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Buying a home in Sussex County, New Jersey

The typical owner-occupied home in Sussex County is worth about $369,400, 19% below the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 11% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,568 a year in property taxes, about 2.32% of their home's value, higher than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $116,186 a year, so the median home costs 3.2 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 84% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Sussex County at a glance

Sussex County New Jersey U.S.
Median home value $369,400 $454,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $8,568 $9,590 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.32% 2.11% 0.94%
Median household income $116,186 $103,556 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 84% 64% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 68% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,473 $2,829 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 22.5% 22.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,585 $1,720 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.8% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1973 1970 1980
Vacant homes 8.1% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 145,807 9,343,809 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Sussex County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Sussex County home of $369,400 with 20% down costs about $2,856 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,471, 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 $122,403 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Sussex County household income of $116,186; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $351,000.

The median rent here is $1,585 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,271 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$73,880
Loan amount$295,520
Principal and interest$1,988
Property taxes (2.32% a year)$714
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$154
PMI$0
Total per month$2,856

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$12,929
Loan amount$362,709
Principal and interest$2,440
Property taxes (2.32% a year)$714
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$154
FHA mortgage insurance$163
Total per month$3,471

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Questions about home buying in Sussex County

What is the median home value in Sussex County?

About $369,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Sussex County?

Homeowners pay a median $8,568 a year, which is about 2.32% 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 Sussex County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,856 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $122,403 a year.

More about Sussex 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