The typical owner-occupied home in Essex County is worth about $524,100, 15% above the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 58% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 1.91% of their home's value, lower than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $80,789 a year, so the median home costs 6.5 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 45% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Essex County at a glance
| Essex County | New Jersey | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $524,100 | $454,400 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $10,001 | $9,590 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.91% | 2.11% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $80,789 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 45% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 68% | 64% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $3,322 | $2,829 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.2% | 22.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,531 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 32.8% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1958 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.1% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 863,002 | 9,343,809 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Essex County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Essex County home of $524,100 with 20% down costs about $3,873 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,746, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $165,990 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 58% of the median Essex County household income of $80,789; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $255,000.
The median rent here is $1,531 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,342 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $104,820 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $419,280 |
| Principal and interest | $2,821 |
| Property taxes (1.91% a year) | $834 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $218 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $3,873 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $18,344 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $514,607 |
| Principal and interest | $3,462 |
| Property taxes (1.91% a year) | $834 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $218 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $232 |
| Total per month | $4,746 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Essex County
What is the median home value in Essex County?
About $524,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Essex County?
Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 1.91% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Essex County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,873 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $165,990 a year.
More about Essex County
- Mortgage Refinance in Essex County
- Debt Relief in Essex County
- Home Equity Loans in Essex County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data