Great Towns on New Jersey’s MIDTOWN DIRECT Train Line: Sean Shallis interviewed on WPIX (video)

As promised here is the video of  Sean interviewed this morning on WPIX discussing the criteria parents can use to select where to live in New Jersey.


…and here are those reports that were discussed in the news segment, showing School Budget cuts, and graphs that map Real Estate Taxes vs SAT Scores.

April 23, 2010 | Filed Under Communities, Essex County, Featured Videos, Hudson County, Latest News, Morris County, Tips for Buyers, Tips for Sellers, Union County | Leave a Comment 

Sean T Shallis Featured on WPIX TV

Sean Shallis will appear on WPIX TV at 8:30am Eastern time on Friday to discuss School Scores and Real Estate choices in New Jersey.

Here are four studies we conducted on this issue together with commentary on NJ Education Budget Cuts:

Whether you’re 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.

April 15, 2010 | Filed Under Essex County, Hudson County, Latest News, Morris County, Union County | Leave a Comment 

The Union County Real Estate Tax vs School Performance Mashup

If you’re moving to Union 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 and need to choose a school. After you explore the local resources, culture and transportation options available in the different areas of Union 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 always have the high school with the highest SAT score.

    Above Average

    (see below for the formula we used to calculate the tax amount)

  • Summit – Tax: $3699 SAT: 1735
  • Berkeley Heights – Tax: $4247 SAT: 1717
  • Westfield – Tax: $4302 SAT: 1740
  • New Providence – Tax: $4866 SAT: 1757
  • Cranford – Tax: $4730 SAT: 1599

union county new jersey SAT graph real estate tax

(click on the graph to see a larger version)

What Our Research Shows

As you can see from the graph above, the results are quite surprising. The towns with the lowest property tax have public high schools with the highest SAT scores such as Summit, Berkeley Heights and Westfield. On the other side of the spectrum, Roselle Boro has the highest property tax estimated at $7,722 with the local high school, Abraham Clark High, having one of the lowest SAT scores at 1172. Hillside also came in upside down with an approximate property tax of $6890 and a SAT score from Hillside High of 1202.

2010 Union 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

  • Berkeley Heights TWP -100.0%
  • Clark TWP  -100.0%
  • Cranford TWP  -77.5%
  • Elizabeth City  -04.2%
  • Garwood Boro  -64.1%
  • Hillside TWP  -10.8%
  • Kenilworth Boro  -26.3%
  • Linden City  -17.6%
  • Mountainside Boro  -92.6%
  • New Providence Boro  -100.0%
  • Plainfield City  -04.6%
  • Rayway City  -12.3%
  • Roselle Boro  -10.4%
  • Roselle Park Boro  -13.2%
  • Scotch Plains-Fanwood Reg  -84.4%
  • Springfield TWP  -100.0%
  • Summit City  -100.0%
  • Union County Voc  -16.6%
  • Union TWP  -18.7%
  • Westfield Town  -90.4%
  • Winfield TWP  -09.4%

(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… 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 Union County Property Search page.

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

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.

March 26, 2010 | Filed Under Latest News, Union County | 1 Comment