HousingPermits

Metro area in New Jersey · part of the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA combined area

Trenton-Princeton, NJ

The Trenton-Princeton metro area authorized 1,164 new housing units in 2025. Permits fell 42% between 2024 and 2025, the second-steepest decline among the 85 metro areas of 250,000 to 499,999 residents. The housing bust cut annual permits by 84%, from 1,641 at the 2004–2006 high to 269 in 2009, the second-deepest drop among the 32 metro areas based in the Middle Atlantic states.

06001,2001,8002,4002004: 1,641 units (938 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 685 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,296 units (1,221 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 847 units (578 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 205 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 700 units (466 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 220 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 625 units (325 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 292 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 269 units (178 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 83 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 655 units (180 single-family, 27 in 2–4 unit, 448 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 400 units (135 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 247 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 444 units (110 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 319 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 988 units (191 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 733 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 368 units (239 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 896 units (284 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 597 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 711 units (175 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 451 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 605 units (152 single-family, 176 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 501 units (180 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 273 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 538 units (181 single-family, 55 in 2–4 unit, 302 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 832 units (220 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 587 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 544 units (278 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 264 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 643 units (165 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 969 units (402 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 559 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,026 units (827 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 1,183 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,164 units (805 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252024 high · 2,0262009 low · 26908001,6002,4002004: 1,641 units (938 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 685 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,296 units (1,221 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 68 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 847 units (578 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 205 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 700 units (466 single-family, 14 in 2–4 unit, 220 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 625 units (325 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 292 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 269 units (178 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 83 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 655 units (180 single-family, 27 in 2–4 unit, 448 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 400 units (135 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 247 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 444 units (110 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 319 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 988 units (191 single-family, 64 in 2–4 unit, 733 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 368 units (239 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 121 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 896 units (284 single-family, 15 in 2–4 unit, 597 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 711 units (175 single-family, 85 in 2–4 unit, 451 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 605 units (152 single-family, 176 in 2–4 unit, 277 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 501 units (180 single-family, 48 in 2–4 unit, 273 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 538 units (181 single-family, 55 in 2–4 unit, 302 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 832 units (220 single-family, 25 in 2–4 unit, 587 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 544 units (278 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 264 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 643 units (165 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 471 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 969 units (402 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 559 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 2,026 units (827 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 1,183 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 1,164 units (805 single-family, 19 in 2–4 unit, 340 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252024 high · 2,026

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Houses or apartments

In Trenton, 46% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 53% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Olympia (53% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 25%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2024 (1,183), single-family houses in 2005 (1,221).

2021–202546.3%46%1.0%52.7%53%2004–200672.3%72%2.4%25.3%25%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202546.3%46%1.0%52.7%53%2004–200672.3%72%2.4%25.3%25%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Relative to population

With 399,289 residents in July 2025, Trenton authorized 2.7 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Blacksburg (2.7) and Bangor (2.7).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 12 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was West Windsor township, with 1,483 units or 28% of the total, followed by Hopewell township with 1,297. Among the three largest, West Windsor township put 57% of its units in five-plus buildings, Lawrence township 27%.

  • West Windsor township28% (1,483 units)
  • Hopewell township24% (1,297 units)
  • Lawrence township17% (885 units)
  • Ewing township13% (681 units)
  • Hamilton township8.2% (437 units)
  • Robbinsville township4.8% (258 units)
  • Trenton3% (158 units)
  • East Windsor township1.2% (64 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

The wider New York-Newark region

The Census Bureau groups Trenton with 4 neighboring metro areas in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 63,945 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); Trenton accounted for 1.7%. The others, with their yearly averages: New York (58,185), Kiryas Joel (2,267), Bridgeport (2,007), Kingston (417).

Boom, bust and since

Trenton authorized the most units in 2024 (2,026); 2025 reached 58% of that. Its peak year is shared by 9 other metro areas, among them Asheville, Gainesville, GA, Bowling Green. The 2021–2025 pace of 1,069 units a year is 15% below the 2004–2006 pace.

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Flint, MI4441.111%
Canton-Massillon, OH6431.723%
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX9603.06.4%
Trenton-Princeton, NJ1,1642.753%
Tallahassee, FL2,7427.048%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put Trenton beside Beaumont

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: New Jersey. Counting rules.