The New Jersey rental market
New Jersey tracks median rent across 178 cities, ranging from Collingswood at $1,610/mo to Cresskill at $4,800/mo. The state average of $2,601/mo runs about 35% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across New Jersey cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +3.9% over the past year. 181 of 199 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 18 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Newark, Jersey City, Paterson.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 15 of 178 New Jersey cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
38 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Hoboken ($4,005/mo) costs 2.5 times as much as Millville ($1,615/mo).
Across 34 New Jersey cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in September, a typical swing of 0.9%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 7 of 13 New Jersey cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for New Jersey cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
New Jersey rent questions
What is the average rent in New Jersey?
The average median rent across 178 tracked cities in New Jersey is $2,601/mo, about 35% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which New Jersey city has the highest rent?
Cresskill has the highest median rent in New Jersey at $4,800/mo.
Which New Jersey city has the most affordable rent?
Collingswood is the most affordable tracked city in New Jersey, with a median rent of $1,610/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in New Jersey?
Across New Jersey cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +3.9% over the past year.
How does New Jersey rent compare to the rest of the country?
181 of 199 tracked New Jersey cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 18 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in New Jersey?
By population, the largest rental markets in New Jersey are Newark, Jersey City, Paterson. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.