Ocean County, NJ at a glance
Median household income
$89,863$7,489 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Ocean County, NJ?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Ocean County, NJ? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Monmouth-Ocean, NJ HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,676 | $20,112 | $67,040 | 22.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,889 | $22,668 | $75,560 | 25.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $2,328 | $27,936 | $93,120 | 31.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $3,043 | $36,516 | $121,720 | 40.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,371 | $40,452 | $134,840 | 45% |
What a typical income covers in Ocean County, NJ
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $89,863 a year ($7,489 a month before tax).
What $89,863 leaves after New Jersey taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and New Jersey tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in New Jersey
Living in Ocean County, NJ: common questions
What is the median household income in Ocean County, NJ?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Ocean County, NJ is $89,863 per year (approximately $7,489 per month).
What is the average rent in Ocean County, NJ?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,676 for a studio, $1,889 for one bedroom, $2,328 for two, $3,043 for three and $3,371 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Ocean County, NJ expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.6% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 112.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Ocean County, NJ?
To keep a $2,328 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $93,120 a year, or $7,760 a month. That is 104% of what the typical household in Ocean County, NJ earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Ocean County, NJ?
On the local median income of $89,863 ($7,489 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,744 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,247 for everything else and $1,498 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $2,328 takes 62% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Ocean County, NJ?
Homes in New Jersey paid 25¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $225. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.