In Caldwell, a typical home is worth $575,400 and typical rent is $1,976 a month. Compared with all of Essex County, typical rent is 29% higher and typical household income is 20% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $536,898 to $735,715.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Caldwell is in Essex County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Essex County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical rent in Caldwell is $1,976 a month, 29% more than in Essex County as a whole ($1,531).
2
The typical household income in Caldwell is $96,824,20% more than in Essex County as a whole ($80,789).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Caldwell
What homes there are in Caldwell, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Caldwell
Essex County
New Jersey
United States
Kind of home: Caldwell and its comparisons
Measure
Caldwell
Essex County
New Jersey
United States
Detached house
28%
33%
53%
61%
Attached house
8%
7%
10%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
19%
28%
15%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
44%
31%
22%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
There are more apartments in Caldwell than in Essex County: 44% of homes, against 31%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Caldwell
Essex County
New Jersey
United States
Year built: Caldwell and its comparisons
Measure
Caldwell
Essex County
New Jersey
United States
Before 1960
51%
53%
38%
26%
1960–1979
22%
22%
25%
24%
1980–1999
20%
12%
21%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
7%
9%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
6%
7%
11%
By age, homes in Caldwell look like those in Essex County: the typical year built is 1959.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K25%
$500K–$750K39%
$750K–$1M21%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Caldwell and its comparisons
Measure
Caldwell
Under $100K
Unreliable
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
25%
$500K–$750K
39%
$750K–$1M
21%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,99931%
$2,000–$2,49915%
$2,500–$2,99916%
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Caldwell and its comparisons
Measure
Caldwell
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
31%
$2,000–$2,499
15%
$2,500–$2,999
16%
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$3,626 a month
Essex County: $3,322 a month
Owners with a mortgage
72%
Essex County: 68%
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Caldwell+23%
Essex County+36%
New Jersey+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Caldwell+31%
Essex County+30%
New Jersey+29%
United States+33%
Typical household income
CaldwellNo clear change
Essex County+31%
New Jersey+26%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Caldwell and its comparisons
Measure
Caldwell
Essex County
New Jersey
United States
Typical home value
+23%
+36%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+31%
+30%
+29%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+31%
+26%
+29%
Homes in Caldwell gained value more slowly than in Essex County: 23% since 2015–2019, against 36%.
The typical rent in Caldwell rose 31% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Essex County (30%).
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Caldwell and its comparisons
Measure
Caldwell
Essex County
New Jersey
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.7%
3.5%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.7%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
6.1%
4.0%
3.4%
People per household
2.22
2.63
2.62
2.53
Drive alone
60%
53%
62%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
16%
8%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
3%
Work from home
20%
16%
17%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
4%
2%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
30 to 39 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Caldwell are smaller: 2.22 people on average; in Essex County, 2.63.
Working from home is more common in Caldwell: 20%, against 16% in Essex County.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Caldwell?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Caldwell, worth $575,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 64% of the typical household income in Caldwell, which is $96,824 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $220,969 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Essex County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Caldwell. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $20,139 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$5,156
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$564,978
Total interest
$812,871
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $9,717 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,259 a month
Tight
$2,259 to $2,905 a month
Hard
more than $2,905 a month
Your payment · 64%
Compared with the typical household income in Caldwell ($96,824 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,827
Property tax
$834
Home insurance
$240
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$254
You need at least $20,139 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $5,156; principal and interest $3,827.
The city and its county
Caldwell and Essex County
Caldwell is in Essex County, New Jersey. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Caldwell
Map of Essex County, New Jersey, with Caldwell marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Caldwell
Essex County
Other cities with a page
Caldwell's own numbers
Typical home value
$575,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,976
Typical yearly household income
$96,824
Households that own their home
42%
Effective property tax rate
1.74%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Essex County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,209,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,233
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.5%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Essex County.
