Rent vs buy in Camden, NJ
In Camden, New Jersey, the typical rent is $1,787 /mo and the typical home costs $149,376.
Over 7 years, buying comes out ahead by $77k.
With a 20% down payment and today's mortgage rate, the figures draw on Camden's typical home value and rent. The break-even point arrives in year 2.
A clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. When a number changes, the stamp changes too.
- Owning is ahead by
- $77k after 7 years
- When costs balance
- year 2 when owning catches up
- Real cost of owning
- $1,494 /mo year 1, against $1,787 rent
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Is buying or renting cheaper in Camden?
Over 7 years, buying costs $77,006 less when you include the money you receive from selling. In year 2, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Rent option. Cost of owning. Net cost through each year.
Camden's average rent compared with the mortgage payment
Rent and mortgage payments don't cover every cost. At Camden's typical price, here's each monthly cost in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,787 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $814 | $718 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $255 | 2.05% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $91 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $124 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,285 | $97 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $243 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $62 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $1,494 | Cash out minus the equity portion, plus the two items above |
Camden's verdict explained through its numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $149,376
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,787 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, New Jersey, 1995 to 2025
- 4.7% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Camden
- 2.05% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Camden
- $91 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would reverse the result in Camden?
Each line shows where Camden's 7-year verdict changes, while all other factors remain the same.
Renting is cheaper when
- A home like this has a monthly rent below $960 (the local typical rent is $1,787).
- Your move happens before year 2.
When buying comes out ahead
- Monthly rent for the same home would cost you over $960.
- You remain there for 2 years or longer.
Camden compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Camden | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $149,376 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,787 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 7.0 (#808 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 8.9% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Property tax | 2.05% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 66% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities elsewhere in New Jersey
- Rent. Newark NJ. Renting leads by $74k.
- Rent. Jersey City, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $53k.
- Rent. Paterson, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $163k.
- Rent. Elizabeth, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $114k.
- Rent. Trenton, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $26k.
- Rent. Clifton, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $106k.
- Rent. Bayonne, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $122k.
- Rent. East Orange, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $114k.
- Rent. Passaic, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $135k.
- Rent. Union City, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $98k.
- Rent. Vineland, NJ. Renting comes out ahead by $13k.
- Rent. Hoboken NJ. Renting leads by $57k.