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City · 18,520 residents · Passaic County, New Jersey

Preakness , New Jersey

In Preakness, a typical home is worth $617,700 and typical rent is $1,918 a month. Compared with all of Passaic County, typical household income is 52% higher, the typical home value is 34% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $617,700

    34% above the county

    36% above New Jersey

    • Preakness
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

  • Typical rent

    $1,918a month

    18% above the county

    12% above New Jersey

    • Preakness
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

  • Typical household income

    $133,205a year

    52% above the county

    29% above New Jersey

    • Preakness
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

  • Households that own their home

    71%

    18 points above the county

    7 points above New Jersey

    • Preakness
    • Passaic
    • New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Preakness is in Passaic 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 Passaic County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Preakness apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical household income in Preakness is $133,205, 52% more than in Passaic County as a whole ($87,522).

  2. Nearby, in Haledon, the typical home value is $396,400: 36% less than in Preakness ($617,700).

  3. 71% of households in Preakness own their home, against 53% in Passaic County.

  4. The typical home in Preakness is worth $617,700, 34% more than in Passaic County as a whole ($459,500).

  5. The typical rent in Preakness is $1,918 a month, 18% more than in Passaic County as a whole ($1,621).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Preakness

What homes there are in Preakness, 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 houses, standing on their own, make up 55% of homes here, against 42% in Passaic County.

Year built

Homes in Preakness are newer: the typical year built is 1967; in Passaic County, 1956.

There is more room for a big family here: 58% of homes have 3 bedrooms or more, against 50% in Passaic County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Passaic County is $2,282; about 72% of rents in Preakness are below it.

With a mortgage

$3,542 a month

Passaic County: $3,014 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Passaic County: 65%

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Preakness does not have the same boundaries as in 2015–2019: that is why there is no change to compare. For reference, in Passaic County the typical home value rose 34%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePreaknessPassaic CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.1%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate7.7%4.0%3.4%
People per household 2.762.862.622.53
Drive alone 70%65%62%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate11%8%9%
Public transit 5%6%8%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate4%3%3%
Work from home 17%12%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Passaic County, a household in Preakness has 2.76 people on average.

In Preakness, 17% of workers work from home, more than in Passaic County (12%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Preakness?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Preakness, worth $617,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 49% of the typical household income in Preakness, which is $133,205 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $234,566 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Passaic County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Preakness. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $21,620 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$5,473

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$606,511
Total interest
$872,628
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $10,431 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,108 a month

  • Tight

    $3,108 to $3,996 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,996 a month

    Your payment · 49%

Compared with the typical household income in Preakness ($133,205 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$5,473
Principal & interest$4,109
Property tax$834
Home insurance$257
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$273

You need at least $21,620 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

The city and its county

Preakness and Passaic County

Preakness is in Passaic 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).

Preakness's own numbers

Typical home value
$617,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,918
Typical yearly household income
$133,205
Households that own their home
71%
Effective property tax rate
1.62%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Passaic County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,209,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,282
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.7%

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 Passaic County.

Everything about Passaic County

Buying

Buying a home in Preakness

A typical home in Preakness is worth $617,700: 34% above the county and 36% above New Jersey. With the typical household income in Preakness ($133,205 a year), a typical home costs 4.6 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.

  • Preakness 4.6 years
  • Passaic 5.3 years
  • New Jersey 4.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Passaic County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Passaic County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Passaic County.

Period County New Jersey U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.8% +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

Preakness next to Passaic 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
  • Preakness $617,700
  • Passaic $459,500
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Preakness $1,918
  • Passaic $1,621
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Preakness $133,205
  • Passaic $87,522
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Preakness next to Passaic County and New Jersey
Measure Preakness Passaic County New Jersey U.S.
Typical home value $617,700 $459,500 $454,400 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,918 $1,621 $1,720 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $133,205 $87,522 $103,556 $80,734
Households that own their home 71% 53% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.62% 2.18% 2.11% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 57% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Passaic 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 Preakness

For a typical $617,700 home in Preakness, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Preakness's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $5,473a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $21,620
    Cash to close
    $40,151
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $273

  • Conventional, 5% down $5,360a month

    Down payment
    $30,885
    Cash to close
    $49,416
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $293

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $4,439a month

    Down payment
    $123,540
    Cash to close
    $142,071
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $5,010a month

    Down payment
    $92,655
    Cash to close
    $111,186
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Preakness and for Passaic County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Preakness

1.62%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Preakness.

  • Preakness 1.62%
  • Passaic 2.18%
  • New Jersey 2.11%

What New Jersey publishes ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ: one combined application (New Jersey Division of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Flood risk in Passaic County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Passaic County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.7%
3,719
Of those, with NFIP insurance
48%
County New Jersey U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.7% 6.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 48% 63% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Preakness

Typical rent in Preakness is $1,918 a month: 18% above the county. In Preakness, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Passaic County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,282 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $43.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Passaic County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,772 $34.08 $70,880
1 bedroom $1,987 $38.21 $79,480
2 bedrooms $2,282 $43.88 $91,280
3 bedrooms $2,771 $53.29 $110,840
4 bedrooms $3,497 $67.25 $139,880

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 Preakness

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Preakness is in ZIP code 07470.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,670: $388 more than the fair market rent for Passaic County ($2,282).

  • 07470 $2,670$3,240

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Preakness 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Preakness

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 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Passaic County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Preakness

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Preakness or Passaic County. The ones below are statewide in New Jersey: they work in Preakness the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Jersey

Housing counselors near Preakness

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Preakness, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Paterson

    60 Van Houten St, Paterson · 3 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (973) 345-5085

  • Paterson Task Force for Community Action, Inc

    191 Market St, Paterson · 3 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    973-279-2333-135

  • Consumer Credit and Budget Counseling, DBA National Foundation for Debt Management

    26 Park St Ste 2000, Montclair · 8 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 7 more
    (727) 755-8558

Every agency in Passaic County All counseling agencies in New Jersey

Help in Spanish near Preakness

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Preakness

HUD’s record names them for Preakness or Passaic County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Passaic County Public Housing Agency Section 8 vouchers (973) 881-4370

3 other authorities have an office in Passaic County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Passaic County

These cities are also in Passaic County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Passaic County Housing in New Jersey
See 2 more cities in Passaic County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Preakness, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Passaic County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Preakness.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about Preakness

Short answers with the numbers for Preakness and all of Passaic 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 Preakness?

The typical home value in Preakness is $617,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Passaic County it is $459,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Preakness?

Typical rent in Preakness is $1,918 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Passaic County is $2,282.

What is the FHA loan limit in Preakness?

Preakness uses the FHA limit for all of Passaic 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 Preakness?

The typical homeowner in Preakness pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.62% of the home’s value; in Passaic County, the rate is 2.18%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Preakness?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Passaic County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).