Rents are 8% below what Newark'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 $2,111 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
January. Asking rents in Newark usually run 0.5% below trend in January and 0.3% above it in July, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Newark is 0.2% below its high of $2,115 in August 2026, at $2,111 as of September 2026.
Rent in Newark changed +0.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Newark rose 42.7% while median household income rose 47.9% ($35,199 to $52,060). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Newark is 44.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,060) is $1,302 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,310).
The priciest of 9 ZIP codes in Newark, 07102 ($2,418/mo), costs 26% more than the cheapest, 07114 ($1,926/mo).
Paterson, 13 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,889/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Newark. 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.
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Who lives here
Newark, NJ is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 19.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Newark, NJ has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Newark, NJ has increased from $1,552 to $2,111, a 36.0% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $52,060 today, compared with $41,335 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.3% since 2021, moving from about 306,247 residents to roughly 310,178. College-educated residents now make up 19.7% of adults here, versus 16% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Newark on your salary?
At $2,111/mo, how Newark rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Newark rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Newark. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Newark
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Newark is $2,111/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,310/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,809/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,498/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,280/mo.
At 49% of local median household income ($52,060/yr), Newark ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Newark?
At $2,111/mo, rent takes ~49% of Newark's median household income ($52,060/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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