25 Safest and Cheapest Places to Live in New Jersey 2024
So, where is the cheapest and safest place to live in New Jersey? Surprisingly, finding these places is relatively easy. The Garden State is considered an expensive state in America because of big cities’ geographical Diversity and urban culture, which gives rise to lifestyle expenses. These cities are mainly bedrooms to the metropolitans like New York.
You can find many places in the South Jersey Shore or North Jersey. But getting an apartment for $500 monthly in New Jersey is tricky. Let’s discuss the best place to retire in NJ on a budget and the most affordable places for families to live.
Bellow mentioned that suburbs are the best choice for people who enjoy a hustle-free life away from noisy big cities. Residents enjoy an affordable, rich rural lifestyle with all the basic amenities.
List of 25 Top Cheapest Places To Live In New Jersey
1. City of Rahway – New Jersey (North)
Rahway is situated in southern Union County. It’s the nearest suburb of New York, in the Rahway Valley on the bank of Rahway River. Citizens enjoy a mixed culture of urban and rural lifestyles, and many cafes, restaurants, and parks are here for entertainment.
US Routes 27 and 35 are the major highways in Rahway. NJ Transit Bus Line 115 runs through the city from Midtown Manhattan. Line 48 runs through Rahway between Elizabeth and Perth Amboy. It’s one of the most affordable towns in northern NJ.
The Rahway Train Station is the main train station here. The nearest airport to Rahway is Newark Liberty International Airport.
- Current population: 29,691
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1271
- Median Home Value: $ 276,500
Top nearby attractions in Rahway
- Milton Lake Park
- Hawk Rise Sanctuary
- Rahway River Park
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
- Robinson Plantation and Museum
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2. New Brunswick – New Jersey (Central)
New Brunswick is one of the most populated cities in Middlesex County on the southern bank of the Raritan River. The city is famous for Rutgers University. Residents enjoy a mixed culture of urban and rural lifestyles. It’s an important financial hub for New Jersey City. It’s also in the suburbs of Manhattan. Citizens mainly rent homes here.
New Brunswick is also called Healthcare City, as many medical centers are here, such as the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Many international pharmaceutical companies, like Briston Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson, have headquarters here.
There are many highway cross-connections in the city. The major roads in New Brunswick are US Route 1 and 18, bisected by Route 27. NJ Transit Train lines and Amtrak connects the city with Manhattan and other major cities. NJ Transit Bus lines 810, 811, 814, 815, 818, and 890 pass through the city.
- Current population: 55,992
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1524
- Median Home Value: $ 267,200
Top nearby attractions in New Brunswick
- Johnson Park
- Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University
- East Jersey Old Town Village
- Cornelius Low House
- Boyd Park and Rutgers Geology Museum.
Read Best Beach Towns in New Jersey Shore
3. City of Phillipsburg – Warren County (North)
Phillipsburg is located on the bank of the Delaware River opposite Pennsylvania in Lehigh Valley. It’s the suburbs of Allentown, and rolling hills, woodlands, and many natural beauties surround the historical city.
The city is midway from Philadelphia to New York. Citizens here enjoy a suburban lifestyle with many cafes, restaurants, and parks. It’s one of the safest, most affordable places to raise a family in NJ. US Route 22, 122, and Interstate 78 are the major highways passing through the city.
Three bridges over the Delaware River connect Phillipsburg with Pennsylvania. They are Easton-Phillipsburg Toll Bridge (US Route 22), Northampton Street Bridge, and Interstate 78 Toll Bridge.
The nearest airport to Phillipsburg is Lehigh Valley International Airport in Hanover Township. NJ Transit Bus lines 57, 890, and 891 serve the city.
- Current population: 14,303
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $971
- Median Home Value: $ 144,200
Top nearby attractions Phillipsburg
- Delaware River Railroad Excursion
- Sigal Museum and Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society
- Crayola Experience,
- Easton Farmer’s Market,
- Easton Public Market.
4. Toms River Township – Ocean County (Central)
Toms River township is situated midway between New Jersey and New York. It’s one of the most affordable towns in central NJ. It’s a suburb of the latter and a commercial center of the former. The city is home to Community Medical Center, the largest non-teaching medical facility in New Jersey.
The city offers a mixed culture of Rural and Urban lifestyles. It’s also densely populated, and many young professionals prefer this town to settle in. There are many restaurants, cafes, and parks there.
US Routes 9, 35, 70, 166, 527, County Route 530, and 549 are some of the major highways of TomsRiver. NJ Transit Bus Lines 67, 137, 319, and 559 pass through the city.
