Rents are 3% below what Rahway'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 $2,472 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 Rahway is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2022.
Rent in Rahway changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,461) is $2,287 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,220); a 3-bedroom is $2,800.
Plainfield, 7 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,191/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Rahway. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Rahway, NJ has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Rahway, NJ has climbed by $327 per month, settling near $2,472 after starting the period at $2,145. Household income in the area moved from $81,368 to $91,461 across the same window, up 12.4% versus 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.
Discussions about Rahway
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Can you afford rent in Rahway on your salary?
At $2,472/mo, how Rahway rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Rahway rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Rahway. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Rahway
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Rahway is $2,472/mo as of October 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 32% of local median household income ($91,461/yr), Rahway ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Rahway?
Is rent going up or down in Rahway?
How does Rahway rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Rahway?
At $2,472/mo, rent takes ~32% of Rahway's median household income ($91,461/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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