Chatham Twp vs Elizabeth, NJ
Property taxes, schools, NJ Transit pass and monthly cost for Chatham Twp and Elizabeth, side by side with sources.
At a glance
Elizabeth has the lower 2025 average residential tax bill: $9,727 a year, $8,646 less than $18,373 in Chatham Twp. Elizabeth is below the NJ average of $10,340 and Chatham Twp is above it.
The median single-family sale price is $550,000 in Elizabeth and $1,990,200 in Chatham Twp, $1,440,200 more (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales).
Peak commute is 46 minutes in Chatham Twp and 29 in Elizabeth, 17 minutes shorter in Elizabeth.
On the district results, Chatham Twp's district is higher on 4-year graduation (96.5% vs 88.4%), ELA (74.8% vs 46.7%) and math (68.5% vs 28.4%).
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
- Chatham TwpNo NJ Transit rail station in town; residents typically use Chatham station in Chatham Borough
- Elizabeth$4,222 / monthMortgage $2,999 · Property tax $968 · NJ Transit pass $255 · on a $550,000 median single-family home
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
- Chatham Twp$1,990,20096 sales
- Elizabeth$550,000133 sales
Median sale price, condo / townhouse
- Chatham Twp$465,00043 sales · fewer than 50 sales
- Elizabeth$307,00039 sales · fewer than 50 sales
Monthly mortgage
- Chatham Twp$10,851 / month
- Elizabeth$2,999 / 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
- Chatham Twp$18,373 / year$8,033 above the NJ average
- Elizabeth$9,727 / year$613 below 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
- Chatham Twp74.8% Above NJ average
- Elizabeth46.7% Below NJ average
- NJ state53.0%
Meeting math standards
- Chatham Twp68.5% Above NJ average
- Elizabeth28.4% Below NJ average
- NJ state42.0%
4-year graduation rate
- Chatham Twp96.5% Above NJ average
- Elizabeth88.4% Below NJ average
- NJ state91.8%
Chronic absenteeism
- Chatham Twp6.3% Below NJ average
- Elizabeth14.3% Below NJ average
- NJ state14.4%
Student:teacher ratio
- Chatham Twp11:1
- Elizabeth13:1
- NJ state12:1
Commute
NJ Transit adult monthly pass to NY Penn
- Chatham TwpNo NJ Transit rail station in town; residents typically use Chatham station in Chatham Borough
- Elizabeth$255 / month
Peak commute time
- Chatham Twp46 min
- Elizabeth29 min
Full pages: Chatham Twp · Elizabeth. Find a local expert if you want help weighing these two towns.