Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge) vs Chatham Twp, NJ
Property taxes, schools, NJ Transit pass and monthly cost for Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge) and Chatham Twp, side by side with sources.
At a glance
Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge) has the lower 2025 average residential tax bill: $14,715 a year, $3,658 less than $18,373 in Chatham Twp. Both are above the NJ average of $10,340.
The median single-family sale price is $1,250,000 in Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge) and $1,990,200 in Chatham Twp, $740,200 more (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales).
Peak commute is 75 minutes in Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge) and 46 in Chatham Twp, 29 minutes shorter in Chatham Twp.
On the district results, Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)'s district is higher on 4-year graduation (97.6% vs 96.5%), ELA (81.9% vs 74.8%) and math (79.6% vs 68.5%).
Figures are from the data file, version 2.3.0. Estimates are labeled. Add a third town in the compare tool.
Monthly cost
Estimated monthly cost Estimate
- Mortgage (principal and interest)
- Property tax
- NJ Transit pass
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)$9,128 / monthMortgage $6,815 · Property tax $1,782 · NJ Transit pass $531 · on a $1,250,000 median single-family home
- Chatham TwpNo NJ Transit rail station in town; residents typically use Chatham station in Chatham Borough
Each town uses its own median single-family sale price (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales) and 2025 effective tax rate. Mortgage is the monthly mortgage in the data: Principal & interest only; excludes taxes and insurance. Calculated at a 7.24% 30-year fixed rate, 20% down, 30-year term. Excludes insurance, utilities, maintenance and HOA fees. Change the numbers in the calculator.
Home prices
Median sale price, single-family
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)$1,250,000165 sales
- Chatham Twp$1,990,20096 sales
Median sale price, condo / townhouse
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)$503,000140 sales
- Chatham Twp$465,00043 sales · fewer than 50 sales
Monthly mortgage
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)$6,815 / month
- Chatham Twp$10,851 / month
Principal & interest only; excludes taxes and insurance. Based on the single-family median.
Source: GSMLS, 2025 closed sales
Property taxes
Average residential tax bill, 2025
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)$14,715 / year$4,375 above the NJ average
- Chatham Twp$18,373 / year$8,033 above the NJ average
- NJ average$10,340 / yearState total, same series as the town bills
Bills compare better than raw tax rates, because towns assess homes at different shares of market value.
Schools
Meeting ELA standards
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)81.9% Above NJ average
- Chatham Twp74.8% Above NJ average
- NJ state53.0%
Meeting math standards
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)79.6% Above NJ average
- Chatham Twp68.5% Above NJ average
- NJ state42.0%
4-year graduation rate
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)97.6% Above NJ average
- Chatham Twp96.5% Above NJ average
- NJ state91.8%
Chronic absenteeism
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)6.4% Below NJ average
- Chatham Twp6.3% Below NJ average
- NJ state14.4%
Student:teacher ratio
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)11:1
- Chatham Twp11:1
- NJ state12:1
Commute
NJ Transit adult monthly pass to NY Penn
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)$531 / month
- Chatham TwpNo NJ Transit rail station in town; residents typically use Chatham station in Chatham Borough
Peak commute time
- Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge)75 min
- Chatham Twp46 min
Full pages: Bernards Twp (Basking Ridge) · Chatham Twp. Find a local expert if you want help weighing these two towns.