City Report · NJ

Dunellen

Pop. 7,911·116th most expensive in New Jersey·Rental market data updated monthly for Dunellen, NJ

Median rent (all units)

$2,418/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-1.5%

vs US Median

+$486

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Dunellen rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Dunellen · $2,418

More expensive than 77% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

33% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,418/mo, rent takes about 33% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$97,000/yr

Local median income

$86,967/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Dunellen's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,540

1 BR

$1,730

2 BR

$2,170

3 BR

$2,620

4 BR+

$2,880

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,170/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,418 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($86,967) is $2,174 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,170); a 3-bedroom is $2,620.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Dunellen. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$29,016/yr

At $2,418/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Dunellen, NJ is majority owner-occupied, 28.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

7,911

Median income

$86,967

Median age

42.5

Renters

38.6%

Age distribution

22.7%

17.4%

30.8%

15.7%

13.3%

Under 1822.7%

18–3417.4%

35–5430.8%

55–6415.7%

65+13.3%

Gender

55.8%

44.2%

Male55.8%

Female44.2%

Race & ethnicity

43.8%

45.2%

White43.8%

Black4.9%

Hispanic45.2%

Asian6.1%

Education (25+)

18.8%

29.7%

23.2%

28.2%

No HS diploma18.8%

HS diploma29.7%

Some college23.2%

Bachelor's+28.2%

Housing tenure

61.4%

38.6%

Owner61.4%

Renter38.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Dunellen, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income

$81,525 → $86,967

up 6.7%

Population

7,580 → 7,911

up 4.4%

Renter share

34.5% → 38.6%

+4.1 pts

Bachelor's+

27.4% → 28.2%

+0.8 pts

Median age

38.6 → 42.5

+3.9 yrs

Median household income grew from $81,525 to $86,967 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.7% shift. Headcount in the area went from 7,580 to 7,911 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.4% change. About 38.6% of households rent today, against 34.5% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Dunellen

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Dunellen rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Dunellen on your salary?

At $2,418/mo, how Dunellen rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 27.4% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 38.6% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 33.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 18.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 14.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 41.2% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 45.7% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 37.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Dunellen rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Dunellen

About renting in Dunellen, NJ

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Dunellen is $2,418/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,540/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,170/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,620/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($86,967/yr), Dunellen ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Dunellen?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $97,000/year (about $47/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,418/mo in Dunellen. The local median household income is $86,967/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Dunellen?

Rent in Dunellen has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

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

Dunellen is in the middle among New Jersey cities for rent, ranking #116 of 183 tracked cities at $2,418/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Dunellen?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Dunellen ($2,418/mo) include Bound Brook ($2,070/mo), Plainfield ($2,191/mo), and North Plainfield ($2,220/mo).

Income Affordability

33%

MODERATE

At $2,418/mo, rent takes ~33% of Dunellen's median household income ($86,967/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Dunellen 33%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.4–10.75%

Run the Dunellen affordability calculator →

Nearby cities