Household spending in the Trenton-Princeton metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $122.5M | $850 | 89 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $271.5M | $1,884 | 73 |
| Food away from home | $666.1M | $4,622 | 114 |
| Groceries | $1.1B | $7,324 | 116 |
| Personal care products and services | $165.9M | $1,151 | 115 |
| Child care and other personal services | $111.7M | $775 | 133 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $175.4M | $1,217 | 124 |
| Medical and dental services | $197.8M | $1,372 | 107 |
| Pets | $110.1M | $764 | 84 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $380.1M | $2,638 | 128 |
| Vehicle insurance | $211.2M | $1,466 | 75 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $523.8M | $3,635 | 120 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $212.3M | $1,473 | 104 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.9B | $20,218 | 121 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Trenton-Princeton metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 399,289+3.3% since 2020
- Households
- 144,114
- Median age
- 40.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 62%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.6
- Land area
- 225 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 1,719
- Median household income
- $100,645+24.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $142,372
- Median home value
- $377,700
- Jobs located here
- 262,034
- Daytime population
- 469,892Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Trenton-Princeton metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Trenton-Princeton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Trenton-Princeton metro area 1
- Mercer County, NJ385,864 people
Other markets based in New Jersey 2
- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ metro area371,211 people
- Vineland, NJ metro area153,305 people
Questions
How fast is the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Trenton-Princeton metro area at 399,289 people in 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 144,114 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.2%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area spend?
Households in the Trenton-Princeton metro area spend about $2.9B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.1B on groceries and $666.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Trenton-Princeton metro area runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 133, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on gasoline and other fuels (73).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Trenton-Princeton metro area, HVAC and plumbing companies (87), pest control companies (81) and electricians (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For HVAC and plumbing companies, that ranks #2 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Trenton-Princeton metro area is $100,645, 25% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $377,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (67% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for car washes and detailers (42% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Trenton-Princeton metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Trenton-Princeton metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Trenton-Princeton metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Trenton-Princeton metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.