Rahway, NJ vs Somerville, NJ

Rahway, NJ and Somerville, NJ have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.3% difference in their overall index. Rahway scores 123 while Somerville scores 126 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 Rahway is $1,764/month compared to $1,748/month in Somerville — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Somerville has cheaper rent, Rahway actually has lower median home values ($362,300 vs $403,600).

Median household income in Rahway is $90,852 compared to $103,869 in Somerville (-12.5%). While Somerville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Rahway spend roughly 23.3% of their income on rent, more than the 20.2% in Somerville.