City Report · NJ

Iselin

Pop. 19,551·79th most expensive in New Jersey·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,614/mo
Year-over-Year
-0.9%
Month-over-Month
-1.1%
vs US Median
+$682
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Iselin · $2,614
More expensive than 83% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,614/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$105,000/yr
Local median income
$109,500/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Iselin's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,750
1 BR
$1,960
2 BR
$2,470
3 BR
$2,980
4 BR+
$3,270
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,470/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,614 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 Iselin changed -0.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 4 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($109,500) is $2,738 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,470); a 3-bedroom is $2,980.

Cheaper nearby

Avenel, 2 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,277/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$31,368/yr
At $2,614/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 0.9% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (-0.9% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Iselin, NJ is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 53.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
19,551
Median income
$109,500
Median age
38.5
Renters
34.7%
Age distribution
20.8%
23.4%
26.1%
13.5%
16.1%
Under 1820.8%
18–3423.4%
35–5426.1%
55–6413.5%
65+16.1%
Gender
50.1%
49.9%
Male50.1%
Female49.9%
Race & ethnicity
25.4%
14.8%
48.5%
White25.4%
Black10.8%
Hispanic14.8%
Asian48.5%
Other0.5%
Education (25+)
19%
17.6%
53.7%
No HS diploma9.6%
HS diploma19%
Some college17.6%
Bachelor's+53.7%
Housing tenure
65.3%
34.7%
Owner65.3%
Renter34.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Iselin, NJ has changed in 5 years

Income
$103,179 → $109,500
up 6.1%
Population
17,684 → 19,551
up 10.6%
Renter share
29% → 34.7%
+5.7 pts
Bachelor's+
52.8% → 53.7%
+0.9 pts
Median age
42.8 → 38.5
-4.3 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $103,179 to $109,500 across the same window, up 6.1% versus 2021. Census counts show Iselin, NJ adding about 1,867 residents over the five-year window, up 10.6% on net. The renter share has risen from 29% to 34.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

Discussions about Iselin

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

Can you afford rent in Iselin on your salary?

At $2,614/mo, how Iselin rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Iselin rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Iselin

About renting in Iselin, NJ

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Iselin is $2,614/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,470/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,960/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,980/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($109,500/yr), Iselin ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Iselin?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $105,000/year (about $50/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,614/mo in Iselin. The local median household income is $109,500/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Iselin?

Rent in Iselin has fallen 0.9% over the past year.

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

Iselin is in the middle among New Jersey cities for rent, ranking #79 of 178 tracked cities at $2,614/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Iselin changed -0.9%, against a typical +3.1% across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Iselin?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Iselin ($2,614/mo) include Avenel ($2,277/mo), Woodbridge ($2,464/mo), and Rahway ($2,472/mo).
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,614/mo, rent takes ~29% of Iselin's median household income ($109,500/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

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

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Iselin, NJ

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