Draft_October 2025_West Orange_HEFSP_with Appendices

Township of West Orange October 2025 Essex County, New Jersey Draft Housing Element and Fair Share Plan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Household Costs Tables 9 and 10 below show the expenditures for housing as a percentage of household income for those who own and rent in West Orange and Essex County. In 2023, a majority of Township residents lived in homes they owned, whereas the County saw similar rates of home ownership and renting. General affordability standards set a limit at 30% of gross income to be allocated for owner-occupied housing costs and 28% of gross income to be allocated for renter-occupied housing costs. Approximately 31% of Township residents who owned the units they occupied spent 30% or more of their household income on housing, as compared to 51% of Township residents who rented the units they occupied. These figures were on par with those of the County. Table 9: Selected Monthly Owner Costs as a Percentage of Household Income, 2023 West Orange and Essex County West Orange Essex County Number Percent Number Percent Total Owner-Occupied Housing Units 12,244 100.0% 146,736 100.0% Less than 20.0% 5,373 43.9% 69,206 47.2% 20.0 to 24.9% 1,858 15.2% 16,773 11.4% 25.0 to 29.9% 1,155 9.4% 10,922 7.4% 30.0 to 34.9% 645 5.3% 9,922 6.8% 35.0% or more 3,144 25.7% 38,962 26.6% Not computed 69 0.6% 951 0.6% Source: 2023 American Community 5-Year Estimates, Table DP04 Table 10: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income, 2023 West Orange and Essex County West Orange Essex County Number Percent Number Percent Total Renter-Occupied Housing Units 5,196 100.00% 175,720 100.00% Less than 15% 575 11.1% 20,260 11.5% 15.0 to 19.9% 781 15.0% 18,661 10.6% 20.0 to 24.9% 653 12.6% 18,055 10.3% 25.0 to 29.9% 312 6.0% 19,648 11.2% 30.0 to 34.9% 360 6.9% 14,069 8.0% 35.0% or more 2289 44.1% 75,019 42.7% Not computed 226 4.3% 10,008 5.7% Source: 2023 American Community 5-Year Estimates, Table B25070 21