Highland Park, NJ Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Highland Park, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Highland Park 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 Highland Park 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 Highland Park is 133, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Highland Park ranks as the #148 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • Highland Park ranks as the #5,125 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Highland Park is $578,600.

  • The median income in Highland Park is $101,991.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
133
Highland Park's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Highland Park, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Highland Park has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.

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

The standard of living in Highland Park ranks as #148 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Highland Park ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Highland Park, check out:

148 out of 260
In New Jersey
5,125 out of 6,489
In America

Highland Park Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

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

  • The Services index in Highland Park is 111.

  • The Groceries index in Highland Park is 104.

  • The Health index in Highland Park is 103.

  • The Housing index in Highland Park is 186.

  • The Transportation index in Highland Park is 103.

  • The Utilities index in Highland Park is 109.

Living Expense Highland Park New Jersey National Average
Overall 133 122 100
Services 111 108 100
Groceries 104 104 100
Health 103 99 100
Housing 186 159 100
Transportation 103 101 100
Utilities 109 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Highland Park Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Highland Park, 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 Highland Park is $578,600.

  • The Median Rent in Highland Park is $1,881.

  • The Median Income in Highland Park is $101,991.

  • The Home Value To Income in Highland Park is 5.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Highland Park is 0.22x.

Statistic Highland Park New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $578,600 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $1,881 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $101,991 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.7x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.2x 0.21x
$578,600
Median Home Value
$1,881
Median Rent
$101,991
Median Income

Highland Park, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Highland Park Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Highland Park 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 Highland Park Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Highland Park 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 Highland Park Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

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

Detailed Highland Park Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Highland Park New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $72.38 $59.92

Detailed Highland Park Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Highland Park New Jersey
All Electricity $223.08 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

Highland Park SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
5
Diversity
9.5
Safety
8.5
Amenities
9
Education
9.5
Commute
5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Highland Park

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

  • New Brunswick, NJ has a cost of living index of 118, 0.9x Highland Park.

  • Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 1.3x Highland Park.

  • South Plainfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 132, 1.0x Highland Park.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Highland Park
New Brunswick, NJ 55,744 118 0.9x
Westfield, NJ 30,760 178 1.3x
South Plainfield, NJ 24,231 132 1.0x
Somerset, NJ 23,851 130 1.0x
South River, NJ 16,007 121 0.9x
Metuchen, NJ 14,982 144 1.1x
Middlesex, NJ 14,518 126 0.9x
Bradley Gardens, NJ 14,315 150 1.1x
New Providence, NJ 13,577 160 1.2x
Florham Park, NJ 13,134 165 1.2x

Articles About New Jersey

Enjoy The Snack?