By Carla Astudillo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
There are more renters than ever before in New Jersey, as home ownership has declined.
But renting in the Garden State, where rents are among the most expensive in the nation, is no bargain either.
With that in mind, NJ Advance Media analyzed Census data to find out in which New Jersey towns spend the largest percentage of their household income on rent, or where the rent burden is highest.
In New Jersey, residents spend a median of 31.8 percent of their household income on rent, the seventh highest in the nation.
According to federal guidelines, if you pay more than 30 percent of your household income on rent, you are considered overburdened on rent.
It’s important to remember that this is not necessarily ranking of where rents are more expensive in New Jersey. Places where renters earn high incomes would probably not be included, regardless of rent prices in the area.
That's why Jersey City, which has one of the most expensive rental prices in the country, did not make our list since residents pay only 28.7 percent of their household income on rent.
About the data: The town-by-town estimates are the median gross rent as a percent of household income from the 2012-2016 American Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. We eliminated from our analysis any towns that have less than 3,000 housing units occupied by renters due to high margin of error.
25. City of Orange, Essex County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 34.5%
Total rented units: 9,002
24. Newark, Essex County (tie)
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 34.8%
Total rented units: 73,656
24. Fairview Boro, Bergen County (tie)
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 34.8%
Total rented units: 3,579
22. Ocean township, Monmouth County (tie)
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 34.9%
Total rented units: 3,683
21. Asbury Park, Monmouth County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 35.5%
Total rented units: 5,381
20. Washington Township, Gloucester County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 35.6%
Total rented units: 3006
19. Atlantic City, Atlantic County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 35.7%
Total rented units: 11,266
18. East Brunswick Township, Middlesex County (tie)
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 35.8%
Total rented units: 3,094
18. Trenton, Mercer County (tie)
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 35.8%
Total rented units: 17,409
18. Vineland, Cumberland County (tie)
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 35.8%
Total rented units: 7,456
15. Galloway Township, Atlantic County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 35.9%
Total rented units: 3,308
14. Rahway, Union County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 36%
Total rented units: 4,268
13. Neptune, Monmouth County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 36.2%
Total rented units: 3,888
12. Long Branch, Monmouth County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 36.5%
Total rented units: 6,867
11. Bridgeton, Cumberland County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 36.9%
Total rented units: 3,625
10. Guttenberg, Hudson County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 37.5%
Total rented units: 3,178
9. Millville, Cumberland County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 37.9%
Total rented units: 4,054
8. Plainfield, Union County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 38%
Total rented units: 7,785
7. Camden, Camden County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 38.2%
Total rented units: 15,243
6. Pleasantville, Atlantic County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 38.9%
Total rented units: 3,086
5. Paterson, Passaic County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 39.5%
Total rented units: 32,284
4. Passaic, Passaic County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 40%
Total rented units: 14,843
3. New Brunswick, Middlesex County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 40.4%
Total rented units: 11,624
2. Roselle Boro, Union County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 41.6%
Total rented units: 3,881
1. Lakewood Township, Ocean County
Percentage of household income spent on rent: 43.3%
Total rented units: 12,241
Read more about N.J. rents
N.J.'s sky high rents: Are they among the most expensive in the U.S.?
N.J. city is 5th-most expensive to rent 1-bedroom apartment: report
How much should landlords be allowed to raise rents? Advocates want voters to decide
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