North Jersey Ranks 18th in Rental Competitiveness
RentCafe's latest report places North Jersey among the nation's most competitive large rental markets, with Queens and Brooklyn also ranking high.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Apartments
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RentCafe ranked North Jersey 18th among the nation's most competitive large rental markets, with a competitiveness score of 78 out of 100. Queens placed 22nd and Brooklyn 26th in the same report.
Why it matters
For New Jersey renters, the ranking signals that available apartments in the North Jersey area are in short supply, with an average of 10 prospective tenants competing for each unit. Competition is driven less by a surge in seekers than by low tenant turnover, which keeps units off the market.
RentCafe's score for North Jersey is 78 out of 100, with about 95% of rental units occupied and roughly 71% of existing tenants renewing their leases. The report does not indicate how these figures compare with prior years for the region.
The players
RentCafe
RentCafe is a rental listings and market data platform that publishes apartment market analysis, including competitiveness rankings for large U.S. rental markets.
The details
Competitiveness in North Jersey is shaped mainly by tenants staying put rather than by a rush of new renters, which restricts the supply of apartments that return to the market. Across the Hudson, Queens climbed ten spots to 22nd, where renters compete for each vacant unit and apartments fill in an average of 37 days.
Timeline
- October 2026: RentCafe published the rental competitiveness report.
- Third quarter 2026: New York City's median asking rent reached a record $3,785.
- September 2026: Brooklyn recorded its busiest September leasing activity since 2020.
Market Context
Within RentCafe's ranking of large U.S. rental markets, North Jersey's 18th-place showing sits alongside New York City boroughs that are also tight on supply. The regional comparison shows New Jersey apartments competing on a similar footing to Queens.
Renters in North Jersey should expect limited availability and steady competition for apartments, particularly in units that come up for lease. Those already in place may find that staying put is the most practical option in a tight market.
The takeaway
Low tenant turnover is keeping North Jersey apartments scarce, so renters searching for a unit should plan for steady competition and early outreach to landlords. Existing tenants considering a move may weigh the value of renewing in a market where vacancies are harder to find.
Further reading
For more on the regional housing picture, explore Apartments coverage across New Jersey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
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