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Buying a home in Elizabeth, New Jersey

The typical owner-occupied home in Elizabeth is worth about $449,300, about the same as the New Jersey median of $454,400 and 35% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 2.23% of their home's value, higher than the New Jersey rate of 2.11%. The median household earns $66,555 a year, so the median home costs 6.8 times the median income (4.4 times for New Jersey). 26% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Elizabeth at a glance

Elizabeth New Jersey U.S.
Median home value $449,300 $454,400 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 2.23% 2.11% 0.94%
Median household income $66,555 $103,556 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 26% 64% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 62% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,916 $2,829 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 32.2% 22.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,523 $1,720 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.0% 30.9% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1970 1980
Vacant homes 5.8% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 137,302 9,343,809 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Elizabeth

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Elizabeth home of $449,300 with 20% down costs about $3,440 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,189, 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 $147,435 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 62% of the median Elizabeth household income of $66,555; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $203,000.

The median rent here is $1,523 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,917 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$89,860
Loan amount$359,440
Principal and interest$2,418
Property taxes (2.23% a year)$835
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$187
PMI$0
Total per month$3,440

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$15,726
Loan amount$441,162
Principal and interest$2,968
Property taxes (2.23% a year)$835
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$187
FHA mortgage insurance$199
Total per month$4,189

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Questions about home buying in Elizabeth

What is the median home value in Elizabeth?

About $449,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Elizabeth?

Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 2.23% 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 Elizabeth?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,440 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $147,435 a year.

More about Elizabeth

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