Essex County Leads New Jersey in Property Taxes for 2025

Essex County homeowners shouldered the steepest property taxes in New Jersey during 2025. Bills averaged $14,460 on houses valued at $494,335. That topped every other county and pushed past the Garden State average of $10,570 on houses assessed at $405,153.

Numbers from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs confirmed the county's first-place finish for tax burden, according to patch.com. These figures show bills before credits or deductions kicked in.

But rankings shift when you examine effective tax rates, which measure what people pay compared to their house's worth. Towns with pricier houses tend to pay smaller effective rates even when dollar amounts run higher.

Local observers have watched this pattern unfold. Wealthier towns in the county show smaller effective rates than places where property values dip lower, which widens the gap in who carries the heavier load.

Bills differ from one town to the next within the county. What each municipality pays hinges on house assessments and the local tax rates set by officials.

The 2025 numbers continue a trend. Residents here have wrestled with the state's heftiest property taxes year after year.

New Jersey residents statewide grappled with bills exceeding $10,000 on average last year. Those figures push the state into the top tier nationally for property taxes.

County homeowners paid nearly 37% more than the state average in 2025 — a substantial difference that persisted between the county and other New Jersey regions.

House values in the county also ran above state norms. The average assessed value of $494,335 sat well past the statewide figure of $405,153.

Effective tax rate calculations offer another lens on the situation. This measurement allows comparisons across towns with different property values, giving residents a sharper view of what they're paying relative to what their house is worth.