Property tax in Essex County, New Jersey
The median property tax bill in Essex County, New Jersey is $10,000+ a year, which is at least 1.91% of the county's median home value of $524,100. The Census stops counting at $10,000: it reports only that the median bill here is $10,000 or more, so the true bill and rate are higher than shown. That effective rate is higher than the national median (0.81%); against the typical New Jersey county (2.1%) the capped figure cannot say. These are American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024); your own bill depends on your home's assessed value and any exemptions.
Estimate the property tax on a home in Essex County
Enter a home's market value for a ballpark at Essex County's average effective rate of 1.91% (Census). The real bill depends on the home's assessed value, the millage where it sits and any exemptions.
Estimated property tax: $10,010 / year
Property tax in Essex County at a glance
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median annual property tax | $10,000+ |
| Median home value | $524,100 |
| Effective tax rate | at least 1.91% |
| Typical New Jersey county rate | 2.1% |
| National median county rate | 0.81% |
Effective rate = median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
How does Essex County compare in New Jersey?
Among New Jersey's 21 counties, Essex County has the 13th highest effective property-tax rate: 12 rank higher and 8 rank lower. Nationally, it ranks 113th of 3135 US counties by effective rate. Both ranks use the capped $10,000 bill, so the county's true rate, and its true rank, may be higher still. See every New Jersey county ranked.
How much do homeowners in Essex County actually pay?
The median is only the middle bill. Across Essex County's 143,579 owner-occupied homes, 92.1% pay $3,000 or more a year in property tax, 93.1% pay at least $2,000, and 1.5% pay under $800. Another 3.7% report paying no property tax at all, which usually means an exemption covers the whole bill.
| Annual bill | Homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under $800 | 2,177 | 1.5% |
| $800 to $1,499 | 1,503 | 1% |
| $1,500 to $1,999 | 995 | 0.7% |
| $2,000 to $2,999 | 1,438 | 1% |
| $3,000 or more | 132,205 | 92.1% |
| No property tax paid | 5,261 | 3.7% |
Owners with a mortgage pay a median of $10,000+ and owners without one pay $10,000+. At least one of those medians hits the Census cap, so the gap between them cannot be measured here. Census table B25103.
Property tax in counties next to Essex County
Essex County borders 5 counties.
| County | Effective rate | Median bill | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic County, NJ | at least 2.18% | $10,000+ | $459,500 |
| Essex County, NJ (this county) | at least 1.91% | $10,000+ | $524,100 |
| Union County, NJ | at least 1.89% | $10,000+ | $529,200 |
| Hudson County, NJ | 1.77% | $9,555 | $539,700 |
| Morris County, NJ | at least 1.72% | $10,000+ | $582,500 |
| Bergen County, NJ | at least 1.61% | $10,000+ | $623,000 |
How is a home assessed in Essex County?
New Jersey sets the assessment rules and Essex County applies them. How New Jersey assesses and reappraises homes.
Is there a homestead exemption in Essex County?
Not as an exemption. New Jersey's main benefit is ANCHOR, for homeowners with New Jersey gross income up to $250,000, and the amount depends on your income tier. That is the New Jersey rule, and it applies in Essex County. New Jersey's exemptions and relief programs in full.
When are property taxes due in Essex County?
Quarterly installments due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, usually with a 10-day grace period. Your municipal tax collector bills and collects.
New Jersey splits the bill into 4 installments. That is the New Jersey rule. Essex County issues and collects the bill, so the dates printed on your statement are the ones that bind you.
How to appeal your Essex County property assessment
You contest the assessed value with the County Board of Taxation, then the New Jersey Tax Court. The filing deadline is typically April 1 (May 1 after a revaluation). That is the New Jersey rule; Essex County sets the exact dates and forms. The New Jersey appeal process step by step.
New Jersey rules from primary state sources, reviewed September 7, 2026; sources on the New Jersey page.
Work out your own numbers
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How much house can I afford?
Your income, debts and down payment against the 28/36 rule lenders actually use, with Essex County's tax rate to hand.
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Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment with principal, interest, tax and insurance, plus what an extra payment saves you.
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New Jersey income tax
Brackets, standard deduction and what New Jersey actually taxes.
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Sales tax in Essex County
The other local tax: combined state and local rate for this county.
Sources
- Median real estate taxes paid and median home value for Essex County, New Jersey: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020-2024), tables B25103, B25077, B25102, B25119 and B25003; the five-year comparison uses the 2015-2019 estimates. Neighboring counties: Census county adjacency file.