RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · NJ

Fair Lawn

Pop. 35,610·18th most expensive in New Jersey·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$3,385/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-10.3%
vs US Median
+$1,423
Falling (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Fair Lawn rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Fair Lawn · $3,385
More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
28% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,385/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$135,000/yr
Local median income
$144,574/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Fair Lawn's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,840
1 BR
$2,140
2 BR
$2,450
3 BR
$3,020
4 BR+
$3,810
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,450/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,385 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

Annual cost
$40,620/yr
At $3,385/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -10.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Fair Lawn, NJ is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 63.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
35,610
Median income
$144,574
Median age
39.1
Renters
21.9%
Age distribution
25.6%
17.4%
27.3%
18.1%
Under 1825.6%
18–3417.4%
35–5427.3%
55–6411.7%
65+18.1%
Gender
48.6%
51.4%
Male48.6%
Female51.4%
Race & ethnicity
67.1%
13.7%
14.3%
White67.1%
Black4%
Hispanic13.7%
Asian14.3%
Other0.9%
Education (25+)
15.7%
17.5%
63.3%
No HS diploma3.4%
HS diploma15.7%
Some college17.5%
Bachelor's+63.3%
Housing tenure
78.1%
21.9%
Owner78.1%
Renter21.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Fair Lawn, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income
$133,209 → $144,574
up 8.5%
Population
34,820 → 35,610
up 2.3%
Renter share
20.9% → 21.9%
+1.0 pts
Bachelor's+
60.3% → 63.3%
+3.0 pts
Median age
40.5 → 39.1
-1.4 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $133,209 to $144,574 across the same window, up 8.5% versus 2021. The population has grown by 2.3% since 2021, moving from about 34,820 residents to roughly 35,610. College-educated residents now make up 63.3% of adults here, versus 60.3% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Fair Lawn

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Fair Lawn rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Fair Lawn on your salary?

At $3,385/mo, how Fair Lawn rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Fair Lawn rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Fair Lawn

About renting in Fair Lawn, NJ

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Fair Lawn is $3,385/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,450/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,140/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,020/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($144,574/yr), Fair Lawn ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Fair Lawn an affordable city for renters?

Fair Lawn is considered affordable for renters. At $3,385/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($144,574/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Fair Lawn falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Fair Lawn?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $135,000/year (~$65/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,385/mo in Fair Lawn. The local median household income is $144,574/yr, meaning the typical Fair Lawn household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Fair Lawn?

Rent in Fair Lawn has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Fair Lawn rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?

Fair Lawn is one of the pricier cities in New Jersey for rent, ranking #18 out of 183 tracked cities at $3,385/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fair Lawn?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Fair Lawn ($3,385/mo): Paterson ($1,864/mo), Lodi ($2,349/mo), Garfield ($2,469/mo).

What percentage of Fair Lawn residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 21.9% of Fair Lawn households are renters, while 78.1% are owner-occupied. Fair Lawn leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Fair Lawn rent compare to the national average?

Fair Lawn's median rent of $3,385/mo is $1,423 (73%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New Jersey, it ranks #18 out of 183 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
28%
AFFORDABLE

At $3,385/mo, rent takes ~28% of Fair Lawn's median household income ($144,574/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Fair Lawn 28%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1.4–10.75%
Run the Fair Lawn affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Fair Lawn
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Fair Lawn, NJ

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Fair Lawn.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google