Fort Lee, NJ vs Rutherford, NJ

Fort Lee, NJ and Rutherford, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.7% difference in their overall index. Fort Lee scores 142 while Rutherford scores 143 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Lee is $2,255/month compared to $1,859/month in Rutherford — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Rutherford has cheaper rent, Fort Lee actually has lower median home values ($422,200 vs $580,800).

Median household income in Fort Lee is $105,535 compared to $136,069 in Rutherford (-22.4%). While Rutherford is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Lee spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.4% in Rutherford.