NJ Property Taxes 2024: Bergen & Passaic Towns with the Highest Bills

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Property taxes in New Jersey remain some of the highest in the nation—and 2024 is no exception. According to the latest state data, the average New Jersey homeowner paid $10,095 in property taxes last year, exceeding the federal government’s former $10,000 SALT deduction cap.

With property taxes funding everything from schools and police to libraries and roads, many NJ towns—especially those without large commercial tax bases—rely heavily on homeowners to shoulder the burden.

Let’s dive into the most expensive towns in Bergen and Passaic counties, explore why NJ property taxes are so high, and highlight upcoming changes to the federal SALT deduction.

🏡 Top 10 Bergen County Towns with the Highest Average Property Tax Bills (2024)

1. Demarest: $24,736

2. Tenafly: $23,833

3. Alpine: $22,581

4. Ridgewood: $20,370

5. Haworth: $20,090

6. Saddle River: $19,758

7. Upper Saddle River: $19,739

8. Woodcliff Lake: $19,624

9. Franklin Lakes: $19,374

10. Glen Rock: $19,297

🏘️ Top 10 Passaic County Towns with the Highest Property Tax Bills (2024)

1. Wayne: $13,698

2. Prospect Park: $12,651

3. Ringwood: $12,620

4. Haledon: $12,230

5. Bloomingdale: $11,740

6. North Haledon: $11,709

7. Woodland Park: $11,634

8. Hawthorne: $11,604

9. Passaic: $11,355

10. Pompton Lakes: $11,007

📊 Why Are NJ Property Taxes So High?

New Jersey’s “heavy reliance on local funding” for municipal services is a key factor. Each town maintains its own schools, police, fire departments, roads, and more, which means duplicated costs across hundreds of municipalities.

Larger towns benefit from economies of scale, but smaller suburban communities often pay more for the same services. Without major commercial or corporate tax bases, the financial burden falls primarily on homeowners.

🔄 SALT Deduction Cap Increased to $40,000

Previously, the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction was capped at $10,000 under a 2018 federal tax law, disproportionately impacting homeowners in high-tax states like NJ, NY, and CA.

However, as part of President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” signed on July 4, 2025, the SALT deduction cap has been raised to $40,000 through 2029.

This change is expected to offer significant relief to homeowners in high-property-tax states.

🗓️ How Have Property Taxes Changed Over the Years?

Many of the same towns have remained in the top 10 year after year, but their rankings shift slightly:

• Cresskill appeared on the Bergen list in 2020, 2021, and 2023.

• Ho-Ho-Kus made the list in 2022.

• In Passaic County, Little Falls briefly entered the top 10 in 2021 and 2022.

🏛️ Can NJ Property Taxes Be Lowered?

Both political parties have floated proposals:

• Republican Jack Ciattarelli suggested capping property taxes as a percentage of assessed home value, expanding the Senior Freeze, and cutting state spending.

• Democrat Mikie Sherrill pushed for shared services between towns (e.g., merging municipal courts, schools, and administrative offices).

However, Rutgers University expert Marc Pfeiffer notes that shared services yield limited savings and property tax caps may face constitutional challenges, as all property owners must be assessed under the same standards.

✅ Key Takeaways for NJ Homeowners

• Property taxes remain high, especially in affluent Bergen and Passaic County suburbs.

• Relief is coming in the form of the raised SALT deduction cap, allowing homeowners to deduct up to $40,000 in state/local taxes through 2029.

• Long-term solutions to reduce property taxes remain complex and politically challenging.