At $2,447/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $2,447 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
Rent in Highland Park changed +7.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($104,694) is $2,617 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,550); a 4-bedroom is $2,810.
Bound Brook, 8 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,070/mo), about $4,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Highland Park. 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
Highland Park, NJ is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 69.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Highland Park, NJ has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $85,652 to $104,694 between 2021 and 2024, a 22.2% shift. Census counts show Highland Park, NJ adding about 174 residents over the five-year window, up 1.2% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 71.9% to 69.8% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Highland Park on your salary?
At $2,447/mo, how Highland Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Highland Park rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Highland Park. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Highland Park
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Highland Park is $2,447/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,500/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,120/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,690/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,550/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($104,694/yr), Highland Park ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Highland Park?
How does Highland Park rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
At $2,447/mo, rent takes ~28% of Highland Park's median household income ($104,694/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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