What living in Trenton Township is like
Set in the outskirts of the Columbus metro area, Trenton Township is home to about 2,400 residents. Quiet and rustic, it’s the kind of place that attracts homebuyers looking for large plots of land to go with their modern homes or hobby farms. Mostly without traditional subdivisions, neighbors are connected by long stretches of country road and countless acres of woods. You’ll be a little farther from big-box stores or job centers than you would in the suburbs, but it’s a trade many are willing to make for privacy and lots of green space.
The types of homes you can buy in Trenton
Here, it’s common to find homes sitting on an acre or more, making Trenton popular with nature lovers, amateur farmers and anyone who enjoys their privacy. “If you want more elbow room, then this is the place for you,” says Derrick Smith, a Realtor with KW Commercial Classic Properties. Many colonial and farmhouse-style places go all the way back to the 1800s, and these classics tend to sell between the high $100,000s and the mid-$300,000s, depending on renovations. Midcentury homes typically run from the high $200,000s to the low $700,000s. Smith says lately people are coming out for sprawling contemporary homes, sometimes featuring 5 acres or more. “This is where you’re entering into a lot of cool, new-built territory,” he says. “There are lots as big as you’d like – way bigger than places closer to Columbus.” These homes usually sell between the low $800,000s and the high $900,000s.
The median price for a home in Trenton is in the high $500,000s, higher than the neighboring suburban community of Sunbury, but comparable to Harlem, another rural township about 7 miles down the road. Trenton Township’s zoning laws help keep the area feeling like the country, so you don’t have to worry about big-box stores opening across the street.
How fire, EMS and law enforcement serve this rural community
Despite being in the country, locals can expect several reliable public services:
- Emergency Medical Services are provided by Delaware County, and the OhioHealth Westerville Medical Campus is about 11 miles away.
- Fire protection services are handled by the B.S.T.&G. Fire District, which has a station nearby.
- Law Enforcement comes from the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.
Highly rated Big Walnut schools serve local students
Students here attend the highly rated Big Walnut Local School District, which Niche calls one of the best in Delaware County. In 2025, the school board voted to get rid of student and extracurricular fees, saving families some money. School choice mostly comes down to open enrollment, meaning families can request a spot in another school or even another district if there’s room.
What you can expect for your daily commute
A commute to Columbus from Trenton will take about half an hour, depending on traffic. The capital is around 30 miles away, while the tech jobs in New Albany are about 10 miles away. You won’t find public transit out here, so most workers will need a car.
Outdoor activities include hiking, biking and golf
Hiking and biking are very popular in the area, and the Ohio to Erie Trail gets a lot of local attention. With over 320 miles from the Ohio River to Lake Erie, this scenic route heads through cities, wilderness and everything in between. People go to Char-Mar Ridge Park in Westerville for 128 acres of birdwatching, nature walking and cross-country skiing. The Rattlesnake Ridge Golf Club is a private club with 18 holes, a restaurant and a golf simulator.
Where locals shop and dine
Most shopping is done in Sunbury, which has some familiar options like Kroger, Ace Hardware and Tractor Supply. SURVE is a popular locally owned restaurant that serves scratch-made comfort food like burgers, deviled eggs and cheese curds.
Photography Contributed By
Eric Bowers
