New Jersey towns see significant rent spikes in 2026

Rental prices across New Jersey experienced significant year-over-year increases through 2026. An analysis of more than 45 municipalities across the Shore, North, Central, and South Jersey regions identified 25 towns with the sharpest rent spikes.

The data, which utilizes average rent figures from RentCafe, Yardi Matrix, and the U.S. Census Bureau, highlights notable increases in several areas. Specifically, two towns in Mercer County appeared in the top five for highest increases, alongside various suburbs in Bergen and Essex counties and a town in the Shore region.

The findings focus specifically on apartment rental data rather than property taxes or home sale prices. Some Shore towns, such as Wildwood, Cape May, and Ocean City, were excluded from the ranking due to insufficient large-scale apartment rental data, as their housing markets are primarily composed of single-family homes and owner-occupied properties.