Gloucester County, New Jersey Eviction Risk: High

Gloucester County carries an average eviction-risk score of 7.6/10 (High) across its 27 cities, placing it squarely in the middle third of New Jersey counties: 10 counties in the state score higher and 10 score lower. For landlords and investors, that average telegraphs a market where tenant-protection law is robust, eviction timelines are long, and operating discipline matters. Average rent runs $1,369 per month against a rent-burden rate of 33%, a combination that signals tenants who are often stretched thin and more likely to fall behind.

The intra-county spread, from a low of 6.1/10 to a high of 8.2/10, is the more actionable number. Thirteen points of range across 27 municipalities means that a landlord choosing between two neighboring towns is effectively choosing between two different risk environments. Portfolio location decisions made at the county level alone will miss that variation entirely.

The cities inside Gloucester County

At the top of the risk ladder sits Westville at 8.2/10, the county's highest score. Woodbury (population 10,042) and Paulsboro (population 6,248) both reach 8.1/10, and Glassboro, the county's most populous city at 23,717 residents, scores 8/10. These four communities share conditions, dense rental stock, higher poverty exposure, and concentrated tenant populations, that push eviction risk well above the county average. Williamstown (population 14,705) at 7.9/10 and Clayton at 7.8/10 also clear the county average by a meaningful margin.

Lower-risk options do exist within the county. Beckett, at 6.9/10, and Mullica Hill and Pitman, each at 7.4/10, represent noticeably calmer operating conditions compared to the county's high-end tier. The gap between Beckett and Westville is more than two full points, a difference that shows up in eviction frequency, tenant stability, and ultimately in net operating income over a multi-year hold.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Gloucester County operates under New Jersey eviction laws state law, primarily N.J.S.A. § 46:8 and N.J.S.A. § 2A:18 (the Anti-Eviction Act). The state requires just cause for eviction, meaning a landlord cannot remove a tenant without a legally recognized reason. Notice requirements vary by cause: nonpayment of rent can proceed immediately (no advance notice period required by statute), disorderly conduct and willful property damage carry a 3-day notice, a substantial lease violation requires 30 days, and an owner move-in or substantial renovation requires 60 days. Understanding the New Jersey eviction process in full is essential before filing, because procedural missteps reset the clock. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 30 to 60 days; contested matters can run 90 to 180 days.

Cost exposure is also real. Court filing fees run $50 to $100, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney fees range from $750 to $3,500 depending on case complexity. New Jersey eviction costs therefore span a wide band depending on whether the tenant contests. The state does not preempt local rent control, so individual municipalities may layer additional restrictions on top of state law. Source of income is a protected class under the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, which limits screening flexibility compared to states without that protection.

With an average poverty rate of 9.7% and a renter share of 23.8% across the county, conditions vary sharply by municipality; the city grid above breaks down individual scores so you can compare specific markets before committing capital.