10 Most Affordable Places to Live in New Jersey
Experience all New Jersey offers without breaking the bank. Here are 10 cities with the cheapest rent in the state.
East Orange, New Jersey sits just 12 miles from Manhattan, combining historic charm with contemporary city living. Tree-lined streets showcase the area's architectural heritage, from pre-war apartment buildings to classic single-family homes. Current rental rates show one-bedroom apartments average $1,407, while two-bedrooms typically rent for $1,897, with annual increases of 1-2% across all unit sizes.
The city features established neighborhoods like Greenwood, known for its architectural character, and the Central Avenue Commercial District. Elmwood Park provides recreational opportunities with its swimming pool, tennis courts, and walking track. The East Orange Campus High School stands on the historic grounds of the former Upsala College, while the Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative & Performing Arts honors the legendary singer's local roots. Two NJ Transit train stations offer direct service to New York City, making the area particularly accessible for commuters.
As of November 2025, the average apartment rent in East Orange, NJ is $1,348 for a studio, $1,512 for one bedroom, $2,113 for two bedrooms, and $2,022 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in East Orange has increased by 2.1% in the past year.
Experience all New Jersey offers without breaking the bank. Here are 10 cities with the cheapest rent in the state.
Very Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.
Good Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
The area around this property has good transit with many nearby transportation options.
Somewhat Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.
Public
Grades PK-5
397 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
443 Students
Whitney E. Houston Academy Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-8
324 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
272 Students
J. Garfield Jackson Senior Academy Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
253 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
568 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
443 Students
Whitney E. Houston Academy Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-8
324 Students
Cicely Tyson Middle/High School
Public
Grades 6-12
711 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
502 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
568 Students
Cicely Tyson Middle/High School
Public
Grades 6-12
711 Students
East Orange Campus High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,748 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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21
Communities
5,607
Units
13
Cities
399
Communities
123,089
Units
160
Cities
48
Communities
17,108
Units
40
Cities
58
Communities
14,314
Units
34
Cities
52
Communities
17,075
Units
29
Cities
32
Communities
3,612
Units
27
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.