- Current population: 93,279
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1454
- Median Home Value: $ 298,800
Top nearby attractions in Toms River
- Insectropoli
- Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach
- Seaside Heights Broadwalk
- Cattus Island,
- Jakes Branch County Park.
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5. Absecon City – New Jersey (South)
Absecon City lies on the western shore of Absecon Bay. This Shore Town is one of the cheapest places to live in New Jersey for renters, and it’s 15 minutes away from the Boardwalk and ocean.
Besides wetlands in most parts, there are many residential areas here. Public transport to Philadelphia is frequent. Absecon Station of Atlanta City Line (New Jersey Transit) connects the city to the 30th Street Station of West Philly. The city is situated on US Routes 9, 30,157, and 585.
NJ Transit Bus lines 508(Hamilton Mall), 554 (Lindenwold PATCO Station), and 559 (Lakewood Township) from Atlanta City pass through Absecon City.
- Current population: 8471
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1471
- Median Home Value: $192,900
Top nearby attractions in Absecon City
- Absecon Bay
- Lakes Bay
- The Museum of Linwood Historical Society
- Patriot Lake Park
- Imagination Station Playground
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6. Audubon City – Camden County, NJ (South)
Audubon City is considered the safest suburb of Philadelphia. People looking for a reasonably priced home near the town come here first, and the cost of livelihood is tempting. Citizens love to spend quality time in the laps of nature in the nearby Cooper River Park.
Most of the citizens in Audubon own their places. With a beautiful suburban feeling, it’s one of the cheapest places to live in South Jersey. There are many cafes and parks for people to hang out.
Audubon is connected to Philadelphia and other important cities of New Jersey by bus lines, trains, and subway routes. US Route 30 and Route 168 run beside this city.
Bus lines like 403, 450, and 457 pass through Audubon. The famous bus stations are Nikolson Rd at Beloit Ave and White Horse Pike at Merchant St. The Collinswood train station is connected to Philadelphia by PATCO.
- Current population: 8656
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1094
- Median Home Value: $223,200
Top nearby attractions in Audubon City
- Cooper River Park
- Newton Lake Park
- Saddler’s Wood Conservation
- McLaughlin- Norcross Memorial Dell Haddon
- River Link Ferry
7. Borough of Pompton Lakes – North Jersey
Pompton Lake from Passaic County is one of the most distant suburban cities from Manhattan, New York. Ramapo, Pequannock, and Wanaque rivers flow through the city. The higher grounds of the city, like the Federal Hills, offer a great view of the New York night sky.
The densely populated suburban city has many bars and cafes for citizens to enjoy weekends. Major highways connecting the city are Instate Route 287 and Paterson-Hamburg Turnpike. NJ Transit Bus lines 193, 194, and 197 from Midtown Manhattan stop at various parts of the city. It’s one of the cheapest places to live in North Jersey.
- Current population: 10,998
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1451
- Median Home Value: $ 324,700
Top nearby attractions in Pompton Lake
- Norvin Green State Forest
- Laurelwood Arboretum
- Campgaw Mountain Ski Area
- Pompton Lake
- Schuyler Colfax- House
8. Berlin Township – NJ (South)
Berlin is another affordable South Jersey town in Camden County and is near Philadelphia. This historical city offers a beautiful suburban lifestyle with many restaurants and cafes and attractive places to hang out at weekends or holidays.
Most residents here own their homes here. US Route 30 is the prime highway in Berlin, besides New Jersey Route 73. The latter one passes through the east corner of the city.
NJ Transit Bus line 554 runs through Berlin between Lindenwold and Atlantic City. The Camden County Airport is 1 mile from the city.
- Current population: 7543
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1313
- Median Home Value: $238,300
Top nearby attractions in Berlin Township
- Diggerland Park
- Pine Valley Golf Club
- Berlin Park
- Long-A-Coming Depot
- Lindenwold Memorial Park.
9. City of Bridgeton – Cumberland County (South)
Bridgeton is an important city in Cumberland County in southern New Jersey. It’s situated near Delaware Bay on the Cohansey River. The city is densely populated, and most residents prefer to rent a home.
New Jersey Routes 49 and 77 are the two essential highways of Bridgerton besides County Route 552. Bus lines 410 and 553 of NJ Transit connect Bridgeton with Philadelphia, Upper Deerfield Township, and Atlantic City; Buck’s Airport is the nearest.
