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Buying a home in Passaic County, New Jersey

The typical owner-occupied home in Passaic County is worth about $459,500, about the same as the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 38% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 2.18% of their home's value, close to the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $87,522 a year, so the median home costs 5.3 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 53% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Passaic County at a glance

Passaic County New Jersey U.S.
Median home value $459,500 $454,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.18% 2.11% 0.94%
Median household income $87,522 $103,556 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 53% 64% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 65% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,014 $2,829 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.8% 22.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,621 $1,720 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.1% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1956 1970 1980
Vacant homes 3.7% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 521,012 9,343,809 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Passaic County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Passaic County home of $459,500 with 20% down costs about $3,499 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,265, 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 $149,961 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 48% of the median Passaic County household income of $87,522; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $268,000.

The median rent here is $1,621 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,878 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$91,900
Loan amount$367,600
Principal and interest$2,473
Property taxes (2.18% a year)$835
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$191
PMI$0
Total per month$3,499

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$16,082
Loan amount$451,177
Principal and interest$3,035
Property taxes (2.18% a year)$835
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$191
FHA mortgage insurance$203
Total per month$4,265

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Questions about home buying in Passaic County

What is the median home value in Passaic County?

About $459,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Passaic County?

Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 2.18% 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 Passaic County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,499 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $149,961 a year.

More about Passaic County

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