Rents are right about where Union City's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,343 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 City usually run 0.5% below trend in April and 0.8% above it in October, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Union City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Union City changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 121 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent in Union City is 35.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($64,310) is $1,608 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,800).
Kearny, 5 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,108/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Union City. 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 City, NJ is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below 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 City, NJ has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Union City, NJ paid around $1,729 a month. That figure now sits near $2,343, up 35.5% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $64,310 today, compared with $53,177 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Union City, NJ losing about 1,440 residents over the five-year window, down 2.1% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 23.6% to 28.3% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Union City on your salary?
At $2,343/mo, how Union City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Union City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Union City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Union City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Union City is $2,343/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,800/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,070/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,830/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,570/mo.
At 44% of local median household income ($64,310/yr), Union City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Union City rent compare to other cities in New Jersey?
At $2,343/mo, rent takes ~44% of Union City's median household income ($64,310/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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