salaryRent is higher than in 79% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 91% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 31.3 minutes each way. Most homes (78.1%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 63.3% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $90,920 a year. That is $44 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other New Jersey cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of New Jersey. It is number 150 of 291 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Fair Lawn?
Share of households by yearly income. 57.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Fair Lawn
| Size | Fair Lawn | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,280 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,833 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,263 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,017 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Fair Lawn overall?
Everyday prices in New Jersey overall are 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Fair Lawn, so the New Jersey figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Fair Lawn
Life in Fair Lawn
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fair Lawn?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,645 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $564,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $56,470 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Fair Lawn, NJ?
Renting in Fair Lawn costs a median of about $2,273 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New Jersey median is $2,240.
How much do I need to make to live in Fair Lawn?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $90,920 a year, or $44 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Fair Lawn cheap or expensive?
Fair Lawn is rated Cheap: rent takes 17.5% of the typical household income of $155,923. It ranks 150th cheapest of 291 New Jersey cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Fair Lawn?
The median homeowner in Fair Lawn pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 1.77% of the median home value.
Is Fair Lawn more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in New Jersey are 9% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Fair Lawn?
The median home value in Fair Lawn is $564,700, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.
35,610 people live in Fair Lawn. Numbers are typical (middle) values.