Rents are 4% below what Roselle'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 $2,495 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 Roselle is 1% below its high of $2,519 in February 2026, at $2,495 as of September 2026.
Rent in Roselle changed +1.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($92,762) is $2,319 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,950); a 3-bedroom is $2,460.
Elizabeth, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,230/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Roselle. 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
Roselle, NJ is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 27.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Roselle, NJ has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Roselle, NJ has increased from $2,200 to $2,495, a 13.4% change over five years. Median household income rose from $68,369 to $92,762 between 2021 and 2024, a 35.7% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. Renters now make up 45.3% of households, compared with 43% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 27.1% of adults here, versus 22.4% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Roselle, NJ reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Roselle on your salary?
At $2,495/mo, how Roselle rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Roselle rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Roselle. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Roselle
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Roselle is $2,495/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,950/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,610/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,460/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($92,762/yr), Roselle ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Roselle?
Is rent going up or down in Roselle?
How does Roselle rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
At $2,495/mo, rent takes ~32% of Roselle's median household income ($92,762/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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