With 13 prospective renters competing for every vacant apartment in North Jersey, the area continues to have one of the most competitive rental markets in the nation halfway through 2024.

RentCafe, in its recent Hottest Rental Markets report, named North Jersey as the third most competitive rental market in the nation, a title the region has held since the start of 2024. The area had been the hottest renting spot in the nation at the start of 2023, but finished off the year as the second.

North Jersey — including Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Sussex, Hudson and Union counties in the report — ranks just behind No. 1 Miami-Dade County and No. 2 Suburban Chicago.

What is the rental market like in North Jersey, and the Northeast?

With a Rental Competitive Index score of 82.3, North Jersey continues to have the hottest real estate market in the Northeast.

Of all of the apartments in North Jersey, only 0.60% of them are new. And North Jersey has one of the highest occupancy rates in the nation at 96%.  The region also has a significant lease renewal rate of 71.7%, and apartments here typically remain vacant for about 43 days.

The report credits a trend known as “hipsturbia” for the consistent rental demand seen throughout North Jersey. The term refers to the phenomenon of younger generations, particularly millennials, flocking to live in areas with suburban charm and urban amenities after being priced out of larger cities.

“Hipsturbia is alive and well in small cities scattered across northern New Jersey — such as Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Union City, Passaic, Maplewood and Montclair — where renters (including millennials) enjoy walkable downtowns, just enough entertainment and relatively easy access to New York City,” the report said.

The report said this trend also contributed to the 10th place ranking of suburban Philadelphia and the 14th place ranking of Brooklyn, where hipsturbia is king. Also from the Northeast, Bridgeport-New Haven, Connecticut; and Central Jersey made the list, ranking 11th and 17th, respectively.

How has rental competitive changed across the nation?

Overall, the state of the nation’s rental market in 2024 has remained relatively the same from 2023.

Across the country, there are about eight prospective renters competing for every vacant apartment. Rentals have remained vacant for about 46 days, compared to 43 days in 2023, and new apartments still make up 0.61% of all available rentals across the nation.

Additionally, 62.% of renters renewed their leases in 2024, compared to 59.7% in 2023. And about 93.3% of apartments across the nation are occupied, compared to 94% in 2023.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) — Ever wondered where the shells of the oysters eaten in Atlantic City end up? 

It’s not a landfill. Instead, they’re returned to the place they were first scooped up. 

And now, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection plans to expand its program to recycle oyster shells after receiving more than $1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Shell Recycling Program works by collecting used oyster shells from restaurants and casinos in Atlantic City before transporting them to a barge. Using high-powered water cannons, crews spray the shells off the barge into the Mullica River.

NJDEP fisheries biologist Scott Stueber said oysters need a hard base, like shells, to survive, and without enough shell, they can die.

Recycling oyster shells instead of throwing them away, Stueber said, helps New Jersey’s oyster population thrive.

“These are juvenile oysters all over a previously recycled oyster shell,” Steuber demonstrated. “So, you can see that’s one single shell with countless oysters all over it.”

This year, the NJDEP is expected to recycle more than 250 tons of oyster shells collected by restaurants and casinos, including from the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa.

“It’s really important to give back, not just to the community, but to the sea as well,” Deborah Pellegrino, executive director chef at the Borgata, said. “We respect food that we bring in. We know where it comes from and that we want to give back so that we can keep the food populated for the environment.”

NEW JERSEY (WPVI) — Various counties across New Jersey are exploring new strategies to make highways and roadways safer during the busy summer season.

This comes after multiple fatalities have been reported on roads in the area.

“Every one of these tragedies could be avoided,” said Lt. James Rosiello of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

He said reckless behavior on the road is leading to deadly consequences at an alarming rate from drivers to pedestrians to cyclists.

“One of our biggest problems is impaired driving, like alcohol use and illegal drug use and prescription medication use,” said Rosiello. “In addition to that, reckless speeds, aggressive driving, and general inattention.”

As for pedestrians, Rosiello said people are crossing in the wrong area, wearing dark clothes, or not paying attention.

He also said 28 people lost their lives from vehicle crashes in Atlantic County during the first six months of 2024, compared to 15 last year.

Our 6abc data journalism team found White Horse Pike had the most fatal crashes in Atlantic County in 2024.

Rosiello said neighboring areas are seeing similar trends, with Camden County reaching 24 deaths and Burlington County reaching 23 deaths.

“It’s scary,” said Matthew Deveglio from Gloucester City. “The White Horse Pike in a lot of places – it’s terrible.”

“We see people driving with their heads down,” said Mark Jay from Lawnside. “They’re not paying attention. They’re going over the speed limit and a lot of distracted drivers.”

In May, a New Jersey American Water worker died after a woman crashed into a work zone on White Horse Pike in Magnolia, Camden County.

Jay, a Lawnside firefighter, responded to the scene.

“Stuff like that humbles you because it could be you,” said Jay. “You’re leaving your house, and you never know, it might be your last time you’re leaving your house.”

The prosecutor’s offices in Camden and Atlantic counties are increasing their efforts to make sure residents return home, especially as summer travel ramps up.

With the help of federal grant money, both teamed up with local police departments to conduct more DWI patrols and checkpoints, provide education to drivers and students, and discuss ways to make roads safer.

Rosiello offered advice for those behind the wheel and on foot.

“Everyone is in such a rush nowadays, trying to do so much at once, that people just need to slow down and take a little bit of extra time to get from point A to point B,” he said.

Rosiello also encouraged people to use ride-sharing services if they’re impaired.

If you have any questions or ideas for road safety, contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.