Rents are 5% below what Montclair's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $3,114 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
December. Asking rents in Montclair usually run 0.7% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in September, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Montclair is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2016.
Rent in Montclair changed +2.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent in Montclair is 44.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
Bloomfield, 2 miles away, rents for 22% less ($2,418/mo), about $8,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Montclair. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
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How Montclair, NJ has changed in 5 years
Rent in Montclair, NJ has climbed 34.9% since 2021, going from about $2,308 per month to roughly $3,114 today. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Montclair, NJ reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $3,114/mo, how Montclair rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Montclair rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Montclair. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Montclair
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Montclair is $3,114/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,980/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,730/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,260/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,440/mo.
At 52% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Montclair ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $3,114/mo, rent takes ~52% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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