How much does it cost to rent in New Brunswick, NJ?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in New Brunswick, NJ is $2,726. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is New Brunswick cheaper than other New Jersey cities?

New Brunswick falls in the middle range for New Jersey, ranking #72 out of 180 cities at $2,726/mo.

When was New Brunswick rent data last updated?

New Brunswick rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NJ

New Brunswick

Name: Average Rent Prices in New Brunswick, NJ
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 56,345·72nd most expensive in New Jersey·New Brunswick rents are up 6.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,726/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.9%

Month-over-Month

-1.8%

vs US Median

+$761

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

New Brunswick · $2,726

More expensive than 85% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

53/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where New Brunswick's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,726/mo

Expected by trend

$2,763/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where New Brunswick's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,450

1 BR

$1,630

2 BR

$2,050

3 BR

$2,490

4 BR+

$2,730

Research median

$2,050/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$32,712/yr

At $2,726/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (6.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.9% YoY, -1.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

New Brunswick, NJ is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 23.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

56,345

Median income

$65,810

Median age

24.8

Renters

78.6%

Age distribution

21.5%

43.6%

21.6%

Under 1821.5%

18–3443.6%

35–5421.6%

55–647%

65+6.4%

Gender

52.6%

47.4%

Male52.6%

Female47.4%

Race & ethnicity

29.5%

12.6%

54.6%

White29.5%

Black12.6%

Hispanic54.6%

Asian8.1%

Education (25+)

32.7%

29.3%

14.6%

23.4%

No HS diploma32.7%

HS diploma29.3%

Some college14.6%

Bachelor's+23.4%

Housing tenure

21.4%

78.6%

Owner21.4%

Renter78.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How New Brunswick, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,885 → $2,726

up 44.6%

Income

$49,338 → $65,810

up 33.4%

Population

55,671 → 56,345

up 1.2%

Renter share

80.2% → 78.6%

-1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

24.6% → 23.4%

-1.2 pts

Median age

23.7 → 24.8

+1.1 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in New Brunswick, NJ has climbed from $1,885 to $2,726, a 44.6% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in New Brunswick, NJ now reports about $65,810, up from $49,338 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.2% since 2021, moving from about 55,671 residents to roughly 56,345. Renters now make up 78.6% of households, compared with 80.2% five years ago. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and New Brunswick, NJ reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about New Brunswick

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View New Brunswick rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in New Brunswick on your salary?

At $2,726/mo, how New Brunswick rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 43.5% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 37.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 21.1% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 16.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 46.5% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 51.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 41.8% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

New Brunswick rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in New Brunswick

About renting in New Brunswick, NJ

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in New Brunswick is $2,726/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,630/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,490/mo.

At 50% of local median household income ($65,810/yr), New Brunswick ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is New Brunswick an affordable city for renters?

New Brunswick is considered stretched for renters. At $2,726/mo, rent takes approximately 50% of the local median household income ($65,810/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. New Brunswick significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in New Brunswick?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $109,000/year (~$52/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,726/mo in New Brunswick. The local median household income is $65,810/yr, meaning the typical New Brunswick household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in New Brunswick?

Rent in New Brunswick has increased 6.9% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

New Brunswick is middle-of-the-pack for New Jersey for rent, ranking #72 out of 180 tracked cities at $2,726/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than New Brunswick?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than New Brunswick ($2,726/mo): Highland Park ($2,440/mo), East Brunswick ($2,626/mo), Piscataway ($2,669/mo).

What percentage of New Brunswick residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 78.6% of New Brunswick households are renters, while 21.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, New Brunswick has a strong rental market.

How does New Brunswick rent compare to the national average?

New Brunswick's median rent of $2,726/mo is $761 (39%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within New Jersey, it ranks #72 out of 180 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

50%

STRETCHED

At $2,726/mo, rent takes ~50% of New Brunswick's median household income ($65,810/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

New Brunswick 50%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.4–10.75%

Run the New Brunswick affordability calculator →

Nearby cities