Garfield, NJ vs Mercerville, NJ

Mercerville is moderately more affordable than Garfield, with a 9.5% lower cost of living index. Garfield scores 126 compared to 115 for Mercerville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Garfield can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Garfield is $1,612/month compared to $1,704/month in Mercerville — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Garfield has cheaper rent, Mercerville actually has lower median home values ($330,500 vs $454,300).

Median household income in Garfield is $75,701 compared to $125,678 in Mercerville (-39.8%). Mercerville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Garfield spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Mercerville.