Newark vs Scotch Plains, NJ
Property taxes, schools, NJ Transit pass and monthly cost for Newark and Scotch Plains, side by side with sources.
At a glance
- Lower tax billNewark, $7,641 a year
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Newark has the lower 2025 average residential tax bill: $7,641 a year, $8,177 less than $15,818 in Scotch Plains. Newark is below the NJ average of $10,340 and Scotch Plains is above it.
- Median sale priceNewark $440,000 vs Scotch Plains $960,000
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The median single-family sale price is $440,000 in Newark and $960,000 in Scotch Plains, $520,000 more (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales).
- Peak commuteNewark 18 min vs Scotch Plains 48.4 min
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Peak commute is 18 minutes in Newark and 48.4 minutes in Scotch Plains, 30.4 minutes shorter in Newark.
- Higher school resultsScotch Plains: 4-year graduation, ELA, math
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On the district results, Scotch Plains' district is higher on 4-year graduation (97.0% vs 90.0%), ELA (71.0% vs 34.3%) and math (63.0% vs 22.0%).
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
Estimated monthly cost Estimate
- Mortgage (principal and interest)
- Property tax
- NJ Transit pass
- Newark$3,260 / monthMortgage $2,399 · Property tax $676 · NJ Transit pass $184 · on a $440,000 median single-family home
More info
Each town uses its own headline median sale price, single-family unless the town's label says otherwise (GSMLS, 2025 closed sales), and its 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.
Not shown for Scotch Plains: The monthly cost estimate includes the NJ Transit rail pass to New York Penn Station, which does not apply to Scotch Plains (no NJ Transit rail station in town; residents typically use Fanwood station in Fanwood Borough), so no estimate is shown.
Home prices
Median sale price, single-family
- Newark$440,000274 sales
- Scotch Plains$960,000199 sales
Median sale price, condo / townhouse
- Newark$340,000112 sales
- Scotch Plains$577,50020 sales
Monthly mortgage
- Newark$2,399 / 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
- Newark$7,641 / year$2,699 below 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
- Newark34.3% Below NJ average
- Scotch Plains71.0% Above NJ average
- NJ state53.0%
Meeting math standards
- Newark22.0% Below NJ average
- Scotch Plains63.0% Above NJ average
- NJ state42.0%
4-year graduation rate
- Newark90.0% Below NJ average
- Scotch Plains97.0% Above NJ average
- NJ state91.8%
Chronic absenteeism
- Newark10.0% Below NJ average
- Scotch Plains7.5% Below NJ average
- NJ state14.4%
Student:teacher ratio
- Newark15:1
- Scotch Plains12:1
- NJ state12:1
Commute
NJ Transit adult monthly pass to NY Penn
- Newark$184 / month
More info
Not shown for Scotch Plains: No NJ Transit rail station in town; residents typically use Fanwood station in Fanwood Borough
Peak commute time
- Newark18 min
More info
Typical from Newark Penn Station: 20 min, median trip time of the scheduled trips arriving 7:00-9:00 AM on Wed 2026-11-18 (one itinerary per departure; dominated options excluded). Based on 19 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.
Full pages: Newark · Scotch Plains. Find a local expert if you want help weighing these two towns.