2025 affordability guide — compare housing costs, rental prices, and living expenses across 323 cities in New Jersey.
Average median home value across New Jersey cities.
Rental data covers median monthly rent for tracked cities in New Jersey.
COL index 116.2 vs. national average of 100. Expect higher living costs than the national average.
Quick look at the cost extremes across New Jersey.
Sorted from most expensive to most affordable. Click any city for a detailed breakdown with housing, rental, and income data.
| # | City | COL Index | Affordability | Median Home | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockleigh | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 2 | Sea Girt | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 3 | Spring Lake | 230.3 | Very Expensive | $2,000,001 | N/A |
| 4 | Stone Harbor | 222.7 | Very Expensive | $1,898,800 | N/A |
| 5 | Short Hills CDP | 201.9 | Very Expensive | $1,621,200 | N/A |
| 6 | Avon-by-the-Sea | 181.4 | Very Expensive | $1,349,000 | N/A |
| 7 | Deal | 179.9 | Very Expensive | $1,329,500 | N/A |
| 8 | Llewellyn Park CDP | 177.3 | Very Expensive | $1,293,800 | N/A |
| 9 | Englewood Cliffs | 172.7 | Very Expensive | $1,232,700 | N/A |
| 10 | Franklin Lakes | 171.5 | Very Expensive | $1,217,500 | N/A |
| 11 | Harvey Cedars | 170.8 | Very Expensive | $1,207,500 | N/A |
| 12 | Barnegat Light | 163.1 | Very Expensive | $1,105,600 | N/A |
| 13 | Longport | 161.1 | Very Expensive | $1,079,500 | N/A |
| 14 | North Beach Haven CDP | 160.5 | Very Expensive | $1,070,900 | N/A |
| 15 | Lavallette | 158.6 | Very Expensive | $1,045,200 | N/A |
| 16 | Sea Isle City | 156.6 | Very Expensive | $1,019,500 | N/A |
| 17 | Essex Fells | 153.4 | Very Expensive | $976,300 | N/A |
| 18 | Summit | 152.9 | Very Expensive | $969,900 | N/A |
| 19 | Upper Montclair CDP | 152.8 | Very Expensive | $968,200 | N/A |
| 20 | Liberty Corner CDP | 152.5 | Very Expensive | $964,800 | N/A |
Complete directory of every tracked city and town. Filter or scroll to find yours.
States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas typically have lower costs of living compared to coastal states.
RPP (Regional Price Parity) measures the price level for all items. COL Index combines RPP, housing, and rental data for a comprehensive comparison.
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents. Our Methodology · Data Sources