Short Hills, NJ Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Short Hills, NJ Summary

Cost of living in Short Hills 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 Short Hills 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 Short Hills is 259, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Short Hills is 2.6x higher than the national average.

  • Short Hills ranks as the #260 cheapest in New Jersey out of 260.

  • Short Hills ranks as the #6,435 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Short Hills is $2,245,599.

  • The median income in Short Hills is $250,001.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
259
Short Hills's Overall Cost Of Living
2.6x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Short Hills, NJ?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Short Hills has an overall cost of living index of 259, which is 2.6x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to New Jersey, Short Hills has a cost of living index that's 2.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 122.

The standard of living in Short Hills ranks as #260 most affordable out of the 260 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Short Hills ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Garden State.

For more reading on life in Short Hills, check out:

260 out of 260
In New Jersey
6,435 out of 6,489
In America

Short Hills Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey

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

  • The Services index in Short Hills is 106.

  • The Groceries index in Short Hills is 100.

  • The Health index in Short Hills is 96.

  • The Housing index in Short Hills is 619.

  • The Transportation index in Short Hills is 107.

  • The Utilities index in Short Hills is 110.

Living Expense Short Hills New Jersey National Average
Overall 259 122 100
Services 106 108 100
Groceries 100 104 100
Health 96 99 100
Housing 619 159 100
Transportation 107 101 100
Utilities 110 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Short Hills Cost of Living Vs. NJ

Short Hills, 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 Short Hills is $2,245,599.

  • The Median Rent in Short Hills is $3,259.

  • The Median Income in Short Hills is $250,001.

  • The Home Value To Income in Short Hills is 9.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Short Hills is 0.16x.

Statistic Short Hills New Jersey United States
Median Home Value $2,245,599 $564,432 $303,400
Median Rent $3,259 $1,653 $1,348
Median Income $250,001 $101,050 $78,538
Home Value To Income 9.0x 5.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.2x 0.21x
$2,245,599
Median Home Value
$3,259
Median Rent
$250,001
Median Income

Short Hills, NJ Costs By Category

Detailed Short Hills Services Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Short Hills New Jersey
Shampoo $1.48 $1.28
Movie $15.78 $12.13
Bowling $21.0 $18
Haircut $25.62 $24.26
Beauty Salon $41.67 $45.56

Detailed Short Hills Groceries Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Short Hills New Jersey
Ground Beef $5.65 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.39 $1.57
Milk $4.71 $4.67
Potatoes $5.37 $4.93
Pizza $11.49 $12.09
Beer $11.33 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.72 $3.7

Detailed Short Hills Health Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Short Hills New Jersey
Optometrist $157.11 $125.68
Doctor $115.59 $135.78
Dentist $124.27 $113.29

Detailed Short Hills Transportation Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Short Hills New Jersey
Gasoline $3.41 $3.46
Tire Balancing $82.67 $59.92

Detailed Short Hills Utilities Costs Vs. New Jersey

Item Short Hills New Jersey
All Electricity $236.04 $193.99
Phone $186.61 $192.25

Short Hills SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
10
Affordability
7
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
10
Commute
1

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Short Hills

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

  • Westfield, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 0.7x Short Hills.

  • Summit, NJ has a cost of living index of 183, 0.7x Short Hills.

  • Madison, NJ has a cost of living index of 173, 0.7x Short Hills.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Short Hills
Westfield, NJ 30,760 178 0.7x
Summit, NJ 22,512 183 0.7x
Madison, NJ 16,464 173 0.7x
Roselle Park, NJ 13,965 122 0.5x
New Providence, NJ 13,577 160 0.6x
Florham Park, NJ 13,134 165 0.6x
Glen Rock, NJ 12,082 165 0.6x
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 12,067 138 0.5x
Martinsville, NJ 12,016 159 0.6x
Lincoln Park, NJ 10,901 124 0.5x

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