Fort Lee, NJ vs Highland Park, NJ

Highland Park is moderately more affordable than Fort Lee, with a 5.9% lower cost of living index. Fort Lee scores 142 compared to 134 for Highland Park, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Lee can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Lee is $2,255/month compared to $1,881/month in Highland Park — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Highland Park has cheaper rent, Fort Lee actually has lower median home values ($422,200 vs $463,600).

Median household income in Fort Lee is $105,535 compared to $101,991 in Highland Park (+3.5%). The higher salaries in Fort Lee partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Lee spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, more than the 22.1% in Highland Park.