Mortgage vs free-and-clear medians
- With mortgage
- $9,741/yr
- Without mortgage
- $9,313/yr
- Gap
- $428
Statewide · Property tax · ACS 2024
New Jersey Property Taxes
The average New Jersey homeowner pays $9,590 a year at an effective rate of 2.11%. That bill is 381% above the U.S. median bill. Compare 21 counties below.
- $9,590
- Avg median tax
- 2.11%
- Effective rate
- #1 of 51
- U.S. rank (burden)
- 21
- Counties
New Jersey is one of the most heavily property-taxed places in the country: a median bill of $9,590 a year at an effective rate of 2.11%, the 1st-highest of 51 U.S. jurisdictions (50 states and DC).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2024), the median New Jersey homeowner pays $9,590 a year on a home worth $454,400, an effective rate of 2.11%. The bill runs 381% above the $1,993 national median. County medians range $5,052 (Cumberland County) to $10,001 or more, the Census ceiling that 8 counties report across 21 counties.
What the statewide average misses
County medians in New Jersey run from $5,052 in Cumberland County to $10,001 or more, the Census ceiling that 8 counties report. That range is why a statewide figure is a starting point, not a parcel-level estimate.
- $5,052–$10,001 or more, the Census ceiling that 8 counties report
- County median-bill range
- 1.99%
- Home-weighted county rate
- 61%
- Homes in the eight largest counties
County medians come from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2024. The statewide effective rate in the hero is median tax divided by median home value.
Collector rank · FY2024
New Jersey is a top-tier collector of U.S. state-and-local property tax
#6 of 51 · 4.8% of U.S. collections
In Census FY2024, New Jersey's state and local governments collected $34.8B in property tax - 4.8% of the U.S. total (#6 of 51).
Spread across 2,239,128 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $15,559 per home - 1.6× the ACS median homeowner bill of $9,590. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
- Illinois at 5.29% U.S. share (higher)
- Pennsylvania at 3.25% U.S. share (lower)
- Florida at 6.43% U.S. share (higher)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, FY2024, series LF0009 (property tax), government level State and Local (GOVTYPE 001). Amounts are published in thousands of dollars. This is a government-revenue series, not tax, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for the ACS homeowner median bill above.
ACS tenure & reporting signals · 2024
Mortgage tenure and zero-tax reporting in New Jersey
These sub-topics sit on dedicated research and guide pages fleet-wide; here they are computed for New Jersey from the same ACS tables that power county medians above.
Owners reporting no tax
- All owner-occupied
- 5.6%
- With mortgage
- 2.0%
- Sample (owned homes)
- 808,288
ACS reports what households paid, not approved exemptions. Exemption guide
County effective-rate spread
Published medians span 1.22% in Cape May County to 2.93% in Salem County - a 1.71 percentage-point gap across 21 counties.
Appeal guide for when a parcel sits above its county median.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024), Table B25087 (mortgage status medians) and county tax_distribution aggregates (zero-tax reporting shares). Informational only, not tax or legal advice.
The average median property tax in New Jersey is $9,590/year, which is 381% above the national average of $1,993. The average effective tax rate is 2.11% on a median home value of $454,400. Taxes range from $5,052 in Cumberland County to $10,001 or more, the Census ceiling that 8 counties report.
Read the state signal first
What the data changes in New Jersey
A rate compares places with different home values. The annual bill shows a typical dollar amount. County spread shows why neither is a parcel estimate.
The clearest local difference
The typical bill sits well above the national median
The statewide median property-tax bill is $9,590 a year, 381% above the $1,993 national median. The Census ACS estimate describes the median homeowner household rather than an individual parcel.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Figures describe median homeowner households reported to the Census Bureau. Individual bills can differ with assessed value, exemptions, special districts, and local overlays. Confirm current rates with your county assessor or a qualified professional before making a decision.