A typical home in Caldwell is worth $575,400: 10% above the county and 27% above New Jersey. With the typical household income in Caldwell ($96,824 a year), a typical home costs 5.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Caldwell5.9 years
Essex6.5 years
New Jersey4.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Essex County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Essex County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Essex County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Essex County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.0% +3.0% 2016
2017: +3.9% +3.9% 2017
2018: +3.0% +3.0% 2018
2019: +3.4% +3.4% 2019
2020: +3.7% +3.7% 2020
2021: +9.8% +9.8% 2021
2022: +12.1% +12.1% 2022
2023: +10.9% +10.9% 2023
2024: +9.5% +9.5% 2024
2025: +5.8% +5.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Essex County, New Jersey and the United States
Period
County
New Jersey
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.8%
+6.2%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+58%
+63%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+87%
+88%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Caldwell next to Essex County, New Jersey and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Caldwell$575,400
Essex$524,100
New Jersey$454,400
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Caldwell$1,976
Essex$1,531
New Jersey$1,720
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Caldwell$96,824
Essex$80,789
New Jersey$103,556
United States$80,734
See the full table
Caldwell next to Essex County and New Jersey
Measure
Caldwell
Essex County
New Jersey
U.S.
Typical home value
$575,400 ▲10% above the county
$524,100
$454,400
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,976 ▲29% above the county
$1,531
$1,720
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$96,824 ▲20% above the county
$80,789
$103,556
$80,734
Households that own their home
42% ▼3 points below the county
45%
64%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$10,001
$10,001
$9,590
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.74% ▼0.17 points below the county
1.91%
2.11%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
52% ▼3 points below the county
55%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Essex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Caldwell
For a typical $575,400 home in Caldwell, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Caldwell's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$5,156a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$20,139
Cash to close
$37,401
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $254
Conventional, 5% down$5,050a month
Down payment
$28,770
Cash to close
$46,032
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $273
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$4,192a month
Down payment
$115,080
Cash to close
$132,342
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$4,724a month
Down payment
$86,310
Cash to close
$103,572
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Caldwell
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$5,156
$20,139
$564,978
7.18%
FHA MIP · $254
$37,401
580
Conventional, 5% down
$5,050
$28,770
$546,630
7.18%
PMI · $273
$46,032
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$4,192
$115,080
$460,320
7.18%
None
$132,342
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$4,724
$86,310
$489,090
8.18%
None
$103,572
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Caldwell is $1,976 a month: 29% above the county. In Caldwell, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Essex County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,233 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $42.94 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Essex County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,637
$31.48
$65,480
1 bedroom
$1,850
$35.58
$74,000
2 bedrooms
$2,233
$42.94
$89,320
3 bedrooms
$2,785
$53.56
$111,400
4 bedrooms
$3,188
$61.31
$127,520
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Caldwell
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Caldwell is in ZIP code 07006.
For 2 bedrooms it is $2,650: $417 more than the fair market rent for Essex County ($2,233).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Caldwell, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
07006
$1,940
$2,200
$2,650
$3,300
$3,780
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
07006 $2,650$3,300
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Caldwell when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 7 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Essex County; 5 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Caldwell or Essex County. The ones below are statewide in New Jersey: they work in Caldwell the same as in the rest of the state.
NJHMFA second loan with no interest, forgiven after five years, for first-time buyers in New Jersey.Offered by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA).
Extra NJHMFA assistance for first-time buyers whose parents have never owned a home (or who were in foster care in New Jersey).Offered by New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Caldwell or Essex County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Caldwell and all of Essex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Caldwell?
The typical home value in Caldwell is $575,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Essex County it is $524,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Caldwell?
Typical rent in Caldwell is $1,976 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Essex County is $2,233.
What is the FHA loan limit in Caldwell?
Caldwell uses the FHA limit for all of Essex County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Caldwell?
The typical homeowner in Caldwell pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.74% of the home’s value; in Essex County, the rate is 1.91%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Caldwell?
There are 7 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Essex County. 5 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
