The topic is known to make New Jerseyans cringe, curse, roll their eyes and sometimes pack their bags and move.
We’re talking about property taxes — school taxes, to be exact.
New Jersey property owners were billed a collective $17.5 billion last year in school taxes, a 2.8% increase over 2022, according to an NJ Advance Media analysis of state data.
The average school tax bill for a homeowner was $5,139 — up $135 from 2022 — accounting for more than half the average property tax bill of $9,803.
But the local price tag for New Jersey’s highly rated school system varies greatly across the state.
Homeowners in many middle-class towns fork over the largest share of their incomes to their public schools, arguably shouldering the worst of the pain. However, the highest average bills are found in the wealthiest communities, where home values are high and state aid for schools is low.
Here is the list of towns with the highest average tax bill for schools. To find the average school tax bill in every town, click here.
30. Wyckoff
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $10,536
Average total tax bill: $15,200
29. Allendale
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $10,632
Average total tax bill: $16,956
28. Essex Fells
Essex County
Average school tax bill: $10,633
Average total tax bill: $20,335
27. Chatham
Morris County
Average school tax bill: $10,753
Average total tax bill: $16,565
26. River Vale
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $10,842
Average total tax bill: $16,241
25. Colts Neck
Monmouth County
Average school tax bill: $10,905
Average total tax bill: $16,290
24. Fair Haven
Monmouth County
Average school tax bill: $10,982
Average total tax bill: $17,453
23. Westfield
Union County
Average school tax bill: $11,019
Average total tax bill: $17,926
22. Harrington Park
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $11,068
Average total tax bill: $16,422
21. Closter
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $11,177
Average total tax bill: $17,672
20. Chester
Morris County
Average school tax bill: $11,263
Average total tax bill: $16,818
19. Mendham Borough
Morris County
Average school tax bill: $11,277
Average total tax bill: $17,015
18. Kinnelon
Morris County
Average school tax bill: $11,333
Average total tax bill: $16,427
17. Woodcliff Lake
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $11,939
Average total tax bill: $18,550
16. Montgomery
Somerset County
Average school tax bill: $11,964
Average total tax bill: $17,067
15. Montclair
Essex County
Average school tax bill: $12,134
Average total tax bill: $21,415
14. South Orange
Essex County
Average school tax bill: $12,150
Average total tax bill: $21,287
13. Haworth
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $12,175
Average total tax bill: $19,515
12. Old Tappan
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $12,190
Average total tax bill: $17,258
11. Franklin Lakes
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $12,500
Average total tax bill: $18,565
10. Glen Rock
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $12,635
Average total tax bill: $18,391
9. Ridgewood
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $12,656
Average total tax bill: $19,837
8. Millburn
Essex County
Average school tax bill: $12,735
Average total tax bill: $24,947
7. Upper Saddle River
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $12,931
Average total tax bill: $19,015
6. Rumson
Monmouth County
Average school tax bill: $12,977
Average total tax bill: $22,544
5. Glen Ridge
Essex County
Average school tax bill: $13,658
Average total tax bill: $22,605
4. Mendham Township
Morris County
Average school tax bill: $13,745
Average total tax bill: $20,325
3. Tenafly
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $15,001
Average total tax bill: $23,031
2. Demarest
Bergen County
Average school tax bill: $15,628
Average total tax bill: $23,475
1. Mountain Lakes
Morris County
Average school tax bill: $15,750
Average total tax bill: $22,441
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Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com.
