By Mike Lentz | The Mike Lentz Team - Keller Williams Realty
Yes, by a wide margin. Over the past 12 months, condos sold for 30 to 39 percent less than single-family homes in four of our five counties. In Washington Township, Mount Laurel, and Voorhees, the gap ran from 47 to 63 percent. Nationally, Zillow puts the starter condo discount at about 6 percent.
When you picture buying your first home, you probably see a single-family house. A yard, a driveway, maybe a garage. With affordability still tight, that house can carry a price that doesn’t fit your budget right now.
Condos are more affordable than houses in most of South Jersey, and the gap here is far wider than the national number. Here is what our closed sales show, county by county and town by town.
Condos Are More Affordable Than Houses in Four of Our Five Counties
Zillow’s research found that condos are the most commonly affordable home type in nearly every metro. Nationally, a starter condo averages $197,468. That’s about 6 percent below the typical starter home.
The South Jersey gap is much bigger. We pulled every closed sale in Bright MLS from October 2025 through mid-October 2026 and compared condos to detached single-family homes in each county.
| County | Condo median | Single-family median | Condo savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester | $250,000 | $405,000 | 38% |
| Camden | $285,000 | $408,000 | 30% |
| Burlington | $275,000 | $450,000 | 39% |
| Cumberland | $206,250 | $295,000 | 30% |
| Salem | 2 sales | $290,000 | Not enough sales |
Burlington and Gloucester counties show the widest spread, with condos selling for close to 40 percent less. Camden and Cumberland counties sit at 30 percent. Cumberland’s condo sales are few and mostly in Vineland and Millville.
Salem County had only two condo sales all year. There, the lower-cost path is a smaller single-family home, and the county median of $290,000 is already close to condo prices elsewhere in the region.
Where to Look for Condos in South Jersey
Condo sales cluster in a handful of suburbs. Of the towns with at least 20 condo sales over the past year, these ten had the biggest gap between condo and single-family prices.
Florence in Burlington County tops the list. Condos there sold for a median $119,900, against $450,000 for a single-family home.
Voorhees in Camden County has the widest gap. A condo there sold for a median $245,000, against $653,500 for a single-family home. Same town, same schools, same commute, for 63 percent less.
Mount Laurel in Burlington County had more condo sales than any other town in our area, 221 over the year. Condos there sold for half the single-family price.
For Gloucester County buyers, Washington Township is the strongest option. Ninety-eight condos sold there at a median of $249,950, while single-family homes went for $470,000.
Not every condo comes in below a house, though. All 37 condo sales in Gibbsboro in Camden County were new construction, with a median of $454,990. That’s above the town’s $395,000 single-family median. If price is your main reason for looking at condos, focus on established communities.
Condos Come in More Than One Shape
A condo is a type of ownership, and condos come in more than one shape. Some are single-floor flats in a larger building. Others look exactly like townhomes, with their own front door and two or three floors.
Either way, you usually get less space than you would in a single-family house. More buyers are making that trade. Ali Wolf, Chief Economist for New Home Source, explains:
“In addition to favoring smaller floor plans, more consumers are showing a willingness to live in an attached home. This shift is not driven by a preference for shared walls, but by a pursuit of value.”
Smaller space has its own payoff. Less square footage means less to furnish, heat, and maintain. We cover that in more detail in why a smaller home can work in your favor.
Trade-Offs When Condos Are More Affordable Than Houses
Condos come with trade-offs. Shared walls. Less outdoor space. A monthly association fee that becomes part of your housing payment. If you rent an apartment now, you’re already used to most of this.
The association fee deserves a close look. Ask for the budget, the reserve balance, and any planned special assessments before you commit. A low price with a high fee can cost more each month than a slightly pricier home with a lower fee.
Financing is the other early check. An FHA loan on a condo requires the community to have FHA approval, or the unit to qualify for a single-unit approval. Many first-time buyers use FHA, so confirm this before you fall for a unit.
What you get in return can be worth it. Many communities include a pool, a clubhouse, or a fitness room. The association handles at least some of the exterior upkeep. And you may become a homeowner years sooner than if you wait for a single-family price to fit.
How to Decide If Condos Are More Affordable Than Houses for Your Budget
Start with the monthly cost of each option. Add the mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and any association fee for each home you’re weighing. Then put them side by side.
Check your cash to close too. A lower price means a smaller down payment in dollars. Our guide to how much down payment you really need in South Jersey walks through the numbers.
For a broader look at attached homes as a first step, see our guide to condos and townhomes in South Jersey.
Bottom Line
Condos are more affordable than houses across most of South Jersey. In the four towns with the most condo sales, the savings ran from 39 to 51 percent. If single-family prices have kept you on the sidelines, add condos to your search and compare the monthly numbers side by side.
We can pull current condo listings in the towns that fit your commute and budget. Schedule a quick call and we’ll walk through it together.
For the full picture in your county, see our county market reports for Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Salem, and Cumberland counties.