- Current population: 24,264
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1127
- Median Home Value: $107,500
Top nearby attractions Bridgeton
- Nail House Museum
- Cohanzick Zoo
- Mary Elmer Lake
- Sunset Lake
- Gouldtown Memorial Park (Cemetery ground)
10. Borough of Clementon – Camden County, South Jersey
The Borough of Clementon is a beautiful city in Camden County situated beside Clementon Lake. The city is home to famous Giambri Quality sweets. Citizens enjoy a dense rural lifestyle, and most people rent places to live here.
Clementon can easily be considered one of the cheapest places to stay in New Jersey if you are moving there. The only highway through Clementon is US Route 30. NJ Transit bus lines.
- Current population: 4,939
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $893
- Median Home Value: $133,800
Top nearby attractions in Clementon City
- Clementon Park and Splash World
- Black Run Preserve
- Timber Creek Dog Parl
- Pine Valley GolfClub
- Quarry by Blueberry Hill trail.
11. Camden City – New Jersey (South)
Camden is one of the most populated cities in New Jersey. Collingswood, Gloucester City, and Woodlynne are some of Camden’s neighboring cities. Delaware River separates the city from Philadelphia, and the Cooper River flows through Camden.
Newton Creek separates Gloucester City and Camden.
Yorkship Village in Camden is the first federally funded township built for the laboring class. People mainly rent a house in Camden.
US Route 30 and Interstate Route 676 pass through the city’s north side towards Benjamin Franklin Bridge. US Route 168 passes through the south of the town. NJ Transit bus lines 537, 543, 551, and 561 run through the city’s center. Train lines like River Line, PATCO Speedline, and Greyhound Lines pass through the city.
- Current population: 73,742
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $938
- Median Home Value: $ 82,500
Top nearby attractions in Camden City
- Camden Snow Bowl
- Camden Hill State Park
- Mount Meganticook
- Maiden Cliff
- Laite Memorial Beach.
12. Downtown Clifton – NJ (North)
Clifton is another populous suburban city in New Jersey, and it’s 10 miles west of New York City and close to New Jersey City. Clifton is in Passaic County and one of the best places to live in northern NJ. The city shares a border with Passaic, Woodland Park, and Paterson of Passaic County; Elmwood Park Lyndhurst of Bergen County; and Montclair, Nutley of Essex County.
Citizens mainly rent their houses here and enjoy a dense rural lifestyle. There are many bars, cafes, and restaurants for people to hang out. Major highways serving Clifton are NJ Transit Route 3 (from east to west through the southern part of the city), Route 21 (along Passaic River), Route 19 (through the northwest part of the city), and US Route 46.
New Jersey Transit Trains are available from Clifton and Delawanna stations. NJ Transit bus lines 190, 191, 192, and 195 run through Clifton to Manhattan. Bus Lines 13, 27, and 72 runs to Newark.
- Current population: 85,201
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1428
- Median Home Value: $ 354, 700
Top nearby attractions in Clifton
- Garret Mountain Reservation
- Lambert Castle
- Yogi Berra Museum
- Clifton Arts Centre and Sculpture Park
- Mills Reservation
13. Crestwood Village – Ocean County (Central)
Crestwood Village in Ocean County is one of the cheapest places to live in New Jersey. This suburban town in Manchester Township is home to retiree senior citizens, and people mostly own their houses here. It’s the best place to retire in NJ on a budget. The cost of healthcare and other utilities are on the lower side of the scale.
Crestwood Village Cooperation provides daily bus services for residents free of cost, and they need to book their seats from the official website. These buses will drive to the nearest city shopping centers.
- Current population: 8,063
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $867
- Median Home Value: $ 71,900
Top nearby attractions in Crestwood Village
- Hilltop Bible Church
- Caesar Park
- Crestwood Recreational Department
- Walker Park
- Crestwood Christian Centre
14. Delran Township – New Jersey (South)
Delran Township is named after the two water bodies of the city, Delaware River and Rancocas Creek. It’s situated between Burlington-Bristol and the Betsy Ross Bridge of Philadelphia.
Delaware River separates the township from Philadelphia.
Most residents here own their homes. The city can be called a densely populated suburb in New Jersey with many cafes, restaurants, and parks. US Route 130 is the major highway to Delran besides County Route 543.
NJ Transit Bus lines 409 and 417 from Trenton to Philadelphia and 419 (from Camden to Burlington) pass through Delran. Other bus services include BurLink bus lines B8 and B10, which pass through Delran. NJ Transit River Line trains run through the Delran St. Mihiel Drive station.
