Hackensack, NJ vs Passaic, NJ

Passaic is moderately more affordable than Hackensack, with a 8% lower cost of living index. Hackensack scores 124 compared to 115 for Passaic, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hackensack can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hackensack is $1,794/month compared to $1,392/month in Passaic — a 29% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Passaic has cheaper rent, Hackensack actually has lower median home values ($370,300 vs $406,500).

Median household income in Hackensack is $82,212 compared to $56,780 in Passaic (+44.8%). While Hackensack is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hackensack spend roughly 26.2% of their income on rent, less than the 29.4% in Passaic.