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.
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,537
Population
71,316
Renter Mix
78% Rent
East Orange, NJ, 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.
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.
A row of newly completed town homes in East Orange, NJ ready for families.
Holy Name of Jesus Church is one of many gems in East Orange's historic architecture.
East Orange spans both sides of the major I-280 highway, as shown from above in this image.
Pockets of retail in residential East Orange provide everything needed in a convenient distance.
Paul Robeson Stadium is home to the East Orange Jaguars, in East Orange, NJ.
An aerial view of East Orange, NJ, shows the close proximity to the major city of Newark, NJ.
Median Household Income
$56,060
Average: $69,585
Education
13,212
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
34,587
Workers Employed
Median Age
38 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
16%
Housing Distribution
East Orange has more renters than homeowners.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in East Orange, NJ is $1,362 for a studio, $1,536 for one bedroom, $2,102 for two bedrooms, and $2,024 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in East Orange has increased by 1.5% in the past year.
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.
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Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly East Orange, NJ is for everyday living.
Exceptionally Walkable
Walkability
Exceptional Public Transit
Transit
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
Public
Grades K-8
299 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
397 Students
East Orange Community Charter School
Public
Grades K-5
448 Students
Public
Grades PK-8
443 Students
Whitney E. Houston Academy Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-8
324 Students
Public
Grades K-8
299 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 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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
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† 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 February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.