Trenton offers rural charm near Utica, Rome and the Adirondacks
Trenton is a rural town in upstate New York’s Oneida County, roughly 15 miles from Rome and Utica . Its best-known feature is Trenton Falls, a 150-foot waterfall. “It's pretty much the gateway to the Adirondack Mountains,” says Joe McHarris, a real estate salesperson with Coldwell Banker Sexton who has 40 years of local real estate experience. “You’re close enough to the commercial hub of the county, but you feel like you’re living in the Adirondacks.” Many of Trenton’s 4,200 residents are spread throughout hamlets and communities, like Holland Patent, where most students attend school.
Historic homes and midcentury ranches line Trenton’s rural roads
Narrow roads wind past fields and forests in rural areas, where properties are spaced widely apart. Some farmhouses and National homes date to the 1800s. “It’s not housing tract after housing tract,” McHarris says. “There’s very little new housing development, but great old stately homes on beautiful, mostly multiacre properties.” In more densely populated pockets like Holland Patent, Barneveld and Prospect, lots measure up to a third of an acre, and many have paved driveways. Fixer-uppers sell for $50,000 to $100,000, but well-maintained National and midcentury ranch-style homes fetch prices from $170,000 to $340,000. Most split-level and two-story houses cost $265,000 to $550,000, and some newer custom-built homes sell for $650,000 to $900,000. Upstate New York is prone to snowy winters, and heavy-duty shovels and roof rakes are standard household items. Trenton has a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, below the national average of 4.
Nature trails, golf courses and fly-fishing offer year-round fun
Wilderness stretches to the north and east, giving locals plenty of excuses to get outside. “You’ve got the West Canada Creek there, which is world-renowned for fly-fishing,” McHarris says. “Great hunting — just a great nature lover’s outdoor paradise.” The Trenton Greenbelt Hiking Trails lead through well-marked forested areas and are popular year-round, but access to the Trenton Falls Scenic Trail is limited. Brookfield Renewable Power owns the property and opens it twice a year, once in spring and once in fall, in partnership with the town. The primary trail leads to the dam overlook, while secondary paths offer views of the gorge. Holland Patent Village Park has a gazebo and shaded picnic areas, and the Trenton Fish & Game Club offers archery and clay and rifle shooting. The nine holes at Camroden Golf Course are open to the public, but Glass Hill Golf Club is private. Old Forge is about 35 miles away for hiking, canoeing and snowmobiling in the Adirondacks.
Students attend public schools in the Holland Patent district
Students attend General William Floyd Elementary School, rated C by Niche, from prekindergarten through second grade. For grades 3 through 5, they move to Holland Patent Elementary School, rated B-minus. Next is Holland Patent Middle, followed by Holland Patent Central High, both rated B. High school students can participate in esports, like Fortnite and League of Legends.
Route 12 leads to medical care and transit in nearby cities
New York State Route 12 is the main thoroughfare that connects residents to Utica, roughly 14 miles away, and Rome, about 15. Utica is home to Wynn Hospital and an Amtrak station that connects passengers to destinations like Syracuse and Niagara Falls. For air travel, Syracuse Hancock International Airport is about 60 miles away.
Brewpubs and diners offer cocktails and casual eats
Utica has a Walmart Supercenter, Hannaford supermarket and other retail and dining options, but locals will find a few restaurants and watering holes right in Trenton. In Holland Patent, 16 Stone Brewpub offers flatbread pizza, sandwiches and a long row of taps. Poppy’s Place is known for its baked goods, which include gluten-free options. Classic breakfast and lunch fare is on the menu at Sweet Basil Diner in Barneveld, and Hotel Moore is across the street for cocktails, pool and darts.
Remsen Barn Festival of the Arts is a September highlight
September brings the Remsen Barn Festival of the Arts, held about 4 miles from Trenton. Highlights include baking contests, quilt exhibits, local musicians, line dancing and a corn maze.
