How much does it cost to rent in Rahway, NJ?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Rahway, NJ is $2,490. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Rahway cheaper than other New Jersey cities?

Rahway falls in the middle range for New Jersey, ranking #111 out of 183 cities at $2,490/mo.

When was Rahway rent data last updated?

Rahway rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Rahway a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Rahway is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 2.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Rahway, NJ?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Rahway, NJ at $2,220 per month, which is 11% below the $2,490 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · NJ

Rahway

Name: Average Rent Prices in Rahway, NJ
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 30,109·111th most expensive in New Jersey·Rental market data updated monthly for Rahway, NJ

Median rent (all units)

$2,490/mo

Year-over-Year

-2.0%

Month-over-Month

-0.6%

vs US Median

+$528

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Rahway · $2,490

More expensive than 79% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

66/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 8% below what Rahway's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,490/mo

Expected by trend

$2,710/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,610

1 BR

$1,830

2 BR

$2,220

3 BR

$2,800

4 BR+

$3,180

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,220/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,490 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$29,880/yr

At $2,490/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 2.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-2.0% YoY, -0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Rahway, NJ is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 34.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,109

Median income

$91,461

Median age

39.7

Renters

48.5%

Age distribution

19.3%

24.2%

26%

12.2%

18.2%

Under 1819.3%

18–3424.2%

35–5426%

55–6412.2%

65+18.2%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

34.9%

31.2%

27.4%

White34.9%

Black31.2%

Hispanic27.4%

Asian6%

Other0.5%

Education (25+)

30.9%

25%

34.1%

No HS diploma10%

HS diploma30.9%

Some college25%

Bachelor's+34.1%

Housing tenure

51.5%

48.5%

Owner51.5%

Renter48.5%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Rahway, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,296 → $2,490

up 8.4%

Income

$81,368 → $91,461

up 12.4%

Population

29,582 → 30,109

up 1.8%

Renter share

44.2% → 48.5%

+4.3 pts

Bachelor's+

34.9% → 34.1%

-0.8 pts

Compared with 2023, rent in Rahway, NJ has climbed by $194 per month, settling near $2,490 after starting the period at $2,296. Household income in the area moved from $81,368 to $91,461 across the same window, up 12.4% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 4.0 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 29,582 to 30,109 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. About 48.5% of households rent today, against 44.2% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Rahway, NJ look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Rahway

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View Rahway rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Rahway on your salary?

At $2,490/mo, how Rahway rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 28.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 39.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 34.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 19.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 15.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 42.5% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 47% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 38.2% income

stretched

By apartment size

Rahway rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Rahway

About renting in Rahway, NJ

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Rahway is $2,490/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,610/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,220/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,830/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,800/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($91,461/yr), Rahway ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 2.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Rahway an affordable city for renters?

Rahway is considered moderate for renters. At $2,490/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($91,461/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Rahway slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Rahway?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $100,000/year (~$48/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,490/mo in Rahway. The local median household income is $91,461/yr, meaning the typical Rahway household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Rahway?

Rent in Rahway has decreased 2.0% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

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

Rahway is middle-of-the-pack for New Jersey for rent, ranking #111 out of 183 tracked cities at $2,490/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Rahway?

Linden is nearby and more affordable at $2,481/mo, which is $9 less than Rahway.

What percentage of Rahway residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.5% of Rahway households are renters, while 51.5% are owner-occupied. Rahway leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Rahway rent compare to the national average?

Rahway's median rent of $2,490/mo is $528 (27%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New Jersey, it ranks #111 out of 183 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

33%

MODERATE

At $2,490/mo, rent takes ~33% of Rahway's median household income ($91,461/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Rahway 33%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.4–10.75%

Run the Rahway affordability calculator →

Nearby cities

Avenel

$2,498/mo

+$8

Linden