Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Clifton, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 46.7% of gross income.

Clifton rent: July 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (New Jersey state estimate).

Clifton median rent
$2,657/mo
Carpenter salary (New Jersey)
$68,253/yr
Rent as % of income
46.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,688, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,706/mo in rent. Clifton's median rent of $2,657 exceeds that threshold by $951/mo, putting a carpenter salary into the rent-burdened range here. A carpenter works roughly 81 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These New Jersey cities have lower median rent than Clifton, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Bridgewater Township, NJ
$2,656/mo (46.7% of income)
Lawrence Township, NJ
$2,655/mo (46.7% of income)
Old Bridge, NJ
$2,654/mo (46.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clifton

View full rent data for Clifton, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Clifton, NJ?

Median rent in Clifton is $2,657 a month. A typical carpenter in New Jersey earns about $68,253 a year, which makes that rent 46.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Clifton?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in New Jersey (~$68,253/yr) supports up to $1,706 a month in rent. Clifton's current median rent is $2,657/mo, which is $951/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Clifton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $33 an hour, a carpenter in New Jersey works roughly 81 hours a month to cover Clifton's median rent of $2,657.

Where is rent cheaper than Clifton for a carpenter?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Bridgewater Township ($2,656/mo), Lawrence Township ($2,655/mo), Old Bridge ($2,654/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived New Jersey state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Clifton, NJ. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.