New Poll: NJ Residents Overwhelmingly Consider Housing Unaffordable

A newly released Rutgers-Eagleton poll confirms what many New Jersey residents already knew from their own experiences – housing in the Garden State has become increasingly unaffordable. The survey, conducted in collaboration with the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, found that an overwhelming majority of residents consider housing costs to be a serious problem statewide.

According to the poll results, most New Jerseyans are “feeling the squeeze thanks to high prices and interest rates, stagnant wages, lack of available inventory and more,” according to NJBIZ. The findings paint a concerning picture of the state’s housing landscape and highlight the need for policy solutions.

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Poll Reveals Widespread Housing Concerns

The Rutgers-Eagleton survey engaged 1,058 adults statewide from April 1-10, providing a comprehensive snapshot of housing affordability perceptions across New Jersey. The results revealed that perceptions of housing affordability in the state have not improved over time in the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling’s research.

“It is no wonder that affordability, cost of living, and property taxes are perennially some of New Jerseyans’ top concerns given how much they report paying and how increasingly difficult they feel it is to afford housing,” said Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

This sentiment is reflected in residents’ strong support for various policy measures aimed at addressing housing affordability. Among the solutions garnering support was preserving the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund for its intended purpose of housing development and rehabilitation, which received backing from 63% of respondents.

Support for Policy Solutions

The poll found that a majority of New Jersey residents favor legislative action to address the housing crisis. One notable finding was that 60% of respondents support implementing a surcharge on the sale of luxury homes exceeding $2 million, while 25% oppose such a measure and 16% remain unsure.

Staci Berger, president and chief executive officer of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, emphasized the critical need for public investment in affordable housing. “The demand for affordable homes is at an all-time high but the supply can’t keep up without public investment,” Berger stated, according to Rutgers University’s official report.

Berger also expressed concern about the current state budget proposal, which would divert the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to “other housing adjacent programs” rather than maintaining its focus on affordable housing development specifically.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities

The poll revealed significant demographic differences in how housing affordability affects New Jersey residents. Black and Hispanic residents reported feeling greater strain regarding housing costs compared to white residents, with more respondents in these communities finding their housing “not at all affordable.”

According to previous Rutgers research, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these disparities. “New Jersey’s relentless housing crisis deepened during the pandemic, and it did so in much the same way as the COVID virus – disproportionately harming Black and Brown households,” Berger noted in earlier statements on housing affordability trends.

The findings highlight how housing affordability is not merely a financial issue but also one that intersects with racial and social equity concerns throughout the state.

Long-term Trends Show Persistent Problems

This latest poll is not the first to highlight New Jersey’s housing affordability crisis. A 2021 Rutgers-Eagleton poll found that “90% of New Jerseyans are worried about the cost of housing in the state, with 55% considering it a ‘very serious’ problem,” according to New Jersey Future, an organization focused on smart growth and sustainable development.

Data from the New Jersey State Policy Lab indicates that nearly half of renter households in New Jersey spend 35 percent or more of their incomes on housing expenses. This high percentage of “shelter poor” residents points to both insufficient affordable housing supply and incomes that have not kept pace with rising housing costs.

These consistent findings over multiple years suggest that New Jersey’s housing affordability challenges represent a systemic issue rather than a temporary market fluctuation. Policy experts argue that addressing this crisis will require comprehensive approaches that increase housing supply while ensuring affordability across different income levels.

Looking Forward

As New Jersey continues to grapple with its housing affordability crisis, the poll results indicate strong public support for policy interventions. From preserving dedicated funding for affordable housing to implementing new revenue streams through luxury home surcharges, residents appear to favor active government involvement in addressing the issue.

Housing advocates emphasize that increasing affordability is not just beneficial for individual residents but also for the state’s overall economic health and social stability. More affordable housing options would allow workers to live closer to their places of employment, reducing commute times and associated environmental impacts while supporting local businesses.

The full results of the Rutgers-Eagleton poll are available on the organization’s website, providing detailed insights into residents’ perceptions of housing affordability across different regions and demographic groups in New Jersey.

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