Housing decision brief
Sussex County, NJ Housing Market
Sussex County screens as a below-state purchase price, below-state rent, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
8th lowest home value out of 21 New Jersey counties with data | 9th lowest rent out of 21
Median home value
$342,800
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,503/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$2,006/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
31.0%
At or above the 30% burden threshold.
Rent vs own
$503/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$342,800 median home value is 13% below New Jersey county median
Lower rent
$1,503/mo is 3% below New Jersey county median
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
2.47% effective property-tax rate is 12% above New Jersey county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Buyers focused only on purchase price and ignoring annual property tax
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Sussex County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $342,800 | $395,000 | $281,900 | 13% favorable13% below New Jersey county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,503 | $1,553 | $1,163 | Near state median3% below New Jersey county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $2,006 | $2,006 | $1,672 | Near state medianAt the New Jersey county median |
Median household income | $114,316 | $99,596 | $74,755 | 15% favorable15% above New Jersey county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 2.47% | 2.20% | 1.02% | 12% pressure12% above New Jersey county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 31.00% | 30.00% | N/A | Near state median31.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$54,196
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$28,345
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
For renters in Sussex County, the market is affordable. Expect to pay around $1,503/month in gross rent, with 31.0% of renter households considered cost-burdened.
Rent vs own
At $1,503/month rent versus $2,006/month in owner costs, renting is roughly $503/month cheaper , a 25% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $60,120/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $85,971/year. With a median household income of $114,316, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 31.0% of renter households in Sussex County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Sussex County sits 10% more expensive than Warren County ($1,368/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County, NJ | $351,000 | $1,515/mo | Same-state comparison near $351,000 home value and $1,515/mo rent. |
| Burlington County, NJ | $326,700 | $1,669/mo | Same-state comparison near $326,700 home value and $1,669/mo rent. |
| Warren County, NJ | $323,100 | $1,368/mo | Same-state comparison near $323,100 home value and $1,368/mo rent. |
| Gloucester County, NJ | $283,500 | $1,480/mo | Same-state comparison near $283,500 home value and $1,480/mo rent. |
| Ocean County, NJ | $366,600 | $1,702/mo | Same-state comparison near $366,600 home value and $1,702/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Sussex County
Is Sussex County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Sussex County?
How much income do you need for housing in Sussex County?
What should I double-check before moving to Sussex County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.