New Jersey Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 21 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$1,635/mo
Average Home Value
$430,014
Average Owner Cost
$2,126/mo
County cost atlas
New Jersey housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
21
Avg rent
$1,635/mo
Owner cost
$2,126/mo
Avg score
5.0
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in New Jersey: An Overview
The unweighted mean of county median rents in New Jersey is $1,635 per month, which is 16% above the national ACS median of $1,413. This gives every county equal weight and is not an official statewide median.
Within New Jersey, housing costs vary significantly by county. Somerset County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $2,033 per month and a median home value of $552,100. Salem County has the lowest reported median rent at $1,253 per month and a median home value of $239,500.
The unweighted mean of county median home values in New Jersey is $430,014, 29% higher than the national ACS median of $332,700. The unweighted mean of county median household incomes is $103,339; neither figure is a household-weighted statewide estimate.
Before comparing places in New Jersey, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in New Jersey
How median rents are spread across 21 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All New Jersey Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset County | Over $1,500$2,033/mo | $552,100 | $2,465/mo | 1.2 | 29.6% |
| Bergen County | Over $1,500$1,914/mo | $623,000 | $2,731/mo | 1.3 | 30.5% |
| Morris County | Over $1,500$1,904/mo | $582,500 | $2,576/mo | 1.6 | 28.0% |
| Hudson County | Over $1,500$1,894/mo | $539,700 | $2,596/mo | 1.5 | 28.5% |
| Middlesex County | Over $1,500$1,871/mo | $462,900 | $2,214/mo | 2.2 | 29.1% |
| Monmouth County | Over $1,500$1,827/mo | $606,100 | $2,406/mo | 2.0 | 31.6% |
| Ocean County | Over $1,500$1,755/mo | $398,400 | $1,666/mo | 5.3 | 35.2% |
| Burlington County | Over $1,500$1,745/mo | $354,000 | $1,908/mo | 3.9 | 31.2% |
| Union County | Over $1,500$1,730/mo | $529,200 | $2,632/mo | 2.3 | 30.8% |
| Hunterdon County | Over $1,500$1,687/mo | $517,200 | $2,432/mo | 3.0 | 29.1% |
| Mercer County | Over $1,500$1,623/mo | $377,700 | $2,019/mo | 4.4 | 30.0% |
| Passaic County | Over $1,500$1,621/mo | $459,500 | $2,420/mo | 3.4 | 34.1% |
| Sussex County | Over $1,500$1,585/mo | $369,400 | $2,034/mo | 4.7 | 32.8% |
| Essex County | Over $1,500$1,531/mo | $524,100 | $2,744/mo | 3.9 | 32.8% |
| Gloucester County | Over $1,500$1,531/mo | $310,400 | $1,908/mo | 5.7 | 32.2% |
| Warren County | $1,000–$1,500$1,409/mo | $346,500 | $1,810/mo | 7.4 | 28.9% |
| Camden County | $1,000–$1,500$1,402/mo | $287,100 | $1,799/mo | 7.6 | 32.2% |
| Atlantic County | $1,000–$1,500$1,376/mo | $295,000 | $1,675/mo | 8.7 | 33.5% |
| Cape May County | $1,000–$1,500$1,360/mo | $434,600 | $1,622/mo | 9.4 | 32.9% |
| Cumberland County | $1,000–$1,500$1,282/mo | $221,400 | $1,414/mo | 13.3 | 32.9% |
| Salem County | $1,000–$1,500$1,253/mo | $239,500 | $1,570/mo | 11.8 | 32.5% |
Compare New Jersey to Other States
See how New Jersey counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Housing Costs
Which New Jersey county has the lowest median rent?
Which New Jersey county has the highest median rent?
How does New Jersey's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the unweighted county-mean home value in New Jersey?
Planning a Move?
Researching the cost of living in New Jersey, New Jersey? Compare moving quotes from top providers and save on your relocation.
Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.