If you’re moving to Bergen County for the first time and wondering which town is right for you, there is more to consider besides home values especially if you have a family. After you explore the local resources, culture and transportation options available in the different areas of Bergen County, knowing each city’s property tax rate versus local school performance can be the deciding factor in your decision. It may come as a surprise to know that the city with the highest property tax does not have the high school with the highest SAT score.

Above Average (*Please see the formula used below to calculate the tax amount.)

• Englewood Cliffs – Tax: $1876 SAT: 1581

• Franklin Lakes – Tax: $3148 SAT: 1696

• Paramus – Tax: $3353 SAT: 1600

• Old Tappan – Tax: $3654 SAT: 1735

• Montvale – Tax: $4195 SAT: 1699

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If you’re moving to Essex County for the first time and wondering which city is right for you, there is more to consider besides home values especially if you have a family. After you explore the local resources, culture and transportation options available in the different areas of Essex County, knowing each city’s property tax rate versus local school performance can be the deciding factor in your decision. It may come as a surprise to know that the city with the highest property tax does not have the high school with the highest SAT score.

Above Average

• Millburn – Tax: $4,026 SAT: 1868
• North Caldwell – Tax: $4,195 SAT: 1617
• Livingston – Tax: $4,700 SAT: 1714
• Cedar Grove – Tax: $3,927 SAT: 1487
• Caldwell Boro – Tax: $5099 SAT: 1628

*Please see the formula used below to calculate the tax amount.

What Our Research Shows

In Millburn, you get the most for your money as far as low property taxes and the highest SAT score at Millburn Senior High School. In Orange City, you might pay over $3200 more in property taxes compared to residents of Millburn and the local high school, Orange High, scored 775 points lower on their SAT scores. Although SAT scores are only one element in evaluating a high school’s performance, it’s important to consider the SAT scores a high school is producing since it is still used as a considering factor in college admissions.

2010 Essex County Education Budget Cuts

How is your town going to be affected by the cuts to Education? Take a look below at each town in alphabetical order:

District Change in Aid

• Belleville Town  -11.3%
• Bloomfield TWP  -18.6%
• Caldwell-West Caldwell   -100.0%
• Cedar Grove TWP  -95.1%
• City of Orange TWP  -05.1%
• East Orange  -05.1%
• Essex Co Voc-Tech  -09.5%
• Essex Fells Boro  -100.0%
• Fairfield TWP  -97.6%
• Glen Ridge Boro  -100.0%
• Irvington TWP  -05.8%
• Livingston TWP  -100.0%
• Milburn TWP  -100.0%
• Montclair Town  -60.7%
• Newark City  -05.4%
• North Caldwell Boro  -100.0%
• Nutley Town  -34.1%
• Roseland Boro -85.6%
• South Orange-Maplewood  -80.9%
• Verona Boro  -95.1%
• West Essex Regional  -89.4%
• West Orange Town  -63.6%

(more news on the NJ Education Budget Cuts)

What do you take away from this information?

Obviously there has been a tremendous amount of media coverage, interest, comments as well as concern on this subject…but what is your opinion? We’d like to know. Please share your thoughts and comments below. This is your opportunity to be your town’s local spokesperson!

To search for available properties in these cities, please visit our Essex County Property Search page.

Whether your considering buying or selling, we can help. Send me an email or call me immediately at 201-988-1393 for a personal and confidential conversation.

Footnotes
1. SAT scores are not the only student performance indicator. For more information, including state test scores (High School Proficiency Assessment results) for each high school, please visit NJ Department of Education.

2. *Calculation used to determine an average tax amount: average assessed home value of $250,000 x general tax rate x ratio. Data from State of NJ Treasury.

3. SAT scores are based on a total score of 600-2400. The SAT test consists of three categories: math, verbal and essay with a possible score of 600 points for each category to give a possible total score of 2400.

4. The high school with the highest total SAT score for each town was used in the graph. In some cases, the highest score is a vocational school.