School meals in New Jersey
Who is in the free or reduced-price school meal range? Free meals use 130 percent of $33,000 for a household of four, and reduced-price meals use 185 percent, for the 2026–27 school year.
The largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap among ranked metros in New Jersey is $1,132: New York at $2,971 and Allentown at $1,839.
New Jersey taxes wages at rates up to 10.75%. Combined state and local sales tax is 6.6%. The ACS effective property tax rate is 1.89%.
A household of four with $48,000 of income is about 145 percent of the $33,000 poverty guideline and is likely eligible for School meals. Likely eligible for reduced-price meals.
Limits behind the page
| Household | 100% | 138% | 185% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 | $29,526 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 | $40,034 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 | $50,542 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 | $61,050 |
An illustrative household
Two adults, ages 34 and 32, filing jointly, plus children ages 8 and 3. Gross income $48,000 a year, about 145 percent of the poverty guideline in New Jersey. They rent. Nobody is marked disabled or pregnant.
School meals
Likely eligibleLikely eligible for reduced-price meals
- A school-age child is in the household. Income is 145 percent of the 2026 poverty guidelines. Free meals use 130 percent and reduced-price meals use 185 percent for the 2026–27 school year.
Food stamps (SNAP) tools in New Jersey
Other programs in New Jersey
- Food stamps (SNAP)
- Medicaid and CHIP
- WIC
- LIHEAP
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Marketplace subsidies
- Lifeline
- SSI
- State programs
Large metros in New Jersey
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · 2-bedroom FMR $2,971
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · 2-bedroom FMR $1,860
- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ · 2-bedroom FMR $1,839