How much does it cost to rent in Clifton, NJ?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Clifton, NJ is $2,668. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Clifton cheaper than other New Jersey cities?

Clifton falls in the middle range for New Jersey, ranking #86 out of 180 cities at $2,668/mo.

When was Clifton rent data last updated?

Clifton rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NJ

Clifton

Name: Average Rent Prices in Clifton, NJ
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 89,379·86th most expensive in New Jersey·Clifton rents are up 11.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,668/mo

Year-over-Year

+11.3%

Month-over-Month

+3.5%

vs US Median

+$703

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Clifton rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Clifton · $2,668

More expensive than 84% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

44/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% above what Clifton's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,668/mo

Expected by trend

$2,595/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Clifton's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,510

1 BR

$1,757

2 BR

$2,013

3 BR

$2,477

4 BR+

$3,133

Research median

$2,013/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$32,016/yr

At $2,668/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 11.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+11.3% YoY, +3.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

89,379

Median income

$98,237

Median age

41.6

Renters

40.4%

Age distribution

19.7%

21.1%

24.7%

14.9%

19.5%

Under 1819.7%

18–3421.1%

35–5424.7%

55–6414.9%

65+19.5%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

49.9%

39.4%

White49.9%

Black4.3%

Hispanic39.4%

Asian8.4%

Education (25+)

30%

24.1%

35.5%

No HS diploma10.4%

HS diploma30%

Some college24.1%

Bachelor's+35.5%

Housing tenure

59.6%

40.4%

Owner59.6%

Renter40.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Clifton, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,130 → $2,668

up 25.3%

Income

$86,616 → $98,237

up 13.4%

Population

89,460 → 89,379

down 0.1%

Renter share

42.9% → 40.4%

-2.5 pts

Bachelor's+

33.7% → 35.5%

+1.8 pts

Median age

39.7 → 41.6

+1.9 yrs

Rent in Clifton, NJ has climbed 25.3% since 2023, going from about $2,130 per month to roughly $2,668 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 11.9 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.

Community

Discussions about Clifton

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View Clifton rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Clifton on your salary?

At $2,668/mo, how Clifton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 30.3% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 42.6% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 37% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 20.7% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 16.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 45.5% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 50.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 40.9% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Clifton rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Clifton. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Clifton

About renting in Clifton, NJ

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Clifton is $2,668/mo as of July 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 33% of local median household income ($98,237/yr), Clifton ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 11.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Clifton an affordable city for renters?

Clifton is considered moderate for renters. At $2,668/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($98,237/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Clifton slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Clifton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $107,000/year (~$51/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,668/mo in Clifton. The local median household income is $98,237/yr, meaning the typical Clifton household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Clifton?

Rent in Clifton has increased 11.3% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Clifton neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Clifton are 07011 ($2,446/mo), 07013 ($2,726/mo), and 07012 ($3,092/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Clifton is $2,668/mo.

How does Clifton rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?

Clifton is middle-of-the-pack for New Jersey for rent, ranking #86 out of 180 tracked cities at $2,668/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Clifton?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Clifton ($2,668/mo): Paterson ($1,941/mo), Passaic ($2,097/mo), Nutley ($2,183/mo).

What percentage of Clifton residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 40.4% of Clifton households are renters, while 59.6% are owner-occupied. Clifton leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Clifton rent compare to the national average?

Clifton's median rent of $2,668/mo is $703 (36%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within New Jersey, it ranks #86 out of 180 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

33%

MODERATE

At $2,668/mo, rent takes ~33% of Clifton's median household income ($98,237/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Clifton 33%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.4–10.75%

Run the Clifton affordability calculator →

Nearby cities