Rents are 5% below what Union'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 $2,589 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
April. Asking rents in Union usually run 1.6% below trend in April and 2.3% above it in January, about $101 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Union is 0.7% below its high of $2,606 in July 2026, at $2,589 as of September 2026.
Rent in Union changed +5.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($182,730) is $4,568 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,620).
Irvington, 3 miles away, rents for 25% less ($1,939/mo), about $7,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Union. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Union, NJ is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 28.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Union, NJ has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Union, NJ stood at $1,742 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,589, reflecting a 48.6% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Union, NJ now reports about $182,730, up from $100,750 in 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 2233.7% since 2021, moving from about 2,848 residents to roughly 66,463. Renters now make up 80.9% of households, compared with 26% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 28.3% of adults here, versus 41% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Union, NJ reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $2,589/mo, how Union rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Union rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Union. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Union
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Union is $2,589/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,830/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,530/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,090/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,190/mo.
At 17% of local median household income ($182,730/yr), Union ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Union rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
At $2,589/mo, rent takes ~17% of Union's median household income ($182,730/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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