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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Somerville, NJ is $2,524. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Somerville cheaper than other New Jersey cities?

Somerville falls in the middle range for New Jersey, ranking #105 out of 183 cities at $2,524/mo.

When was Somerville rent data last updated?

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

What is the Fair Market Rent in Somerville, NJ?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Somerville, NJ at $2,050 per month, which is 19% below the $2,524 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

Somerville

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

Pop. 13,410·105th most expensive in New Jersey·Somerville rents are up 19.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,524/mo

Year-over-Year

+19.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.8%

vs US Median

+$562

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Somerville rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Somerville · $2,524

More expensive than 80% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

31/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% above what Somerville's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,524/mo

Expected by trend

$2,308/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,450

1 BR

$1,630

2 BR

$2,050

3 BR

$2,490

4 BR+

$2,730

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,050/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,524 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

$30,288/yr

At $2,524/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 19.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+19.3% YoY, +1.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Somerville, NJ is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 54.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

13,410

Median income

$103,760

Median age

35.9

Renters

57%

Age distribution

16.1%

31.9%

25.2%

12.3%

14.5%

Under 1816.1%

18–3431.9%

35–5425.2%

55–6412.3%

65+14.5%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

57.5%

21.1%

White57.5%

Black11.4%

Hispanic21.1%

Asian11.2%

Education (25+)

23.3%

16.2%

54.7%

No HS diploma5.8%

HS diploma23.3%

Some college16.2%

Bachelor's+54.7%

Housing tenure

43%

57%

Owner43%

Renter57%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Somerville, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,955 → $2,524

up 29.1%

Income

$92,995 → $103,760

up 11.6%

Population

12,453 → 13,410

up 7.7%

Renter share

53.4% → 57%

+3.6 pts

Bachelor's+

47.6% → 54.7%

+7.1 pts

Median age

36.7 → 35.9

-0.8 yrs

Since 2022, the typical rent in Somerville, NJ has climbed from $1,955 to $2,524, a 29.1% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $92,995 in 2021 to $103,760 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 7.7% since 2021, moving from about 12,453 residents to roughly 13,410. Renters now make up 57% of households, compared with 53.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 54.7% of adults here, versus 47.6% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Somerville, NJ market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about Somerville

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View Somerville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Somerville on your salary?

At $2,524/mo, how Somerville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 28.6% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 40.3% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 35% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 19.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 15.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 43.1% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 47.7% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 38.7% income

stretched

By apartment size

Somerville rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Somerville

About renting in Somerville, NJ

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Somerville is $2,524/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,450/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,630/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,490/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($103,760/yr), Somerville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 19.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Somerville an affordable city for renters?

Somerville is considered affordable for renters. At $2,524/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($103,760/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Somerville falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Somerville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $101,000/year (~$49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,524/mo in Somerville. The local median household income is $103,760/yr, meaning the typical Somerville household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Somerville?

Rent in Somerville has increased 19.3% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

Somerville is middle-of-the-pack for New Jersey for rent, ranking #105 out of 183 tracked cities at $2,524/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Somerville?

Raritan is nearby and more affordable at $2,500/mo, which is $24 less than Somerville.

What percentage of Somerville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 57% of Somerville households are renters, while 43% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Somerville has a strong rental market.

How does Somerville rent compare to the national average?

Somerville's median rent of $2,524/mo is $562 (29%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New Jersey, it ranks #105 out of 183 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $2,524/mo, rent takes ~29% of Somerville's median household income ($103,760/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Somerville 29%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.4–10.75%

Run the Somerville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities