See How Bridgewater's Average Property Tax Bill Compares In NJ

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater residents pay a lot in property taxes and more often than not, they increase annually. This past year also showed a slight increase.

The average Bridgewater homeowner paid $9,314 in 2020, a .04 percent increase from 2019, according to data released by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

In 2019, Bridgewater homeowners paid $9,311 with a decrease of 1.82 percent over 2018. In 2018, Bridgewater residents paid $9,144 with an increase of 2.34 percent from 2017.

In Somerset County, Bernardsville had the highest average tax bill of $15,826 and Watchung had the highest increase with 3.28 percent. While Bedminster had the lowest average tax bill of $6,328 and Far Hills Borough had the lowest decrease of -3.14 percent.

Patch put together a list of all Somerset County towns and their average annual property tax bills, from highest to lowest. Patch also put together the percentage tax bill increases and decreases from 2019 to 2020 (see list below).

1. Bernardsville Borough: $15,826, 1.00%
2. Montgomery Township: $15,659, 0.95%
3. Watchung Borough: $15,308, 3.28%
4. Warren Township: $15,236, 0.55%
5. Far Hills Borough: $14,663, -3.21%
6. Peapack and Gladstone Borough: $13,906, -0.62%
7. Bernards Township: $12,825, 0.72%
8. Green Brook Township: $12,286, 0.66%
9. Rocky Hill Borough: $10,667, 1.34%
10. Somerville Borough: $9,992, 1.01%
11. Branchburg Township: $9,750, 1.38%
12. Hillsborough Township: $9,722, 2.08%
13. Bridgewater Township: $9,314, 0.04%
14. North Plainfield Borough: $8,744, 2.97%
15. Millstone Borough: $8,541, -8.15%
16. Bound Brook Borough: $8,274, 1.15%
17. Raritan Borough: $8,201, 0.30%
18. South Bound Brook Borough: $8,003, -2.19%
19. Manville Borough: $7,669, 0.81%
20. Franklin Township: $7,581, 0.75%
21. Bedminster Township: $6,328, 0.42%

In New Jersey, even as the COVID crisis shut the economy down and brought a halt to revenues, property taxes actually rose at a much slower rate in 2020 than they did the year before.

The data released to Patch on Monday comes from the state Department of Community Affairs. On average, the state's property taxes rose 1 percent, from $8,953 to $9,112, between 2019 and 2020. It was lower than the 2 percent cap former Gov. Chris Christie put into effect in 2011, according to the analysis.

By contrast, between 2018 and 2019, the average homeowner's tax bill rose from $8,767 to $8,953, an increase of 2.12 percent.

To see a list of all New Jersey towns and how they ranked click here.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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