Morris County guide for renters

Tracking down a rental that fits both your needs and your budget can feel like an uphill climb. Prices seem to creep higher month after month, yet plenty of renters keep signing leases at eye-watering rates. As a broad pattern, the larger and trendier a city gets, the steeper its rents run, though there are always exceptions to that rule. One smart tactic is to zero in on quieter towns that sit just beyond the major hubs. Morris County fits that description well, and it holds real appeal for anyone hunting for a place to lease. Before you map out a move with our crews here at Teddy Bear Moving, take a moment to see what the area has waiting. Below is a compact rundown built for renters.

Getting to know Morris County

Sitting roughly 30 miles to the west of Manhattan, Morris County belongs to the greater New York City metro area. Morristown serves as its administrative center, and the county is home to more than 500,000 residents. It also posts the loftiest average income per resident anywhere in the state, landing near the $90,000 mark. That figure is worth keeping in mind, since it hints that bargain rents are not exactly the norm around these parts. Spread across its 39 municipalities, a handful of names surface more often than the rest:

• Madison
• Morristown
• Mendham Township
• Mountain Lakes

Renting in Morristown

In its role as the government hub of the county, Morristown counts a population approaching 20,000, and that number is widely expected to keep climbing. It regularly turns up on lists of the finest towns to call home, offering everything from budget units to high-end apartments. Plan on a typical monthly rent near $2,900, which sits above what most renters across the state pay.

What Madison offers

Set along the Morris and Essex Lines, Madison is a more compact community of roughly 16,000 people. Measured against Morristown, it tends to be easier on the wallet, with rents that track fairly close to statewide figures. A studio here runs about $1,100, more or less the statewide norm. The gap shows up mainly in larger units, where Madison edges a little past the state median. Even so, it stays a solid pick for a fresh start.

Why Mountain Lakes is worth a look

Mountain Lakes earns a reputation as one of the most desirable addresses in the county. Though tiny, with just around 4,000 people, it delivers a tight-knit community and comfortable surroundings. The median rent hovers near $1,700, which runs higher than you might guess for a town of its size. On the upside, the average yearly income of about $160,000 ranks among the loftiest anywhere in the state, so residents here tend to be well positioned.

Rents are climbing across the region

Rental costs throughout New Jersey have shot up sharply over the past year. The steepest jump has landed on one-bedroom apartments, where rents have risen by 81 percent. Larger apartments have grown pricier too, though because fewer renters chase after them, the increase there has stayed more modest.

You will land the right place

At first glance this guide might read as discouraging. Keep in mind, though, that every figure quoted here is an average, and more affordable listings are always out there for those willing to dig. Plenty of people have already found the home that suits them, and there is no reason you will not do the same. Whenever you are ready to make the jump, our local moving crews can shoulder the heavy work, and if your search points you toward a spot farther afield, our long distance moving team stands ready as well.