F
35%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
103%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Hawthorne New Jersey National
Cost of living135121100
Goods & Services107106100
Groceries102102100
Health care9699100
Housing203158100
Transportation108103100
Utilities111107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Hawthorne, NJ

Knowing the cost of living in Hawthorne allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Hawthorne stands at 135, marking it 35% higher than the national average.

If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Hawthorne is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Hawthorne falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs significantly influence the Hawthorne cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 103.1%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.

Is Hawthorne Affordable?

Is Hawthorne an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Hawthorne, the median home price is 123% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 56.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Hawthorne come in at $103,586, which is 87.2% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hawthorne?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Hawthorne, the groceries index is 2.1% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Hawthorne comes in at 10.7% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Hawthorne, healthcare costs are 4.1% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Hawthorne cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hawthorne is 12% higher than the New Jersey average
  • The cost of living in Hawthorne is 35% higher than the national average
  • Hawthorne housing is 103% higher than the national average
  • New Jersey general sales tax is 30% higher than the national average
  • New Jersey state income tax is 46% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hawthorne

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Compare Hawthorne, NJ Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$119,911$9,993$2,798$3,598
      Renters$57,782$4,815$1,348$1,734
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Hawthorne, NJ, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Hawthorne have a median income of $119,911. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,798 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $57,782, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,348.

      New Jersey Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      New Jersey 6.625% 12.625%

      New Jersey Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      New Jersey 1.4% 10.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Hawthorne National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.62$24.265.6%
      Beauty Salon $41.67$45.568.6%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.48$1.2815.6%
      Movie $15.78$12.1330.1%
      Bowling $21.00$18.0016.7%

      Groceries

      Item Hawthorne National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.65$5.843.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.71$4.670.7%
      Potatoes $5.37$4.938.8%
      Pizza $11.49$12.094.9%
      Beer $11.33$10.418.8%

      Health Care

      Item Hawthorne National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $157.11$125.6825.0%
      Doctor $115.59$135.7814.9%
      Dentist $124.27$113.299.7%
      Ibuprofen $11.15$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $451.73$468.603.6%

      Housing

      Item Hawthorne National avg. Difference
      Home Price $411,900.00$184,700.00123.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,568.94$2,346.6952.1%
      Apartment Rent $1,485.00$949.0056.5%

      Transportation

      Item Hawthorne National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.41$3.461.4%
      Tire Balancing $82.67$59.9238.0%

      Utilities

      Item Hawthorne National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $236.04$193.9921.7%
      Phone $186.61$192.252.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      East Orange, NJ64,65011111.1%
      Silver Lake CDP (Warren County), NJ32011313.2%
      Paterson, NJ145,48411515.3%
      Haledon, NJ8,29811919.2%
      Prospect Park, NJ5,85312019.7%
      Hawthorne, NJ18,76213535.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Midland, ON18,769n/a 
      Twinsburg, OH18,7541032.9%
      Seminole, FL18,7721033.0%
      Ottawa, IL18,742937.1%
      Jacksonville, IL18,7848415.9%
      Hawthorne, NJ18,76213535.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.