Relocation profile · Federal data
Trenton-Princeton, NJ
BEA RPP 103.2 ranks #341 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
- 103.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,950
- 2BR rent / mo
- $80,061
- Median salary
- 55.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Trenton-Princeton ranks #115 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (55.9/100), with its strongest marks in job market and schools.
- #115
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 9,500,851
- metro-area population
- 216
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 2,509
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: housing (10/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Trenton-Princeton ranks #115 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 103.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,950/mo, median salary $80,061; LiveAbility Score 55.9/100, strongest in job market and schools.
Signature: BEA RPP 103.2 ranks #341 of 387 scored metros for higher prices (dearer third).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 103.2 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,950/mo.
LiveAbility 55.9/100 puts Trenton-Princeton in the top third (#115 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Trenton-Princeton area is 220,910.
Trenton-Princeton vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
56 Top 30% higher than 70% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Trenton-Princeton housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Trenton-Princeton MSA; housing RPP 135.1 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,950/mo.
Trenton-Princeton wages and employment
Trenton-Princeton posts 220,910 total employment with median salary $80,061 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $89,370 |
| Registered Nurses | $99,990 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $37,760 |
| Cashiers | $34,710 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,560 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Trenton-Princeton area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Trenton-Princeton area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Trenton-Princeton's composite Life Score is 41/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Trenton-Princeton ranks #115 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 55.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Trenton-Princeton - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Job market
Job market
97 /100
- Schools
Schools
94 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
85 /100
- Safety
Safety
82 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
53 /100
- Climate 36
Climate
36 /100
- Cost of living 12
Cost of living
12 /100
- Housing 10
Housing
10 /100
What this shows Trenton-Princeton's strongest dimensions are job market and schools; its weakest among scored dims is housing at 10/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Metros near Trenton-Princeton on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Trenton-Princeton on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Trenton-Princeton cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Trenton-Princeton wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Trenton-Princeton?
Trenton-Princeton runs a $80,061 median salary at a 103.2 cost index, ranking #115 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Trenton-Princeton's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Trenton-Princeton head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Trenton-Princeton
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.