Rents are 3% below what Clifton's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,605 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Clifton is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2022.
Rent in Clifton changed +5.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 12 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($98,237) is $2,456 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,013); a 3-bedroom is $2,477.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Clifton, 07012 ($2,815/mo), costs 19% more than the cheapest, 07011 ($2,358/mo).
Passaic, 2 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,055/mo), about $6,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Clifton. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Clifton, NJ is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 35.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Clifton, NJ has changed in 5 years
Rent in Clifton, NJ has climbed 19.2% since 2023, going from about $2,186 per month to roughly $2,605 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $86,616 in 2021 to $98,237 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 40.4% of households rent today, against 42.9% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Clifton, NJ market of 2023.
Discussions about Clifton
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At $2,605/mo, how Clifton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Clifton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Clifton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Clifton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Clifton is $2,605/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,510/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,013/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,757/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,477/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($98,237/yr), Clifton ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Clifton?
Which Clifton neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Clifton rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
At $2,605/mo, rent takes ~32% of Clifton's median household income ($98,237/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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