Fair Lawn, NJ vs Upper Montclair, NJ

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fair Lawn is 25.1% cheaper than Upper Montclair. With a cost index of 141 vs 188, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fair Lawn to Upper Montclair should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fair Lawn is $1,908/month compared to $2,290/month in Upper Montclair — a 17% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fair Lawn is more affordable at $532,700 median vs $968,200.

Median household income in Fair Lawn is $147,952 compared to $250,001 in Upper Montclair (-40.8%). While Upper Montclair is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fair Lawn spend roughly 15.5% of their income on rent, more than the 11% in Upper Montclair.