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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As shown in Table 19 below, the median contract rent in West Orange in 2023 was $1,689 which was roughly $370 higher than the County median rent of $1,313. Within the Township, the highest percentage of renters paid between $1,500 to $1,999 for monthly rent (38.7%), followed by $1,000 to $1,499 (22.8%), and $2,000 to $2,499 (13.7%). Overall, over three-quarters (75.2%) of renters in the Township paid between $1,000 and $2,499 for monthly rent in 2023. At the County level nearly half (61.7%) of renters paid between $1,000 to $2,499 for monthly rent, and there was a significantly higher occurrence of renters paying less than $1,000 for rent (29.9%). This data suggests that rent in the Township is not as affordable as it is throughout the County as a whole. Table 19: Contract Rent, 2023 West Orange and Essex County West Orange Number Percent Total Renter-Occupied Units 5,027 100.0% Less than $500 311 6.2% $500 to $999 321 6.4% $1,000 to $1,499 1,145 22.8% $1,500 to $1,999 1,947 38.7% $2,000 to $2,499 691 13.7% $2,500 to $2,999 111 2.2% $3,000 or More 501 10.0% No Rent Paid 169 3.4% Median Contract Rent $1,689 Essex County Number Percent 175,720 100.0% 20,709 11.8% 31,732 18.1% 52,509 29.9% 43,550 24.8% 12,223 7.0% 5,079 2.9% 5,568 3.2% 4,350 2.5% $1,313 Source: 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B25056 and B25058 28