| Index | Fords | New Jersey | National |
| Cost of living | 129 | 125 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Health care | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Housing | 170 | 157 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 114 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 111 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 114 | 113 | 100 |
| Household Items | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 115 | 120 | 100 |
The cost of living in Fords affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Fords is 129, which is 29% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Fords is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Fords falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Fords cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 70.3% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
Is Fords an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Fords, the median home price is 71% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 68.7% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Fords come in at $151,918, which is 86.8% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Fords, healthcare costs are 9.1% higher than the national average.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Fords, the transportation index is 17.4% higher than the national average.
Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Fords, the housing index comes in at 70.3% higher than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Fords are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $172,873 | $14,406 | $4,033 | $5,187 |
| Renters | $113,632 | $9,469 | $2,651 | $3,409 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | 12.625% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| New Jersey | 1.4% | 10.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Zarephath, NJ | 98 | 113 | 12.8% |
| Rossmoor, NJ | 2,769 | 104 | 3.7% |
| Keansburg, NJ | 10,050 | 114 | 14.1% |
| Roselle, NJ | 22,321 | 116 | 15.7% |
| Newark, NJ | 290,764 | 120 | 19.8% |
| Fords, NJ | 12,993 | 129 | 28.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Athens, TX | 12,992 | 88 | 11.7% |
| Georgetown, GA | 12,996 | 102 | 1.6% |
| Middleburg, FL | 12,986 | 100 | 0.3% |
| San Anselmo, CA | 13,003 | 237 | 136.6% |
| Fernandina Beach, FL | 13,006 | 125 | 25.0% |
| Fords, NJ | 12,993 | 129 | 28.6% |
Here are the best places to live in New Jersey
These are the 10 cheapest cities in New Jersey
Most Dangerous States In The US
Check out the 10 safest cities in New Jersey