Kearny, NJ vs Passaic, NJ

Passaic is moderately more affordable than Kearny, with a 8.6% lower cost of living index. Kearny scores 125 compared to 115 for Passaic, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Kearny can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Kearny is $1,649/month compared to $1,392/month in Passaic — a 19% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Passaic is more affordable at $406,500 median vs $431,700.

Median household income in Kearny is $83,212 compared to $56,780 in Passaic (+46.6%). While Kearny is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Kearny spend roughly 23.8% of their income on rent, less than the 29.4% in Passaic.