- Current population: 16,502
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1349
- Median Home Value: $ 253,200
Top nearby attractions in Delran Township
- Amico Island Park
- Rancocas Creek
- Pennington Park
- Swedes Lake
15. Township of Edison – Middlesex County, Central Jersey
Edison is the 6th most populated town in New Jersey. The city is situated within the eastern part of Raritan Valley of Middlesex County and is incorporated into New York City. Considering its location, Edison is considered one of the cheapest places to live in New Jersey.
Edison has many cafes, bars, restaurants, shopping centers, and parks. The schools are highly rated here. Citizens experience a dense rural lifestyle here. Edison is situated over a vast chain of highways leading to major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and New Jersey.
Major highways passing through the city are State Transit Route 27, 440, and US Route 1. Edison Station and Metropark Station are train stations of Edison. Train lines like Amtrak and SEPTA pass through here. NJ Transit bus lines 62, 801, 804, 805, 810, 813, 814, 819, 978, and 979 pass through here.
- Current population: 99,876
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1587
- Median Home Value: $ 392,800
Top nearby attractions in Edison
- Middlesex Greenway
- Echo Lake Park
- Cheesequake State Park
- Rutgers Garden
- Raritan Bay Waterfront Park
- Washington Rock State Park
16. Borough of Glassboro – Gloucester County, South Jersey
The Borough of Glassboro is well-known for Rowan University. The city of Gloucester Couty is another good place in New Jersey to maintain a frugal lifestyle.
Citizens here enjoy a compact rural lifestyle with many cafes and restaurants. Most residents here are connected to the university and other nearby educational centers. People own their homes here. Walking and cycling are major ways of communication within the city.
County Routes 553, 47, and 55 cross the city from north to south. US Route 322 passes from east to west. NJ Transit bus lines 313, 412, and 408 to Philadelphia run through the city.
- Current population: 20,069
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1374
- Median Home Value: $ 211,900
Top nearby attractions in Glassboro
- Glassboro Town Square
- William Heritage Winery
- Heritage Glass Museum
- South Jersey Museum of American History
- James G. Atkinson Memorial Park
17. Gloucester Township – Camden County, South Jersey
Gloucester Township of Camden County is known for its Irish-American population. The city acquired its name from the famous Gloucester, England. Residents enjoy a rural lifestyle, and the city has many pubs, cafes, and restaurants.
Interstate Route 76 and US Route 130 are the major highways connecting Gloucester to Philadelphia and other important cities. Walt Whitman Bridge connects Gloucester City to Philadelphia over the Delaware River.
NJ Transit Bus lines from Philadelphia connecting Gloucester city are 401(Salem), 402 (Pennsville), 408( Millville), 410 (Bridgeton), 412( Dewell), and 457 (from Morrestwon to Camden).
- Current population: 11,229
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1107
- Median Home Value: $ 130,600
Top nearby attractions in Gloucester City
- Riverlink Ferry
- Wheelabrator Wildlife Refuge and Butterfly
- Newton Lake
- Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum
- Big Timber Creek.
Read Safest and Cheapest places to live in the UK
18. Millville – NJ (South)
Millville is one of the cheapest places to live in New Jersey in Cumberland County. Besides Bridgeton and Vineland, Millville is also one of the main cities of the Primary-Metropolitan-Statistical-Area of New Jersey.
The city is densely populated, and residents enjoy a suburban lifestyle with many cafes, pubs, and parks. US Routes 49, 47, and 55 are important roads passing through the city.
NJ Transit bus lines 313 (Cape May to Philadelphia), 408 (Millville to Philadelphia), and 553 (Upper Deerfield Township to Atlantic City) pass through Millville. Millville Municipal Airport is for available flights in the city.
- Current population: 27,485
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1003
- Median Home Value: $ 165,900
Top nearby attractions in Millville
- Museum of American Glass
- New Jersey Motorsports Park,
- Millville Army Airfield Museum
- Union Lake,
- Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts.
19. Uptown Pitman – Gloucester City (South)
Pitman City is a suburban town in Philadelphia. It’s situated in Gloucester County. Citizens enjoy a peaceful suburban lifestyle here in their own homes. The city has many cafes, restaurants, and parks for entertainment.
Major highways connecting Pitman with other towns and Metropolitans are New Jersey Route 47, 55, and County Route 553. NJ Transit Bus lines 313, 408, and 412 connect the city with Philadelphia.
- Current population: 8785
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1303
- Median Home Value: $ 189,700
Top nearby attractions in Pitman
- William Heritage Winery
- Alcyon Park and Lake
- Ceres Park
- Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park
- Edelman Planetarium.
