Cost of Living in Mountain Lake, NJ

With a cost of living index of 116, Mountain Lake, NJ is a notably expensive place to live. Living here is 16% more expensive than the national average and 12% below the New Jersey state average of 128. Mountain Lake is a small community of 566 residents.

Housing costs are the biggest factor in Mountain Lake's cost of living. The median monthly rent is $1,795 (36% above the US median of $1,319), and the median home value sits at $329,900 (8% above the national median of $304,900). At current prices, the median home costs roughly 3.3x the median household income — a moderately affordable ratio by today's standards.

The median household income in Mountain Lake is $99,063, which is 32% higher than the national median of $75,149. Residents spend roughly 22% of household income on rent. This is a comfortable ratio, well below the 30% threshold that financial experts recommend as a maximum. While incomes are above average, they more than offset the higher cost of living.

Everyday prices in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ (Metropolitan Statistical Area) metro area are generally below the national average. Out of 6 common items tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5 are priced lower than the US average. These real-world prices — from groceries to electricity — add up and should be factored into any cost of living comparison.

Data sources: US Census Bureau (ACS 2023), Zillow Home Values, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities, BLS Average Prices, and NOAA Climate Normals. Updated monthly.