A free tool from NextGen Properties — $500M+ AUM

Fords, NJ Eviction Risk Score Union County · New Jersey · Population 12,771

5.3 Moderate
52.5%Tenant-law probability
$9,239–25,521Typical eviction cost
193 daysTypical timeline
$1,913Median gross rent
27.4%Rent burden
28.3%Renters

Sub-score breakdown

Local political climate
7.1
Dem margin +35.5% in 2020
Regional political climate
7.1
Dem margin +35.5% in 2020
State political climate
6.8
Economic stress
4.3
5.1% poverty · 3.7% unemployed
Supply constraint
7.7
$1,913 median rent · 28.3% renters
Rent-control risk
4.5
27.4% rent burden
Eviction process difficulty
6.5
Tenant organizing strength
6.2
28.3% renters
Housing court bias
3.8

Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.

Location & regional heat

Heat density reflects surrounding cities. Click any nearby city to compare.

Own rentals in or near Fords?
Get a free consultation covering local rent-control exposure, notice requirements, and eviction defense risk.
Free Consultation →

About eviction risk in Fords, NJ

Fords, NJ has an eviction risk score of 5.3 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in Union County and the state of New Jersey. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 27.4% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Fords is $1,913/month. About 28.3% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 5.1%, unemployment 3.7%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Union County voted Democratic by 35.5 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.3/10, Fords is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.

Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison

Landlord Guides & Research Tools

Deepen your market research with these ACS-data guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each ranking.

Landlord Guides for New Jersey

Eviction Costs — New Jersey →
Filing fees, attorney fees, lost rent, sheriff lockout
Eviction Process — New Jersey →
Step-by-step timeline, notices, statute cites
Rent Control — New Jersey →
Statewide caps, local ordinances, just-cause
Tenant Screening — New Jersey →
5-point protocol, legal rules, protected classes
Tenant Protections — New Jersey →
Just cause, retaliation, habitability, entry