New Jersey · County property tax · ACS 2024
Essex County Property Taxes
The median homeowner in Essex County pays $10,001 a year, an effective rate of 1.91%, 402% above the U.S. median.
- $10,001
- Median tax / yr
- 1.91%
- Effective rate
- +402%
- vs U.S. median
- #13 of 21
- rank in NJ
The verdict
Homeowners in Essex County pay a median $10,001 a year in property tax, an effective rate of 1.91%, more affordable than 4% of U.S. counties.
- $10,001
- Median annual tax bill, 2024
- 1.91%
- Effective rate on median home
- #3025 of 3135
- U.S. counties by tax burden
- +402%
- vs the national median bill
Effective rate is the median property tax bill divided by the median home value ($524,100). U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024.
Census Bureau ACS property tax data for New Jersey. Population: 863,002. Owner-occupied homes: 143,579.
The median annual property tax in Essex County is $10,001, which is 17% higher than the New Jersey state average and 402% above the national average. The effective tax rate is 1.91% on a median home value of $524,100. Property taxes represent 12.4% of the median household income in this county. All property tax data shown below is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, which aggregates self-reported tax payments from homeowner households across the county. This page includes tax trends over multiple years, comparisons with neighboring counties, and a rent-versus-own cost analysis.
What This Data Tells Us About Essex County
Homeowners in Essex County pay a median annual property tax of $10,001, which is 402% higher than the national median and 17% above the New Jersey state average. The effective tax rate of 1.91% on a median home value of $524,100 reflects how the local assessment base and millage combine into an actual bill.
Property taxes in Essex County represent about 12.4% of the median household income of $80,789, compared with a common national benchmark of 2% to 4%. Homeowners with a mortgage report a median of $10,001 in annual property tax while those without a mortgage report $10,001 - a gap that usually reflects differences in home value rather than differences in tax rate. Compared with 2023, the median tax bill changed by 0.0%, which tracks reassessment cycles and changes in the underlying home value distribution.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe the median homeowner household in Essex County as reported to the Census Bureau, your own bill can differ based on your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and municipal overlays. Always consult your county assessor, tax collector, or a qualified professional before making decisions that depend on these numbers.
With vs Without Mortgage
Homeowners with a mortgage typically own higher-valued properties, which can result in higher tax bills.
How Essex County compares
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value), ACS 2024.
Essex County's effective rate is higher than 38% of the 21 counties in New Jersey - ranking #13 of 21 for property tax burden.
Note: Census ACS top-codes median property tax at $10,000 or more, so the bill is shown as $10,001 and the effective rate above is a conservative floor - Essex County's true median tax and rate are somewhat higher.
Where Essex County sits among every U.S. county
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value)
1.91% Among the most affordable more affordable than 4% of 3,135 U.S. counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024
Essex County vs Benchmarks
| Metric | Essex County | New Jersey Avg | U.S. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Tax | $10,001 | $8,560 | $1,993 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 1.91% | 2.08% | 0.92% |
| Median Home Value | $524,100 | $430,014 | $227,791 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates. Tax-burden differences across rows reflect millage decisions, assessment-ratio practices, and the residential-vs-commercial mix of each tax base.
Think your Essex County property tax bill is too high?
A successful appeal can lower your assessed value by 10-25%, cutting your annual tax bill by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Use our free Appeal Savings Estimator to project savings on your specific home, then read our step-by-step appeal guide for the exact procedure in New Jersey.
Property Tax History
Median annual property tax in Essex County, 2020–2024 (ACS). Up +0% over the period.
| Year | Median Tax | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,001 +0.0% | 1.91% |
| 2023 | $10,001 +0.0% | 2.02% |
| 2022 | $10,001 +0.0% | 2.14% |
| 2021 | $10,001 +0.0% | 2.42% |
| 2020 | $10,001 | 2.53% |
Tax Burden
Tax Affordability Score
Based on the effective tax rate of 1.91% compared to the national average of 0.92%. Property taxes in Essex County are above average, contributing to higher housing costs.
Other Counties in New Jersey
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average property tax in Essex County, New Jersey? ▼
How does Essex County property tax compare to the national average? ▼
Does having a mortgage affect property taxes in Essex County? ▼
What percentage of income goes to property taxes in Essex County? ▼
Are property taxes increasing in Essex County? ▼
How can I appeal my property tax assessment in Essex County? ▼
What this means in Essex County
How to use Essex County's property-tax numbers, for budgeting, comparison, or an appeal.
- At Essex County's 1.91% effective rate, a $524,100 home implies about $10,001/yr, plug in your own home's value to estimate your bill. Estimate your bill
- Essex County ranks #13 of 21 counties in New Jersey by effective rate, compare it against the rest of the state before you judge your bill. New Jersey overview
- If your assessed value looks high relative to Essex County's typical home, you may have grounds to appeal, most jurisdictions have a filing window each year. How to appeal
Effective rate is the county median tax divided by the county median home value ($524,100); your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies determine your actual bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.
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Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
Property tax data reflects median amounts paid by homeowners. Effective rates are calculated as median tax divided by median home value.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.