See Scotch Plains, Fanwood's Average Property Tax Bill

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents pay a lot in property taxes and more often than not, they increase annually. This past year showed an increase for both Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents.

The average Scotch Plains homeowner paid $13,853 in 2020, a 1.22 percent increase from 2019, according to data released by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The average Fanwood homeowner paid $12,530 in 2020, a 0.07 percent increase from 2019.

In Union County, Summit had the highest average tax bill of $18,314 and Winfield had the highest increase with 2.40 percent. While Winfield had the lowest average tax bill of $3,757 and Garwood had the lowest decrease of -2.65 percent.

Patch put together a list of all Union 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. Summit City - $18,314, 0.51%
2. Westfield Town - $17,166, 0.46%
3. New Providence Borough - $14,668, 1.27%
4. Scotch Plains Township - $13,853, 1.22%
5. Berkeley Heights Township - $13,154, 0.59%
6. Fanwood Borough - $12,530, 0.07%
7. Mountainside Borough - $12,270, -1.25%
8. Cranford Township - $12,088, 0.78%
9. Springfield Township - $11,902, 1.67%
10. Clark Township - $10,832, 1.48%
11. Roselle Park Borough - $10,316, 1.45%
12. Elizabeth City - $10,121, 1.59%
13. Roselle Borough -$10,113, 2.15%
14. Garwood Borough - $10,088, -2.65%
15. Hillside Township - $9,557, 2.17%
16. Kenilworth Borough - $9,367, 2.27%
17. Union Township - $9,248, 1.63%
18. Rahway City - $9,241, 1.81%
19. Linden City - $9,112, 0.49%
20. Plainfield City - $9,003, -0.12%
21. Winfield Township - $3,757, 2.40%

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.

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