Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Denton leads 17 of 22 categories
Denton
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Trenton
Households earn $27,477 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($111,200 vs $296,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,264)
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $27,477/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$27,477
$71,921 vs $44,444/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
80% lower
204.2 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 10.2% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$185k less
$111,200 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Denton leads 17 of 22 categories. Denton wins 17 and Trenton wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Denton to Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $111,200 median home), income ($71,921 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Trenton, NJ are about 1,326 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.