NJ Rents Among Highest In U.S.: See County-By-County List

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey remains one of the most expensive U.S. states for renters, according to a new state report. In fact, most low-income residents need to work two jobs just to afford a modest, two-bedroom home in the Garden State.

Out Of Reach, a new report released by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, looked at data to determine the discrepancy between wages in New Jersey and what residents actually need to earn to afford a rental home in the state.

The result: Affordable rental homes are indeed out of reach for many Garden State residents.

"People need and deserve access to a safe place they can afford to call home,” Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, said in a statement. "Here in New Jersey, we've had an unprecedented level of resources to expand affordable home options but rising rents are hindering that progress, harming families and our economy."

To afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in New Jersey, full-time workers need to earn $38.08 per hour, the report found. This is assuming the person spends no more than 30 percent of their income on rent. To afford a one-bedroom rental home, workers would need to make $26.74 per hour.

Most do not. According to the report, the average worker in New Jersey earns $23.70 per hour, making New Jersey the seventh most expensive in the United States for renters.

For workers earning minimum wage, affording an apartment is even more out of reach, according to the report.

At New Jersey's current minimum wage of $15.13 per hour, a worker would need 2 full-time jobs or to work 84 hours per week to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. For a modest two-bedroom apartment, a person would need to work 2.5 full-time jobs or work 101 hours per week.

Here's a county-by-county list that includes the average cost of a two-bedroom rental home, the hourly wage required and how many jobs a person would have to work to afford the rental if they were making minimum wage:

Atlantic County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,670
• Wage: $32.12
• Jobs: 2.1

Bergen County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,892
• Wage: $36.38
• Jobs: 2.4

Burlington County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,737
• Wage: $33.40
• Jobs: 2.2

Camden County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,737
• Wage: $33.40
• Jobs: 2.2

Cape May County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,569
• Wage: $30.17
• Jobs: 2

Cumberland County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,545
• Wage: $29.71
• Jobs: 2

Essex County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,916
• Wage: $36.85
• Jobs: 2.4

Gloucester County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,737
• Wage: $33.40
• Jobs: 2.2

Hudson County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $2,299
• Wage: $44.21
• Jobs: 2.9

Hunterdon County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $2,276
• Wage: $43.77
• Jobs: 2.9

Mercer County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,998
• Wage: $38.42
• Jobs: 2.5

Middlesex County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $2,276
• Wage: $43.77
• Jobs: 2.9

Monmouth County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,916
• Wage: $36.85
• Jobs: 2.4

Morris County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,916
• Wage: $36.85
• Jobs: 2.4

Ocean County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,916
• Wage: $36.85
• Jobs: 2.4

Passaic County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,892
• Wage: $36.38
• Jobs: 2.4

Salem County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,737
• Wage: $33.40
• Jobs: 2.2

Somerset County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $2,276
• Wage: $43.77
• Jobs: 2.9

Sussex County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,916
• Wage: $36.85
• Jobs: 2.4

Union County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,916
• Wage: $36.85
• Jobs: 2.4

Warren County

• Cost of 2 BR rental: $1,540
• Wage: $29.62
• Jobs: 2

In conclusion, the authors of the report called on lawmakers to address affordable housing by "prioritizing long-term solutions" including rental assistance vouchers for low-income families.

"Congress must also invest in solutions to expand and preserve the supply of affordable housing by passing the Housing Crisis Response Act of 2023 and reduce the power imbalance between landlords and tenants by enacting federal renter protections," the report states.

View the full report online.