Fords, NJ Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Fords, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Fords research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Fords is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in New Jersey, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Fords is 129, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Fords is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • Fords ranks as the #128 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • Fords ranks as the #4,942 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Fords is $526,995.

  • The median income in Fords is $116,250.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
129
Fords's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Fords, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fords has an overall cost of living index of 129, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Fords has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 122.

The standard of living in Fords ranks as #128 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Fords ranks as the #132 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Fords, check out:

128 out of 260
In New Jersey
4,942 out of 6,489
In America

Fords Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fords. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Fords is 109.

  • The Groceries index in Fords is 102.

  • The Health index in Fords is 101.

  • The Housing index in Fords is 173.

  • The Transportation index in Fords is 106.

  • The Utilities index in Fords is 110.

Living Expense Fords New Jersey National Average
Overall 129 122 100
Services 109 108 100
Groceries 102 104 100
Health 101 99 100
Housing 173 159 100
Transportation 106 101 100
Utilities 110 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Fords Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Fords, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Fords is $526,995.

  • The Median Rent in Fords is $1,976.

  • The Median Income in Fords is $116,250.

  • The Home Value To Income in Fords is 4.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Fords is 0.2x.

Statistic Fords New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $526,995 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $1,976 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $116,250 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.5x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.2x 0.2x 0.21x
$526,995
Median Home Value
$1,976
Median Rent
$116,250
Median Income

Fords, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Fords Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Fords New Jersey
Shampoo $1.53 $1.28
Movie $14.53 $12.13
Bowling $20.98 $18
Haircut $30.25 $24.26
Beauty Salon $53.0 $45.56

Detailed Fords Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Fords New Jersey
Ground Beef $6.13 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.41 $1.57
Milk $4.7 $4.67
Potatoes $5.32 $4.93
Pizza $12.59 $12.09
Beer $11.12 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.75 $3.7

Detailed Fords Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Fords New Jersey
Optometrist $129.93 $125.68
Doctor $124.1 $135.78
Dentist $129.94 $113.29

Detailed Fords Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Fords New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $72.38 $59.92

Detailed Fords Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Fords New Jersey
All Electricity $223.08 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

Fords SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
9
Affordability
7
Diversity
10
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fords

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fords. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Perth Amboy, NJ has a cost of living index of 119, 0.9x Fords.

  • Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 1.4x Fords.

  • Rahway, NJ has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Fords.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Fords
Perth Amboy, NJ 55,278 119 0.9x
Westfield, NJ 30,760 178 1.4x
Rahway, NJ 29,748 116 0.9x
Woodbridge, NJ 20,086 127 1.0x
Iselin, NJ 19,151 131 1.0x
Colonia, NJ 18,294 131 1.0x
Avenel, NJ 17,143 122 0.9x
Metuchen, NJ 14,982 144 1.1x
Middlesex, NJ 14,518 126 1.0x
Bradley Gardens, NJ 14,315 150 1.2x

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