City Report · NJ

Hoboken

Pop. 58,668·3rd most expensive in New Jersey·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$4,005/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.0%
Month-over-Month
+0.3%
vs US Median
+$2,073
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Hoboken · $4,005
More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
39/100
Overpriced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% above what Hoboken's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent
$4,005/mo
Expected by trend
$3,795/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Hoboken's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$3,000
1 BR
$3,040
2 BR
$3,450
3 BR
$4,240
4 BR+
$4,830
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$3,450/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $4,005 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

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in Hoboken usually run 0.7% below trend in February and 0.8% above it in August, about $60 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Hoboken is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of New Jersey

Rent in Hoboken changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Hoboken rose 26.9% while median household income rose 22.3% ($147,620 to $180,579). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Hoboken is 34% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($180,579) is $4,514 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($4,240); a 4-bedroom is $4,830.

Cheaper nearby

Union City, 2 miles away, rents for 41% less ($2,343/mo), about $19,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hoboken. 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.

Annual cost
$48,060/yr
At $4,005/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (4.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.0% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Hoboken, NJ is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 82.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
58,668
Median income
$180,579
Median age
31.9
Renters
66.2%
Age distribution
14.8%
45.9%
25.9%
Under 1814.8%
18–3445.9%
35–5425.9%
55–646.5%
65+6.8%
Gender
49.8%
50.2%
Male49.8%
Female50.2%
Race & ethnicity
68.4%
13.4%
12.7%
White68.4%
Black4.4%
Hispanic13.4%
Asian12.7%
Other1%
Education (25+)
82.6%
No HS diploma3.5%
HS diploma6.8%
Some college7.1%
Bachelor's+82.6%
Housing tenure
33.8%
66.2%
Owner33.8%
Renter66.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Hoboken, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent
$2,741 → $4,005
up 46.1%
Income
$160,890 → $180,579
up 12.2%
Population
59,369 → 58,668
down 1.2%
Renter share
64.9% → 66.2%
+1.3 pts
Bachelor's+
80.3% → 82.6%
+2.3 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in Hoboken, NJ has climbed from $2,741 to $4,005, a 46.1% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Hoboken, NJ now reports about $180,579, up from $160,890 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.2% since 2021, moving from about 59,369 residents to roughly 58,668. College-educated residents now make up 82.6% of adults here, versus 80.3% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Hoboken, NJ reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

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View Hoboken rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Hoboken on your salary?

At $4,005/mo, how Hoboken rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Hoboken rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Hoboken

About renting in Hoboken, NJ

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Hoboken is $4,005/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,450/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,040/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,240/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($180,579/yr), Hoboken ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Hoboken?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $160,000/year (about $77/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,005/mo in Hoboken. The local median household income is $180,579/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Hoboken?

Rent in Hoboken has risen 4.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Hoboken?

Asking rents in Hoboken are usually lowest in February, about 0.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 0.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $60 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Hoboken?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Hoboken rose 26.9% while median household income rose 22.3%, from $147,620 to $180,579. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

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

Hoboken is one of the pricier among New Jersey cities for rent, ranking #3 of 178 tracked cities at $4,005/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Hoboken changed +4.0%, against a typical +3.1% across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Hoboken?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Hoboken ($4,005/mo) include Union City ($2,343/mo), West New York ($2,547/mo), and Jersey City ($3,101/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $4,005/mo, rent takes ~27% of Hoboken's median household income ($180,579/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Hoboken 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1.4–10.75%
Run the Hoboken affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Hoboken, NJ

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