Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Clifton, NJ?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 43.6% of gross income.

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

Clifton median rent
$2,668/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (New Jersey)
$73,450/yr
Rent as % of income
43.6%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,121, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,836/mo in rent. Clifton's median rent of $2,668 exceeds that threshold by $832/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 75.6 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Glassboro, NJ
$2,667/mo (43.6% of income)
Pine Brook, NJ
$2,666/mo (43.6% of income)
Mount Arlington, NJ
$2,664/mo (43.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clifton

View full rent data for Clifton, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Clifton, NJ?

Median rent in Clifton is $2,668 a month. A typical real estate agent in New Jersey earns about $73,450 a year, which makes that rent 43.6% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Clifton?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in New Jersey (~$73,450/yr) supports up to $1,836 a month in rent. Clifton's current median rent is $2,668/mo, which is $832/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Clifton?

At an hourly equivalent of about $35 an hour, a real estate agent in New Jersey works roughly 75.6 hours a month to cover Clifton's median rent of $2,668.

Where is rent cheaper than Clifton for a real estate agent?

Nearby New Jersey cities with lower median rent include Glassboro ($2,667/mo), Pine Brook ($2,666/mo), Mount Arlington ($2,664/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent 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.