Where Do New Jersey Property Taxes Go, And Whose Paying The Most?

Property tax is not a popular topic in New Jersey. Property taxes in the Garden State are the highest in America, so discussing taxes is definitely a sore subject.

According to Belonghome.com, "New Jersey maintains the highest effective property tax rate at 2.23%, with Illinois at 2.08%, Connecticut at 1.79%, and New Hampshire at 1.93%."

So now we know, what we already knew, that New Jersey pays a lot in property taxes, but where does the money go? If you guessed "schools," then you were right again. According to a recent Patch article, some municipalities pay nearly 80% of their property taxes towards schools.

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Patch reported, "Shamong Township in Burlington County had the highest tax share for schools, with 80.2 percent of property taxes going to local schools." In addition, "In all, the Garden State reported more than $64 million in property tax revenue for 2024. Of that, $43.6 million went to schools."

New Jersey Towns Sending Over 70% of Property Taxes to Schools

Holland Township, Hunterdon County: 78.1%
Woodland Township, Burlington County: 75.0%
Washington Township, Burlington County: 74.9%
Upper Freehold Township, Monmouth County: 74.4%
Farmingdale Borough, Monmouth County: 73.4%
Millstone Township, Monmouth County: 73.2%
Chesterfield Township, Burlington County: 72.6%
Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County: 72.4%
Lebanon Township, Hunterdon County: 72.0%
Woodbine Borough, Cape May County: 71.7%
Washington Township, Morris County: 71.6%
Union Township, Hunterdon County: 71.5%
Dennis Township, Cape May County: 71.4%
Upper Township, Cape May County: 71.3%
Medford Township, Burlington County: 70.9%
Randolph Township, Morris County: 70.6%
East Amwell Township, Hunterdon County: 70.4%
Old Tappan Borough, Bergen County: 70.4%
Mountain Lakes Borough, Morris County: 70.4%
Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County: 70.1%
Glen Gardner Borough, Hunterdon County: 70.0%

The majority of those paying out over 70% are from Hunterdon County. How are your property taxes? Do you live in a high tax town, or are yours manageable?

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