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 263, 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 125.
The standard of living in Short Hills ranks as #262 most affordable out of the 262 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:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Short Hills is 108.
The Groceries index in Short Hills is 111.
The Health index in Short Hills is 619.
The Housing index in Short Hills is 112.
The Transportation index in Short Hills is 107.
The Utilities index in Short Hills is 107.
| Living Expense | Short Hills | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 263 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 619 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 113 | 100 |
Short Hills Cost Of Living Compared To New Jersey Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Short Hills Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Short Hills is $2,309,383.
The Median Rent in Short Hills is $3,126.
The Median Income in Short Hills is $250,001.
The Home Value To Income in Short Hills is 9.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Short Hills is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Short Hills | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $2,309,383 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,126 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $250,001 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 9.2x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 182, 0.7x Short Hills.
Summit, NJ has a cost of living index of 190, 0.7x Short Hills.
Madison, NJ has a cost of living index of 178, 0.7x Short Hills.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Short Hills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfield, NJ | 31,111 | 182 | 0.7x |
| Summit, NJ | 22,705 | 190 | 0.7x |
| Madison, NJ | 16,447 | 178 | 0.7x |
| Roselle Park, NJ | 14,093 | 122 | 0.5x |
| New Providence, NJ | 13,727 | 167 | 0.6x |
| Florham Park, NJ | 13,564 | 174 | 0.7x |
| Glen Rock, NJ | 12,154 | 174 | 0.7x |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,115 | 140 | 0.5x |
| Martinsville, NJ | 11,559 | 166 | 0.6x |
| Lincoln Park, NJ | 10,957 | 133 | 0.5x |
