These NJ Towns Are Paying Nearly $20K a Year in School Taxes Alone

If you own a home in New Jersey, you already know property taxes are no joke. But what might surprise you is just how much of that yearly bill is going straight to fund public schools. In some towns, that number is sky-high. We’re talking close to twenty grand a year, just for education costs.

That’s not total taxes. That’s just the school portion. Whether or not you have kids in the district, that chunk is coming out of your pocket every single year.

New Jersey Towns With Massive School Tax Bills

As you would imagine, some of the most expensive places to live in the state are also paying the most for schools. And we’re not talking about a few hundred dollars here and there. In several towns, the average school tax bill is over $16,000. For homeowners, that kind of money could cover a year of college tuition, multiple vacations, or a significant kitchen upgrade. It's more than what many in the state pay in total taxes annually.

READ MORE: This NJ School Superintendent Is Making Over $320,000 a Year

What Do New Jersey School Tax Bills Cover?

The money is meant to cover all the usual stuff like teacher salaries, building maintenance, programs, and buses. And in many cases, residents do get great schools in return. Test scores are strong, the campuses are pristine, and the districts often have plenty of support staff and activities. But still, that price tag stings.

Is It Worth the Cost?

That’s the question a lot of people are asking. Some say the investment is worth it for strong public schools, especially if you’ve got kids. Others wonder why the numbers keep climbing, even as enrollment drops in certain areas. And then there are folks paying these high taxes who don’t have kids in school at all.

Residents in two NJ towns are paying over $16,000 a year in school taxes alone.

If you live in Morris County's Mountain Lakes, $16,179 of the average $22,996 in yearly taxes is going to schools. That's 70 percent.

Meanwhile, in Bergen County, there is a small town with a population of just under 5,000 that has the distinction of paying the highest school taxes of any other New Jersey city.

If you live in Demarest, you're shelling out $16,220 every year, just for the school system. On average, a Dermarest resident is paying $24,736 in property taxes. While the steep cost is not surprising, considering the size of the town and its proximity to New York City, it is still a massive expense. Is it worth it?

Whatever side of the fence you’re on, it’s clear that education isn’t cheap in Jersey. If you’re living in one of these towns, you’re footing a pretty hefty bill each year,  whether you realize it or not.

How much of your tax bill is going towards schools? NJ.com has this handy listing so you can find out.

So, you think everyone is moving out of NJ? Not necessarily. Here's where our new neighbors are coming from.