Jersey City vs Scotch Plains, NJ
Property taxes, schools, NJ Transit pass and monthly cost for Jersey City and Scotch Plains, side by side with sources.
At a glance
- Lower tax billJersey City, $11,252 a year
More info
Jersey City has the lower 2025 average residential tax bill: $11,252 a year, $4,566 less than $15,818 in Scotch Plains. Both are above the NJ average of $10,340.
- Median sale priceJersey City $520,000 vs Scotch Plains $960,000
More info
The median single-family sale price is $520,000 in Jersey City and $960,000 in Scotch Plains, $440,000 more (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales).
- Peak commuteJersey City 18.5 min vs Scotch Plains 48.4 min
More info
Peak commute is 18.5 minutes by PATH to 33rd Street in Jersey City and 48.4 minutes in Scotch Plains, 29.9 minutes shorter in Jersey City.
- Higher school resultsScotch Plains: 4-year graduation, ELA, math
More info
On the district results, Scotch Plains' district is higher on 4-year graduation (97.0% vs 78.3%), ELA (71.0% vs 45.4%) and math (63.0% vs 32.8%).
Figures are from the data file, version 2.4.2. Estimates are labeled. Sources and dates are in each section below. Add a third town in the compare tool.
Monthly cost
Home prices
Median sale price, single-family
- Jersey City$520,00031 sales
- Scotch Plains$960,000199 sales
Median sale price, condo / townhouse
- Jersey City$492,50050 sales
- Scotch Plains$577,50020 sales
Monthly mortgage
- Jersey City$2,835 / month
- Scotch Plains$5,234 / month
More info
Principal & interest only; excludes taxes and insurance. Based on the single-family median unless a town's row says otherwise.
Source: GSMLS, 2025 closed sales
Property taxes
Average residential tax bill, 2025
- Jersey City$11,252 / year$912 above the NJ average
- Scotch Plains$15,818 / year$5,478 above the NJ average
- NJ average$10,340 / yearState total, same series as the town bills
More info
Bills compare better than raw tax rates, because towns assess homes at different shares of market value.
Schools
Meeting ELA standards
- Jersey City45.4% Below NJ average
- Scotch Plains71.0% Above NJ average
- NJ state53.0%
Meeting math standards
- Jersey City32.8% Below NJ average
- Scotch Plains63.0% Above NJ average
- NJ state42.0%
4-year graduation rate
- Jersey City78.3% Below NJ average
- Scotch Plains97.0% Above NJ average
- NJ state91.8%
Chronic absenteeism
- Jersey City23.7% Above NJ average
- Scotch Plains7.5% Below NJ average
- NJ state14.4%
Student:teacher ratio
- Jersey City12:1
- Scotch Plains12:1
- NJ state12:1
Commute
Peak commute time
- Jersey City18.5 minPATH from Grove Street to 33rd Street (Midtown Manhattan)
More info
Typical from Grove Street (PATH): 18.5 min, median ride time of the direct scheduled PATH trips arriving 7:00-9:00 AM in PATH's weekday GTFS schedule (service through 2026-11-13); the count is for that schedule, not for Nov 18. Based on 28 trips.
- Scotch Plains48.4 min
More info
Typical: 48.4 min, median trip time of the scheduled trips on the same bus route from the same stop arriving at PABT 7:00-9:00 AM on Wed 2026-11-18. Based on 4 trips.
PATH commute time
- Jersey City15 minNewport (PATH) to 33rd Street (PATH)
More info
Typical: 15 min, median ride time of the direct scheduled PATH trips arriving 7:00-9:00 AM in PATH's weekday GTFS schedule (service through 2026-11-13); the count is for that schedule, not for Nov 18. Based on 28 trips.
Ferry commute time
- Jersey City7 minPaulus Hook to Brookfield Place
More info
Typical: 8 min, median scheduled crossing time of the weekday ferry sailings from this terminal that arrive at the destination 7:00-9:00 AM in NY Waterway's published timetable. Based on 17 trips.
Full pages: Jersey City · Scotch Plains. Find a local expert if you want help weighing these two towns.