Rutgers Newark Report: Why the “Rent is So Damned High” in New Jersey

Tehsuan Glover

14 January, 2026

Researchers at the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (CLiME) have released a comprehensive study answering the question on every New Jerseyan’s mind: “Why is the rent so damned high?” The report, authored by Associate Director Katharine Nelson, highlights a staggering 30 percent increase in housing costs between 2021 and 2023. While many pundits point to a simple lack of supply, the Rutgers team argues that the crisis is far more complex, driven by four converging forces:

• Stagnant Wages: Real earnings for low-wage workers have actually declined by 5% over the last four decades.

• Income Inequality: The gap between the wealthy and the working class continues to widen.

• Corporate Consolidation: Large-scale investors and professional landlords now own over half of all rental units nationwide.

• Affordability Gaps: A critical shortage of units priced for “very low-income” households (those earning 30% or less of the Area Median Income).

Continue reading this press release from the Newark Times in its entirety below:
Rutgers Newark Report: Why the “Rent is So Damned High” in New Jersey