State Average vs National Average
Median Annual Tax
$9,590
+381% vs US avg
Median Home Value
$454,400
+99% vs US avg
Effective Tax Rate
2.11%
+129% vs US avg
Rate-band peers near New Jersey
Nearest ACS 2024 jurisdictions by effective rate (not geography). Each row names another state so New Jersey's 2.11% rate is read against real neighbors such as Illinois and Connecticut.
| Peer state | Effective rate | Vs New Jersey | Median bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Also open Illinois for county spread | 2.01% | Illinois runs 0.10 pts below New Jersey | $5,298 |
| Connecticut Also open Connecticut for county spread | 1.81% | Connecticut runs 0.30 pts below New Jersey | $6,643 |
| New Hampshire Also open New Hampshire for county spread | 1.66% | New Hampshire runs 0.45 pts below New Jersey | $6,667 |
| Vermont Also open Vermont for county spread | 1.59% | Vermont runs 0.52 pts below New Jersey | $5,039 |
| New York Also open New York for county spread | 1.55% | New York runs 0.56 pts below New Jersey | $6,582 |
| Nebraska Also open Nebraska for county spread | 1.49% | Nebraska runs 0.62 pts below New Jersey | $3,549 |
Nationwide states with similar effective rate & median bill
Two PlainPropertyTax-derived comparison paths for New Jersey, excluding New Jersey itself so the link neighborhoods are not self-referential. Median-bill peers exclude the effective-rate peer set so the two axes stay disjoint.
Similar effective rate
Nearest other states by ACS effective rate. New Jersey: 2.11%.
Similar median bill
Nearest other states by ACS median annual tax. New Jersey: $9,590/yr. Rate peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Where New Jersey sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective property tax rate (median tax ÷ median home value) across the 50 states and DC, ACS 2024.
Where New Jersey sits among U.S. jurisdictions
Effective rate · ACS 2024 · 50 states and DC
2.11% more affordable than 0% of 51 U.S. jurisdictions
Show national distribution
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. 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
New Jersey has a higher effective property tax rate than 100% of U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 states and DC), ranking #1 of 51 for property tax burden. Rate neighbors: Illinois (2.01%, 0.10 pts lower than New Jersey); Connecticut (1.81%, 0.30 pts lower than New Jersey); New Hampshire (1.66%, 0.45 pts lower than New Jersey).
What New Jersey's biggest counties actually charge
Effective rate in the eight New Jersey counties holding the most owner-occupied homes, ordered largest first (highlighted) and together holding 61% of the state's. ACS 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Counties ordered by owner-occupied housing units (B25003_002E), not by resident population.
New Jersey's median county rate is 2.11%, but that figure counts every county equally. Weight each county by how many owner-occupied homes it actually holds and the rate a typical New Jersey homeowner faces is 1.99%, lower than the plain median, because the counties where most homeowners live are not average ones.
Top 5 Lowest Tax Counties
Top 5 Highest Tax Counties
8 counties in New Jersey report the Census ceiling of $10,001 and are tied rather than ranked; effective rate is not capped.
Tax Affordability Score
1
Very Expensive
Based on the average effective tax rate of 2.11% compared to the national average of 0.92%. New Jersey has above-average property tax rates, contributing to higher housing costs.
Very Expensive Very Affordable
How this score is calculated: a 1-10 scale from New Jersey's 2.11% vs the national 0.92% - read beside Illinois and Connecticut before treating the score as band-typical. A ratio at or below 0.5× scores 10, at or above 2.0× scores 1, linear between. Census figures only, not a recommendation or endorsement.
Counties in New Jersey by tax bill
Ranked from highest median annual bill downward across 21 measured counties. Gold/silver/bronze mark the top three list positions; effective rate is the focal comparison when home values differ. 8 counties report the Census ACS ceiling of $10,001 and are tied rather than strictly ordered.
