Which New Jersey county has the highest rent-to-price ratio?

Salem County, at 0.78%: a 2-bedroom rent of $1,860 against a median home value of $239,500. It's a rough comparison, and a high ratio can come with slower growth or weaker demand, so check the other columns too.

Where have New Jersey home prices grown fastest?

Atlantic County, at an average of +12.5% a year over five years, on the FHFA House Price Index. Past growth doesn't predict future growth.

Where is the New Jersey population growing fastest?

Ocean County, at +1.9% a year, comparing two Census releases five years apart. These are estimates, and they're less exact for small places.

How does New Jersey compare with the rest of the US?

Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.53% in New Jersey and 0.52% nationwide. The ratio is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value.

Are home prices going up in New Jersey?

Home prices in New Jersey rose 58% over the 5 years to Q2 2026. In the latest year (to Q2 2026) they rose 5%. These figures come from the FHFA House Price Index for New Jersey (state level), which tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes. It shows the trend for the area, not what any one home is worth.

New Jersey real estate markets

Compare 21 New Jersey counties by rent, home prices and property tax, using public government data. Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.53% in New Jersey and 0.52% nationwide.

Where the numbers stand out

Highest rent-to-price: 0.78%; Salem County
Fastest price growth, 5-yr average: +12.5% a year; Atlantic County
Lowest property tax: 1.22%; Cape May County
Lowest median home value: $221,400; Cumberland County
Fastest population growth: +1.9% a year; Ocean County
Lowest unemployment: 4.2%; Hunterdon County

21 counties · Swipe the table to see every column

US counties ranked by the column you choose. Column headers sort the table.
Market
Salem County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.78%	+4.6%	+11.1%	$239,500	$1,860	2.93%	65,275
Cumberland County, NJVineland rents · Run a deal	0.77%	+6.2%	+11.5%	$221,400	$1,704	2.28%	153,305
Camden County, NJCamden rents · Run a deal	0.65%	+5.8%	+11.7%	$287,100	$1,860	2.83%	527,257
Atlantic County, NJAtlantic City rents · Run a deal	0.64%	+7.8%	+12.5%	$295,000	$1,899	2.30%	276,270
Gloucester County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.60%	+5.2%	+11.6%	$310,400	$1,860	2.60%	306,954
Sussex County, NJBranchville rents · Run a deal	0.60%	+6.6%	+10.7%	$369,400	$2,233	2.32%	145,807
Mercer County, NJTrenton rents · Run a deal	0.59%	+5.7%	+10.9%	$377,700	$2,242	2.36%	385,864
Warren County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.58%	+6.8%	+11.0%	$346,500	$2,021	2.34%	110,849
Middlesex County, NJEdison rents · Run a deal	0.57%	+6.1%	+10.2%	$462,900	$2,623	2.10%	871,290
Ocean County, NJToms River rents · Run a deal	0.57%	+5.9%	+11.6%	$398,400	$2,283	1.65%	654,362
Burlington County, NJJoint Base Mdl rents · Run a deal	0.53%	+5.7%	+11.2%	$354,000	$1,860	2.26%	467,805
Hudson County, NJJersey City rents · Run a deal	0.52%	+9.6%	+8.1%	$539,700	$2,792	1.77%	718,323
Hunterdon County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.51%	+6.3%	+9.0%	$517,200	$2,623	1.93%	130,160
Passaic County, NJPaterson rents · Run a deal	0.50%	+6.8%	+9.6%	$459,500	$2,282	2.18%	521,012
Somerset County, NJSomerset rents · Run a deal	0.48%	+6.3%	+9.4%	$552,100	$2,623	1.81%	349,846
Essex County, NJNewark rents · Run a deal	0.43%	+5.8%	+9.6%	$524,100	$2,233	1.91%	863,002
Cape May County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.43%	+3.9%	+12.3%	$434,600	$1,857	1.22%	94,941
Union County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.42%	+5.5%	+9.5%	$529,200	$2,233	1.89%	579,290
Monmouth County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.38%	+6.2%	+10.4%	$606,100	$2,283	1.65%	645,353
Morris County, NJMorristown rents · Run a deal	0.38%	+5.9%	+8.9%	$582,500	$2,233	1.72%	514,528
Bergen County, NJNew Jersey rents · Run a deal	0.37%	+6.8%	+8.7%	$623,000	$2,282	1.61%	962,316

Home prices

Home prices in New Jersey rose 58% over the 5 years to Q2 2026.

1 year: +5%
5 years: +58%
10 years: +99%

From the FHFA House Price Index for New Jersey (state level), updated Mar 31, 2026. It tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes, so it shows the area's trend, not what any one home is worth. See what local prices suggest your rental is worth.

Keep looking

How to read this

Use this to shortlist, not to decide. These are county-wide figures, and a single county can hold very different neighborhoods. Check a real deal with the rental cash flow calculator.

Rent-to-price is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value. It's a rough comparison between counties. The two figures describe different homes, and the home value lags current prices, so it can look better than today's market in places where prices rose quickly.

2-bed rent is HUD's Fair Market Rent (fiscal year from Oct 1, 2026): the 40th percentile for recent movers, including utilities. HUD often uses one figure across a whole metro area, so neighboring counties can match.

Home value and population are Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates through 2024. Home values are what owners report. Counties under 10,000 people aren't listed.

Prices are the FHFA House Price Index through 2025: the latest year's change, and the average yearly change over five years. FHFA calls its county index developmental, and it doesn't cover every county.

Property tax is median taxes paid divided by median home value, from the Census. It reflects what current owners pay. An investor buying today can pay more where assessments are capped for homeowners, as in Florida and California.

People and jobs: income, vacant homes (seasonal homes count as vacant, which can look high in vacation areas) and renters are Census 5-year estimates. Population growth compares two Census releases five years apart. Rent ÷ income is a year of the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of median household income. Unemployment is the Bureau of Labor Statistics yearly average for 2025.

See all data sources

Frequently asked questions

Which New Jersey county has the highest rent-to-price ratio?: Salem County, at 0.78%: a 2-bedroom rent of $1,860 against a median home value of $239,500. It's a rough comparison, and a high ratio can come with slower growth or weaker demand, so check the other columns too.
Where have New Jersey home prices grown fastest?: Atlantic County, at an average of +12.5% a year over five years, on the FHFA House Price Index. Past growth doesn't predict future growth.
Which New Jersey county has the lowest property tax?: Cape May County, at about 1.22% of home value, based on what current owners pay. An investor buying today can pay more where assessments are capped for homeowners.
Where is the New Jersey population growing fastest?: Ocean County, at +1.9% a year, comparing two Census releases five years apart. These are estimates, and they're less exact for small places.
How does New Jersey compare with the rest of the US?: Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.53% in New Jersey and 0.52% nationwide. The ratio is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value.
Are home prices going up in New Jersey?: Home prices in New Jersey rose 58% over the 5 years to Q2 2026. In the latest year (to Q2 2026) they rose 5%. These figures come from the FHFA House Price Index for New Jersey (state level), which tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes. It shows the trend for the area, not what any one home is worth.