file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, thinking about moving? Property taxes should be a key factor in your decision. WalletHub’s 2025 Property Taxes by State report, released on Tuesday, February 18, reveals the stark contrast in property tax burdens across the U.S.—and for New Jersey homeowners, the news isn’t great.
New Jersey Ranked #51 for Highest Property Taxes
The Garden State takes the unfortunate title of highest property taxes in the nation, ranking dead last (51st, counting Washington, D.C.). On average, New Jersey homeowners pay $9,541 annually on a median-priced home, more than three times the national average of $2,969.
“Some states charge no property taxes at all, while others charge an arm and a leg,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Americans considering a move should factor in property tax rates, along with the overall cost of living, when choosing where to live.”
How Does Your State Compare?
📍 Highest Property Taxes:
- #51 – New Jersey: $9,541
- #49 – Connecticut: $6,575
- #46 – New York: $6,450
📍 Moderate Property Taxes:
- #35 – Massachusetts: $5,813
- #40 – Pennsylvania: $3,241
- #31 – Maryland: $3,989
- #19 – Virginia: $2,686
Vehicle Property Taxes: Another Cost to Consider
Not all states tax vehicle ownership, but for those that do, the costs can add up.
- Virginia has the highest vehicle property tax in the country, with the average owner paying $1,139 annually for a Toyota Camry (America’s top-selling car in 2024).
- Connecticut (#44) and Massachusetts (#45) also ranked poorly, with vehicle taxes of $605 and $646, respectively.
- New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland do not charge vehicle property taxes.
Across the 26 states that impose vehicle property taxes, the average cost is $492 per year.
Why Property Taxes Matter—Even for Renters
You might think property taxes don’t apply to you if you rent, but that’s a misconception. Landlords factor property taxes into rental pricing, so even renters feel the impact of high tax rates. Property taxes also fund local services like schools, public safety, and infrastructure.
Planning Your Next Move?
If you’re weighing relocation or homeownership, understanding property tax rates is crucial. Some states offer lower costs of living, while others, like New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York, carry some of the heaviest tax burdens in the country.
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We are forced to pay for bloated school budgets and union municipal employees with generous salaries, medical benefits, and defined pension plans.
And yet, people keep moving into the state.
lol
they move here temporarily. while the kids are in school for 10 years… then bail out back to NYC
we pay for the pride parade too. thats coming to an end tho. let’s go back to our traditional values. lets make america great again
Why are we paying bloated school budgets? No checks and balances! The Trump administration are uncovering the fleecing of America !(mostly by Democrats) on a smaller scale the same is happening in our communities by public schools ie: BOE! We the taxpayers are being fleeced by BOE elected officials with no oversight!
those without children should not be forced to subsidize those using the school. pay for your own spawns education
Hold on a minute. I see all those Josh for governor commercials. He said he has spent all his time in government fighting to make New Jersey more affordable. The fact that this is the highest taxed, therefore most expensive state to live must be fake news. It has to be more affordable now than eight years ago, or else Josh is a complete failure, who is hoping his future constituents are too stupid to notice how expensive New Jersey has become in every respect during his tenure in congress. I mean, if it’s more expensive to live in New Jersey today than it’s ever been before that would make his campaign commercial pretty damn stupid, and we know wannabe career politicians would never do something that blatantly stupid. Get a clue blog! Pop some corks because we should be celebrating all of our new-found wealth.
lol, keeping voting Democrat!