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Buying a home in Dunellen, New Jersey

The typical owner-occupied home in Dunellen is worth about $393,500, 13% below the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 18% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 2.54% of their home's value, higher than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $86,967 a year, so the median home costs 4.5 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 61% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 74% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Dunellen at a glance

Dunellen New Jersey U.S.
Median home value $393,500 $454,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.54% 2.11% 0.94%
Median household income $86,967 $103,556 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 61% 64% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 74% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,752 $2,829 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.5% 22.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,835 $1,720 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 35.1% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1955 1970 1980
Vacant homes 8.5% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 7,911 9,343,809 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Dunellen

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Dunellen home of $393,500 with 20% down costs about $3,115 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,770, 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 $133,481 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 43% of the median Dunellen household income of $86,967; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $256,000.

The median rent here is $1,835 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,280 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$78,700
Loan amount$314,800
Principal and interest$2,118
Property taxes (2.54% a year)$833
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$164
PMI$0
Total per month$3,115

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$13,772
Loan amount$386,373
Principal and interest$2,599
Property taxes (2.54% a year)$833
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$164
FHA mortgage insurance$174
Total per month$3,770

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Questions about home buying in Dunellen

What is the median home value in Dunellen?

About $393,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Dunellen?

Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 2.54% 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 Dunellen?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,115 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $133,481 a year.

More about Dunellen

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