New Jersey vs Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax: Who Wins? (2024)

When it comes time to build a new home, one of the things you can’t overlook is what you’re going to be spending on real estate tax. It’s not an insignificant expense.

The state taxes you pay—including state real estate taxes—vary from state to state. But is the difference between one state’s rate and another’s worth jumping across the state line? When it comes to the battle for real estate bucks between New Jersey and Pennsylvania—who wins?

To be honest, the exact rates you’ll pay in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania vary according to your exact location and the county you’re in. Still, thanks to the folks at WalletHub you can have an idea of the difference.

  • The median Pennsylvania property tax (statewide) is approximately $2,852.
  • The median New Jersey property tax (statewide) is approximately $8,362.
  • Unlike New Jersey, retirement income is not taxed in Pennsylvania.

Again, this isn’t an exact apples-to-apples comparison, but it gives you a feel for the difference between the two states. State sales tax for Pennsylvania is at 6 percent, compared to 7 percent for New Jersey.

Naturally, there’s more to selecting the perfect home than simply the tax rates. And for some people, jobs and family in the area may be reasons to stay in the Garden State. But if you’re retired or retiring, a move to a gorgeous location like Easton may make sense. It still puts you only about 70 miles outside of Manhattan. And if your extended family (kids and grandkids) live outside of the metro area—you’re still within easy access.

This is why our Legacy at Morgan Hill community, located in Easton, PA was a popular choice for many years. However, it truly is a personal choice when deciding to move to another state. Homebuyers should truly consider the lifestyle and financial implications before making their move, to ensure it is the right one.

New Jersey vs Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax: Who Wins? (2024)

FAQs

Are taxes better in Pennsylvania or New Jersey? ›

Comparing the total local and state per capita tax burden, Pennsylvania ranked 19th, below New York (No. 1), New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. The combined state personal income tax and local earned income tax led to Pennsylvania having the 18th highest income tax burden.

Where does Pennsylvania rank in property taxes? ›

Real-Estate Property Tax Rates by State
Rank (1=Lowest)StateEffective Real-Estate Tax Rate
40Pennsylvania1.41%
41Ohio1.43%
42Iowa1.49%
43Nebraska1.54%
47 more rows
Feb 20, 2024

Where does NJ rank in property taxes? ›

In order to determine who pays the most relative to their state, the personal-finance website WalletHub Tuesday released its Property Taxes by State in 2024 report. The report compares home and vehicle taxes across the nation. Property Taxes in New Jersey (1st=Lowest; 25th=Avg.): Real-Estate Property Tax Rank: 51.

What state has the best real-estate taxes? ›

States With the Lowest Property Taxes in 2024
  • Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate in the U.S. at 0.29%. ...
  • Alabama is generally one of the more affordable states in the country. ...
  • Colorado has the third-lowest property tax rate at 0.51%. ...
  • Nevada has the fourth-lowest property tax rate in the nation (0.55%).
Dec 21, 2023

Is it better to retire in NJ or PA? ›

In Pennsylvania, neither public nor private pensions are taxed, offering an advantage over nearby states such as New Jersey, New York and Maryland, which do tax pensions. When you retire and begin receiving pension benefits, you will pay federal taxes on them, but not PA taxes.

Are houses cheaper in PA or NJ? ›

New Jersey actually ranks higher than Pennsylvania, where Chester County's $447,000 home value put the Keystone State at 28th on that list and Bergen County's $607,170 placing the Garden State at 17th highest home price.

What town in NJ has the cheapest property taxes? ›

Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the lowest property tax bills
  1. Camden. Camden City homeowners paid $1,943 on average in 2022.
  2. Woodbine. Woodbine Borough had the lowest property tax bill in Cape May County. ...
  3. Lower Alloways Creek. ...
  4. Teterboro. ...
  5. Audubon Park. ...
  6. Commercial. ...
  7. Washington Township (Burlington County) ...
  8. Dennis. ...
Apr 10, 2023

Why are New Jersey real estate taxes so high? ›

At their essence, property taxes are a fee for services. In New Jersey, they are the primary source for funding schools, roads, and services such as police, fire and emergency medical services. The best way to keep property taxes low is to keep services to a minimum, various experts have argued over the years.

How much is property tax in PA? ›

Overview of Pennsylvania Taxes

In fact, the state carries a 1.36% average effective property tax rate in comparison to the 0.99% national average. Effective property tax rates on a county basis range from 0.87% to 2.45%.

Which state has the worst estate tax? ›

Washington has the highest estate tax at 20%, which is applied to the portion of an estate's value greater than $11,193,000. Inheritance tax rates depend on the beneficiary's relation to the deceased, and, in each state, certain types of relationships are exempt from inheritance tax.

Which state has no property tax in the USA? ›

Sadly for investors, the answer is no, there are no states without property tax. This is because property tax is a useful way for local governments to fund public services such as schools, fire and police departments, infrastructure and libraries.

What is the most tax-friendly state to live in? ›

1. Wyoming. Wyoming is considered to be very tax-friendly towards retirees. There is no state income tax in Wyoming, which means that residents do not pay state taxes on distributions from retirement plan accounts, public or private pension payments or Social Security benefits.

Is Pennsylvania a high tax state? ›

Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07 percent individual income tax rate. There are also jurisdictions that collect local income taxes. Pennsylvania has an 8.49 percent corporate income tax rate. Pennsylvania has a 6.00 percent state sales tax rate and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 6.34 percent.

Is NJ the highest taxed state? ›

9th – Overall Tax Burden (9.47%) 3rd – Property Tax Burden (4.59%) 30th – Individual Income Tax Burden (2.36%) 44th – Total Sales & Excise Tax Burden (2.52%)

Is Pennsylvania a tax-friendly state? ›

Pennsylvania has the lowest flat tax rate in the country: At just 3.07%, PA has the lowest flat tax rate in the United States. This means your dollar stretches further! Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program: Pennsylvania provides a rebate to eligible retirees and people with disabilities ranging from $380 to $1,000.

Why is PA income tax so low? ›

The state Supreme Court has ruled that Pennsylvania's Constitution forbids a graduated income tax, which would impose higher rates on higher earners. As a result, Pennsylvania has one of the most regressive tax systems in the U.S, meaning that state and local taxes hit low-income residents the hardest.

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