Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Clifton, NJ?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.3% of gross income.

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

Clifton median rent
$2,668/mo
Registered Nurse salary (New Jersey)
$105,818/yr
Rent as % of income
30.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $8,818, and the 30% rule supports up to $2,645/mo in rent. Clifton's median rent of $2,668 exceeds that threshold by $23/mo, putting a registered nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A registered nurse works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a registered nurse salary

Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Glassboro, NJ
$2,667/mo (30.2% of income)
Pine Brook, NJ
$2,666/mo (30.2% of income)
Mount Arlington, NJ
$2,664/mo (30.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Clifton

View full rent data for Clifton, NJ

Frequently asked questions

Can a registered nurse afford rent in Clifton, NJ?

Median rent in Clifton is $2,668 a month. A typical registered nurse in New Jersey earns about $105,818 a year, which makes that rent 30.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Clifton?

Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in New Jersey (~$105,818/yr) supports up to $2,645 a month in rent. Clifton's current median rent is $2,668/mo, which is $23/mo over the affordability threshold.

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

At an hourly equivalent of about $51 an hour, a registered nurse in New Jersey works roughly 52.4 hours a month to cover Clifton's median rent of $2,668.

Where is rent cheaper than Clifton for a registered nurse?

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 registered nurse 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.