10 Cheapest Places To Live In NJ

By PropertyClub Team
Jan 7th 2024
New Jersey is a great state to live in, offering the tranquility of the suburbs with an easy commute to either New York City or Philadelphia (depending on where you live). However, all the serenity and convenience also come at a price. It’s among the most expensive states in the US. But if you do your research and shop around, there are plenty of great areas with a more affordable cost of living. Here is a closer look at the ten cheapest places to live in NJ.

hash-mark10 Cheapest Places to Live in New Jersey

  1. Gloucester City
  2. Clayton
  3. Philipsburg
  4. Oaklyn
  5. Absecon
  6. Trenton
  7. Pitman
  8. Rahway
  9. Toms River
  10. Hightstown

hash-markGloucester City

Median Home Value: $204,600

Median Rent: $1,525

Median Household Income: $59,394 

Gloucester City is the cheapest place to live in NJ, with a median home value of just over $204,000 in 2023. This city is located in Camden County, New Jersey, and is home to around 11,500 people. The town offers a convenient location directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. Plus, it’s a small town with a family-friendly atmosphere and a high concentration of Irish American residents. 

With a median home value of just $204,600 and a median rent of just over $1,500, Gloucester City is affordable by New Jersey standards. It offers a tight-knit community and plenty of public parks and walking spaces, making it an excellent place for families or young professionals who work across the river in Philadelphia.

hash-markClayton

Median Home Value: $271,000

Median Rent: $1,410

Median Household Income: $69,883

Clayton is also one of the cheapest towns to live in New Jersey. Also located in Gloucester County and having just over 8,000 people, it offers a low crime rate, good public schools, and an easy commute into Philadelphia. 

About one-third of the borough is covered by municipal and state parks, including the Glassboro Wildlife Management area, covering approximately 2,400 acres of Clayton and other surrounding townships. 

Clayton is among the best suburbs for both growing families and young professionals for all these reasons. Plus, with a median home value under $300,000 and a median rent of just over $1,400, it’s quite affordable for New Jersey standards.  

hash-markPhilipsburg

Median Home Value: $292,000

Median Rent: $1,585

Median Household Income: $54,459

Philipsburg is another one of the cheapest places to live in NJ. Philipsburg is situated along the Delaware River in Warren County, New Jersey, located directly across from Easton, Pennsylvania, which is accessible via the Northampton Street Bridge. Situated just 30 minutes from the Pocono Mountains, halfway between New York and Philadelphia, Philipsburg offers a central location and a historic past. 

It was once a central transportation hub, and the Norfolk Southern Railway still runs through the town. With a median rent of $1,585 and a median home value of $292,000, Philipsburg offers a ton of value for growing families.

hash-markOaklyn

Median Home Value: $300,500 

Median Rent: $1,540

Median Household Income: $72,879

Oaklyn is a quiet borough in Camden County, New Jersey, often rated as one of the best places to live in the state. Located just 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia, it’s a peaceful suburb with less than 5,000 people. 

It offers good public schools and a low cost of living with a median home value of just $300,500 and a median rent of $1,540. Plus, Oaklyn has a bustling economy with a high employment rate and business growth relative to the cost of living.

hash-markAbsecon

Median Home Value: $300,900

Median Rent: $1,620

Median Household Income: $70,393

Absecon is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, situated on the Absecon Bay outside Atlantic City. It’s a peaceful small town with a tight-knit community and gorgeous waterfront views. 

The nearby bay provides plenty of recreational activities, as does the Absecon Wildlife Management Area features 3700 acres of protected marshland for fishing and bird watching. Plus, Atlantic City is close by for more action and entertainment. 

With the median home price of just over $300,000 and the median rent just over $1,600, Absecon offers a low cost of living and plenty of attractions for families and retirees.

hash-markTrenton

Median Home Value: $306,000

Median Rent: $1,700

Median Household Income: $35,402

Trenton is the capital of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It’s a historic city with a proud past and offers easy access to New York City and Philadelphia. It attracts young families due to its good public schools and abundance of parks. Plus, the cost of living in Trenton is 26% lower than the New Jersey average, and the cost of housing is among the cheapest in the state. 

However, it does suffer from problems like crime and lack of employment opportunities. So, residents should do their research before moving to a particular area. But it’s still a very cheap city with plenty of potential if you stick to the safer neighborhoods.

hash-markPitman

Median Home Value: $314,250

Median Rent: $1,705

Median Household Income: $75,909

Pitman is another one of the cheapest towns in NJ. It's also a very safe community, making Pitman one of the cheapest and safest places to live in New Jersey. Located about 40 minutes from Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, Pitman features a quaint downtown area with great local shops and restaurants and hosts frequent community events such as crafts fairs and outdoor concerts. Plus, there are plenty of parks and golf courses in Pitman and Alcyon Lake, which offers ample opportunity for outdoor recreation. 

With a median home value of $314,250 and a median rent of just over $1,700, Pitman offers affordable living and a great small-town atmosphere for young families and working professionals.

hash-markRahway

Median Home Value: $405,700

Median Rent: $1,710

Median Household Income: $78,946

Rahway is a city in Southern Union County, located about 21.6 miles southwest of Manhattan and 5 miles west of Staten Island. Considered a commuter city for those who work in New York, Rahway offers a suburban ambiance with easy access to urban amenities. Its location on the Rahway River, which feeds into the Hudson River, allowed the city to develop as an industrial and artisanal center with a thriving arts community. 

Median home values are slightly higher than some of the other cities on this list, but it’s still much lower than the statewide average. It’s among the most affordable suburbs of New York City and caters to a diverse array of residents, including families and working professionals. 

hash-markToms River 

Median Home Value: $399,200

Median Rent: $1,825

Median Household Income: $79,607 

Toms River is a Township in Ocean County, located right on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of the most famous towns in Ocean County, having made appearances in hit TV shows like Boardwalk Empire and the Jersey Shore. It also features a popular downtown area and unique attractions like the Insectropolis and the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. With median home values under $400,000 and rent just over $1,800, Toms River offers desirable beachfront property and very reasonable prices.

hash-markHightstown

Median Home Value: $407,500

Median Rent: $1,800

Median Household Income: $80,410

Hightstown is a borough in Mercer County, located in Central New Jersey, about 30 minutes from Trenton. It features a bustling downtown area with great restaurants, shops, and local businesses. It has great schools and plenty of parks, golf courses, and recreation areas, perfect for families. Plus, it’s about an hour’s drive from both New York and Philadelphia, offering more opportunities for action and excitement. With an average home value of just over $400,000 and a median rent of $1,800, it’s quite affordable by New Jersey standards.

hash-markCheapest Places To Live In NJ Comparison 

Rank

Place

Median Rent

Median Home Value

1

Gloucester City

$1,525

$204,600

2

Clayton

$1,410

$271,000

3

Philipsburg

$1,585

$292,000

4

Oaklyn

$1,540

$300,500

5

Absecon

$1,620

$300,900

6

Trenton

$1,700

$306,000

7

Pitman

$1,705

$314,250

8

Rahway

$1,710

$405,700

9

Toms River

$1,825

$399,200

10

Hightstown

$1,800

$407,500

hash-markMethodology for Selecting the Cheapest Places to Live in New Jersey

This list was compiled using data based on the average cost of goods, housing prices, and household income. The rankings were based on the ratio of housing costs to median income. Cities with more expensive housing costs may rank higher on the list because they also feature more economic opportunities and higher incomes. The list takes into account the relative buying power of the average resident, not just the cost of housing and goods. Cities on this list are those that offer a quality standard of living, in addition to a low cost of goods and housing.