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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Union, NJ is $2,609. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Union cheaper than other New Jersey cities?

Union falls in the middle range for New Jersey, ranking #92 out of 183 cities at $2,609/mo.

When was Union rent data last updated?

Union 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 Union, NJ?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Union, NJ at $2,530 per month, which is 3% below the $2,609 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

Union

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

Pop. 66,463·92nd most expensive in New Jersey·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,609/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.1%

Month-over-Month

+3.6%

vs US Median

+$647

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Union · $2,609

More expensive than 82% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

60/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Union's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,609/mo

Expected by trend

$2,742/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,830

1 BR

$2,090

2 BR

$2,530

3 BR

$3,190

4 BR+

$3,620

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,530/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,609 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

$31,308/yr

At $2,609/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 2.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.1% YoY, +3.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

66,463

Median income

$182,730

Median age

37.4

Renters

80.9%

Age distribution

22%

24.2%

29.8%

12.6%

Under 1822%

18–3424.2%

35–5429.8%

55–6411.4%

65+12.6%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

19.3%

81.8%

White19.3%

Black4.7%

Hispanic81.8%

Asian3.7%

Education (25+)

22.9%

32.4%

16.3%

28.3%

No HS diploma22.9%

HS diploma32.4%

Some college16.3%

Bachelor's+28.3%

Housing tenure

19.1%

80.9%

Owner19.1%

Renter80.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Union, NJ has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,730 → $2,609

up 50.8%

Income

$100,750 → $182,730

up 81.4%

Population

2,848 → 66,463

up 2233.7%

Renter share

26% → 80.9%

+54.9 pts

Bachelor's+

41% → 28.3%

-12.7 pts

Median age

47.3 → 37.4

-9.9 yrs

The median rent in Union, NJ stood at $1,730 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,609, reflecting a 50.8% 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.

Community

Discussions about Union

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View Union rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Union on your salary?

At $2,609/mo, how Union rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 29.6% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 41.7% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 36.2% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 20.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 15.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 44.5% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 49.3% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 40% income

stretched

By apartment size

Union rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Union

About renting in Union, NJ

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Union is $2,609/mo as of August 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 2.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Union an affordable city for renters?

Union is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,609/mo, rent takes approximately 17% of the local median household income ($182,730/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Union falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Union?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $104,000/year (~$50/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,609/mo in Union. The local median household income is $182,730/yr, meaning the typical Union household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Union?

Rent in Union has increased 2.1% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

Union is middle-of-the-pack for New Jersey for rent, ranking #92 out of 183 tracked cities at $2,609/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Union?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Union ($2,609/mo): Irvington ($2,002/mo), Roselle ($2,574/mo).

What percentage of Union residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 80.9% of Union households are renters, while 19.1% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Union has a strong rental market.

How does Union rent compare to the national average?

Union's median rent of $2,609/mo is $647 (33%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within New Jersey, it ranks #92 out of 183 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

17%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,609/mo, rent takes ~17% of Union's median household income ($182,730/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Union 17%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1.4–10.75%

Run the Union affordability calculator →

Nearby cities