Rents are 5% below what Paterson'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 $1,889 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
Rent in Paterson is 0.9% below its high of $1,907 in March 2026, at $1,889 as of September 2026.
Rent in Paterson changed +1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,997) is $1,400 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,305); a 1-bedroom is $1,513.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Paterson, 07503 ($2,149/mo), costs 20% more than the cheapest, 07501 ($1,796/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Paterson. 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
Paterson, NJ is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 11.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Paterson, NJ has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Paterson, NJ paid around $1,593 a month. That figure now sits near $1,889, up 18.6% from the 2022 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $48,540 in 2021 to $55,997 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Paterson, NJ market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Paterson on your salary?
At $1,889/mo, how Paterson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Paterson rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Paterson. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Paterson
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Paterson is $1,889/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,305/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,738/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,513/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,138/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($55,997/yr), Paterson ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Paterson?
Is rent going up or down in Paterson?
Which Paterson neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Paterson rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
At $1,889/mo, rent takes ~40% of Paterson's median household income ($55,997/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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