20. Borough of Runnemede – Camden County, South Jersey
Runnemede borough in Camden County is considered one of the cheapest places to live in New Jersey. Low property and high income make this city one of the best places to buy a house.
People enjoy a suburban lifestyle with lots of cafes and restaurants for enjoyment. State highways like Route 168 and 41 pass through the city beside the Noth-South Freeway (Route 42). NJ Transit Bus Lines 400 and 455 run through the city from Philadelphia.
- Current population: 8,307
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1014
- Median Home Value: $ 163,000
Top nearby attractions in Runnemede
- Museum of American History at Deptford
- David L. Vanella Memorial Park
- Runnemede Lake Park
- Gabreil Daveis Tavern Museum House
21. Roebling Community – NJ (South)
Roebling Community from Florence Township is a suburban town near Philadelphia. Florence Township is situated in Burlington County. Roebling Community is one of the cheapest places to live in New Jersey. People mostly own their homes, and the peaceful suburban lifestyle is the main attraction of this community.
Ferry services like River Line connect Roebling and Florence Township with Camden and Trenton Rail Station. NJ Transit bus line 409 runs through the community to Philadelphia.
- Current population: 4,120
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1332
- Median Home Value: $ 163,100
Top nearby attractions in Roebling Community
- Sesame Place
- Roebling Museum
- OldBarracks Museum
- New Jersey State Museum
22. Borough of Somerdale – Camden County, South Jersey
Somerdale Borough is in Camden County, a suburb of Philadelphia. It is considered one of the most affordable cities to settle in New Jersey. With low real estate prices and home rent, citizens have enough cash to pay their bills.
Residents enjoy a peaceful lifestyle here near Kirkwood Lake, and it’s a beautiful spot for locals to hang out on holidays. US Route 30 connects the city with Magnolia and Stratford, and NJ Transit Bus Lines 403 and 451 travel through the city.
- Current population: 5,479
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $895
- Median Home Value: $178,000
Top nearby attractions in Somerdale
- Kirkwood Lake
- Newton Lake
- Whitman Stafford House
- Big Timber Creek.
23. Borough of Stratford – New Jersey (South)
Stratford is one of the best places to live in South Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia and is situated in Camden County. It’s also one of the best places to own a home and settle down. With affordable real estate prices and rental prices, young professionals prefer to settle down here.
Stratford is densely populated and has many cafes, restaurants, and parks. US Route 30 runs through the city from Laurel Springs. NJ Transit bus Line 403 ( from Turnersville to Camden) and 459 ( from Voorhees Town Center to Avondale Park) connect Stratford with other cities.
- Current population: 6,968
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $970
- Median Home Value: $180,900
Top nearby attractions in Stratford
- Veteran’s Memorial Park
- Kirkwood Lake
- Big Timber Crook
- Whitman Stafford House.
24. City of Trenton – New Jersey (Central)
The city of Trenton is the county seat of Mercer County and the capital of the Garden State. It’s situated across the bank of the Delaware River opposite Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Many bridges, like the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge, connect the cities.
Residents enjoy both dense rural and urban lifestyles here. There are many restaurants, cafes, and parks for entertainment here. The city is connected with US Route 1, 29, 31, 33, 129, and 206 via regular city streets.
The Closest Aviation center to the city is Trenton-Mercer Airport. NJ Transit Bus Lines 600, 601, 602, 603, 604, 606, 607, 609, and 611 run through the city.
- Current population: 83,387
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $1085
- Median Home Value: $ 97,000
Top nearby attractions Trenton
- New Jersey State Museum
- 1719 William Trent House Museum
- Trenton City Museum
- New Jersey State Senate
- Trenton Battle Monument.
25. Winfield Township – Union County, Central Jersey
This city in Union County, New Jersey, is best known for its affordable homes and peaceful community. Winfield Township is one of the cheapest places to live in New Jersey and is home to mostly retired senior citizens.
The township is connected with other cities via County Routes 615 and 607, and NJ Transit Bus Lines from Midtown Manhattan 112 pass through the town. The nearest airport to the city is Newark Liberty International Airport.
- Current population: 1,576
- Average 1- BR apartment Rent: $888
- Median Home Value: $ 198,800
Top nearby attractions in Winfield Township
- Lenape Park
- Hyatt Hills Golf Club
- Galloping Hill Park
- Golf Course.
Conclusion
Life in Metropolitans is extravagant. Living near the skyscrapers requires paying for the beauty and sophisticated utilities. In that case, moving to suburban places is a good idea. These rural parts are the cheapest places to live in New Jersey, with much lower real estate prices.
