Rents are 10% below what Elizabeth'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 $2,230 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
August. Asking rents in Elizabeth usually run 0.7% below trend in August and 1% above it in October, about $38 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Elizabeth is 0.4% below its high of $2,240 in July 2026, at $2,230 as of September 2026.
Rent in Elizabeth changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($66,555) is $1,664 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,533); a 2-bedroom is $1,855.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Elizabeth, 07202 ($2,273/mo), costs 9% more than the cheapest, 07208 ($2,080/mo).
Irvington, 4 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,939/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Elizabeth. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Elizabeth, NJ is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 14.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Elizabeth, NJ has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Elizabeth, NJ paid around $1,638 a month. That figure now sits near $2,230, up 36.1% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Elizabeth, NJ now reports about $66,555, up from $54,415 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Elizabeth, NJ adding about 1,530 residents over the five-year window, up 1.1% on net. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Elizabeth, NJ reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Elizabeth
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At $2,230/mo, how Elizabeth rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Elizabeth rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Elizabeth. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Elizabeth
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Elizabeth is $2,230/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,343/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,855/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,533/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,338/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($66,555/yr), Elizabeth ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Elizabeth rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
At $2,230/mo, rent takes ~40% of Elizabeth's median household income ($66,555/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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