Chester, NJ vs Highland Lakes, NJ

Highland Lakes is moderately more affordable than Chester, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Chester scores 132 compared to 120 for Highland Lakes, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Chester can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $1,337/month compared to $1,862/month in Highland Lakes — a 28% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chester has cheaper rent, Highland Lakes actually has lower median home values ($291,200 vs $640,400).

Median household income in Chester is $152,578 compared to $129,500 in Highland Lakes (+17.8%). While Chester is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 10.5% of their income on rent, less than the 17.3% in Highland Lakes.