City Report · NJ

Elmwood Park

Pop. 21,412·97th most expensive in New Jersey·Rental market data updated monthly for Elmwood Park, NJ
Median rent (all units)
$2,481/mo
Year-over-Year
+0.4%
Month-over-Month
-0.4%
vs US Median
+$549
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Elmwood Park · $2,481
More expensive than 79% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,481/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$99,000/yr
Local median income
$101,740/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Elmwood Park's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,800
1 BR
$2,090
2 BR
$2,400
3 BR
$2,950
4 BR+
$3,740
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,400/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,481 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

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of New Jersey

Rent in Elmwood Park changed +0.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($101,740) is $2,544 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,400); a 3-bedroom is $2,950.

Cheaper nearby

Paterson, 3 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,889/mo), about $7,100 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$29,772/yr
At $2,481/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.4% YoY, -0.4% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Elmwood Park, NJ is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 35.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
21,412
Median income
$101,740
Median age
39.9
Renters
42.5%
Age distribution
19.6%
24.8%
23.8%
13.4%
18.5%
Under 1819.6%
18–3424.8%
35–5423.8%
55–6413.4%
65+18.5%
Gender
48.7%
51.3%
Male48.7%
Female51.3%
Race & ethnicity
52.7%
29.5%
White52.7%
Black11.7%
Hispanic29.5%
Asian9.4%
Education (25+)
30.8%
24.8%
35.1%
No HS diploma9.4%
HS diploma30.8%
Some college24.8%
Bachelor's+35.1%
Housing tenure
57.5%
42.5%
Owner57.5%
Renter42.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Elmwood Park, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income
$75,091 → $101,740
up 35.5%
Population
21,239 → 21,412
up 0.8%
Renter share
45.5% → 42.5%
-3.0 pts
Bachelor's+
30.4% → 35.1%
+4.7 pts
Median age
39.2 → 39.9
+0.7 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $101,740 today, compared with $75,091 five years earlier. The renter share has eased from 45.5% to 42.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 30.4% to 35.1% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Elmwood Park

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View Elmwood Park rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Elmwood Park on your salary?

At $2,481/mo, how Elmwood Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Elmwood Park rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Elmwood Park

About renting in Elmwood Park, NJ

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Elmwood Park is $2,481/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,800/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,400/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,090/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,950/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($101,740/yr), Elmwood Park ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Elmwood Park?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $99,000/year (about $48/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,481/mo in Elmwood Park. The local median household income is $101,740/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Elmwood Park?

Rent in Elmwood Park has been roughly flat over the past year, a +0.4% change.

How does Elmwood Park rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?

Elmwood Park is in the middle among New Jersey cities for rent, ranking #97 of 178 tracked cities at $2,481/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Elmwood Park changed +0.4%, against a typical +3.1% across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Elmwood Park?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Elmwood Park ($2,481/mo) include Paterson ($1,889/mo), Passaic ($2,055/mo), and Lodi ($2,408/mo).
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,481/mo, rent takes ~29% of Elmwood Park's median household income ($101,740/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Elmwood Park 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1.4–10.75%
Run the Elmwood Park affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Elmwood Park, NJ

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