| # | County | Median tax | Eff. rate | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bergen County | $10,001 | 1.61% | $623,000 |
| 2 | Essex County | $10,001 | 1.91% | $524,100 |
| 3 | Hunterdon County | $10,001 | 1.93% | $517,200 |
| 4 | Monmouth County | $10,001 | 1.65% | $606,100 |
| 5 | Morris County | $10,001 | 1.72% | $582,500 |
| 6 | Passaic County | $10,001 | 2.18% | $459,500 |
| 7 | Somerset County | $10,001 | 1.81% | $552,100 |
| 8 | Union County | $10,001 | 1.89% | $529,200 |
| 9 | Middlesex County | $9,712 | 2.10% | $462,900 |
| 10 | Hudson County | $9,555 | 1.77% | $539,700 |
| 11 | Mercer County | $8,909 | 2.36% | $377,700 |
| 12 | Sussex County | $8,568 | 2.32% | $369,400 |
| 13 | Camden County | $8,134 | 2.83% | $287,100 |
| 14 | Warren County | $8,119 | 2.34% | $346,500 |
| 15 | Gloucester County | $8,055 | 2.60% | $310,400 |
| 16 | Burlington County | $7,983 | 2.26% | $354,000 |
| 17 | Salem County | $7,018 | 2.93% | $239,500 |
| 18 | Atlantic County | $6,776 | 2.30% | $295,000 |
| 19 | Ocean County | $6,562 | 1.65% | $398,400 |
| 20 | Cape May County | $5,306 | 1.22% | $434,600 |
| 21 | Cumberland County | $5,052 | 2.28% | $221,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does New Jersey compare to the national average? ▼
New Jersey property taxes are 381% above the national average. Homeowners here pay a median of $9,590 per year compared to $1,993 nationally.
What is the average property tax in New Jersey? ▼
The average median property tax paid in New Jersey is $9,590 per year, based on ACS 2024 data. The average effective tax rate is 2.11%.
What is the median home value in New Jersey? ▼
The median home value across New Jersey is $454,400, compared to $227,791 nationally. Home values directly impact property tax bills since taxes are assessed as a percentage of property value.
Which county in New Jersey has the lowest property taxes? ▼
Cumberland County has the lowest median property tax in New Jersey at $5,052 per year with an effective rate of 2.28%. The highest is an 8-way tie at the Census ceiling of $10,001, which the ACS publishes as an at-or-above bound rather than an exact median.
How large is New Jersey's share of U.S. property-tax collections? ▼
In Census FY2024, New Jersey's state and local governments collected $34.8B in property tax - 4.8% of the U.S. total (#6 of 51). Spread across 2,239,128 owner-occupied homes, that haul is about $15,559 per home - 1.6× the ACS median homeowner bill of $9,590. The gap is expected: LF0009 covers all taxable property (including commercial and other non-household parcels), while the ACS median is a household figure.
Do homeowners with a mortgage pay more property tax in New Jersey? ▼
ACS 2024 medians show mortgaged owners pay $9,741/yr versus $9,313 for owners without a mortgage, a $428 gap. Our mortgage-gap research page ranks this spread against all states.
What share of New Jersey owners report paying no property tax? ▼
5.6% of owner-occupied homes in New Jersey report zero property tax on the ACS survey (2.0% among mortgaged owners). That is a reporting signal, exemptions, caps, or non-levying jurisdictions, not an exemption headcount.
How are property taxes calculated? ▼
Property taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of a property by the local tax rate (mill rate). Rates vary by county, city, and school district. The effective tax rate shown here is the median tax paid divided by the median home value, which provides a standardized comparison across counties.
Can I appeal my property taxes in New Jersey? ▼
Yes. Every New Jersey homeowner has the right to appeal their property tax assessment. The process typically starts at your county assessor's office within 30-90 days of receiving your assessment notice. You can challenge the assessed value by providing comparable sales data, evidence of property condition, or errors in the assessment. See our guide on how to appeal property taxes for detailed steps.
What to do with New Jersey's numbers
Turn the ACS 2024 statewide medians into a county check, an estimate, or an appeal path.
- New Jersey's ACS 2024 median bill is $9,590/yr at 2.11% (381% above the U.S. median). Open any county below to see how far local bills sit from that statewide figure. County list
- Inside New Jersey, Cumberland County posts the lowest median bill at $5,052/yr; Union County is highest at $10,001/yr. Open Cumberland County
- Estimate a parcel bill at New Jersey's published effective rate, or read the state's assessment and appeal path before treating the statewide median as your budget. State estimator
Statewide medians average across 21 counties; your parcel's assessed value, exemptions, and local levies set the real bill. U.S. Census Bureau ACS · 2024.
Editorial standards and provenance
PlainPropertyTax is rendered directly from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on the Census ACS state-level record for New Jersey. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-09.