States › New Jersey › Mountainside

Is Mountainside, NJ expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 18 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$3,500+100% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$228,144about $19,012/month · 162% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$810,300144% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 98% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 36 minutes each way. Most homes (87.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 67.3% of adults have a college degree.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $140,040 a year. That is $67 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 278 of 291 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Mountainside
$3,500+
Milltown
$1,328
Barrington
$1,456
Midland Park
$2,896
Stratford
$1,395
Linwood
$2,414
Lincroft
$756

How much do households earn in Mountainside?

Under $25k
1.4%
$25k–50k
12.1%
$50k–100k
17.9%
$100k–150k
15.7%
$150k+
52.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 67.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Mountainside overall?

Everyday prices in New Jersey overall are 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
134
Goods (food, clothes…)
107
Utilities
114
Other services
104
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Mountainside, so the New Jersey figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Mountainside

🏛️ Property tax$10,000+a year · 1.23% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$185a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Mountainside

Commute to work36 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree67.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home87.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line3.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mountainside?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $2,121 a month less.

Renting
$3,500+
Owning
$5,622

Owning assumes a typical $810,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $81,030 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Mountainside, NJ?

Renting in Mountainside costs a median of about $3,500+ a month in 2026, including utilities. The New Jersey median is $2,240.

How much do I need to make to live in Mountainside?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $140,040 a year, or $67 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Mountainside cheap or expensive?

Mountainside is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.4% of the typical household income of $228,144. It ranks 278th cheapest of 291 New Jersey cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Mountainside?

The median homeowner in Mountainside pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 1.23% of the median home value.

Is Mountainside 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 Mountainside?

The median home value in Mountainside is $810,300, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.

7,049 people live in Mountainside. Numbers are typical (middle) values.