Cost of Living in Ocean County, New Jersey
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Ocean County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Ocean County ranks #2,996 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 5%)
Sourced county brief
Ocean County median GRAPI is 35.2% in ACS 5-year data
The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Ocean County is 35.2% for the 2020-2024 period. This canonical rent-to-income percentage is 3.8 percentage points higher than the New Jersey unweighted county mean of 31.4%. Median gross rent is $1,755 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $1,635. For renter-occupied units, the median household income is $58,423. Homeowners in the county have median selected monthly owner costs of $1,666, which is lower than the New Jersey unweighted county mean of $2,126. The median home value in the county is $398,400, below the state unweighted county mean of $430,014. These indicators characterize the housing environment of the county as documented by the U.S. Census Bureau. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Ocean County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 35.2% of renter household income in Ocean County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,755 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,666. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $70,200 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The New Jersey unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,635 per month. Ocean County's $1,755 median is 7.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Ocean County
Rent Burden
23.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,097
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.2%
of gross income
The median home in Ocean County may be a stretch
Median home value is $398,400. Estimated monthly cost: $3,181 vs. your max of $2,097.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Ocean County, New Jersey?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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