Two South Jersey Towns Buck Trend, See Property Tax Drops

While NJ property taxes hit new highs, a couple towns in the state's southern region saw rare decreases.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:56pm

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A minimalist illustration using bold geometric shapes and primary colors to represent the concept of decreasing property taxes, without any text or identifiable elements.A rare drop in property taxes stands out in a state where bills typically keep climbing.West Cape May Today

Despite soaring property taxes across New Jersey, two South Jersey towns - Stow Creek in Cumberland County and West Cape May - have bucked the trend and seen slight decreases in their average property tax bills. While the reductions are modest, they stand out in a state where rising home values typically translate to higher tax bills every year.

Why it matters

New Jersey has some of the highest property taxes in the nation, with the average homeowner paying over $10,500 annually. The fact that a couple towns managed to see their taxes go down, even slightly, is noteworthy and could provide hope to other NJ residents struggling with the state's notoriously high property tax burden.

The details

In Stow Creek, the average property tax bill decreased by 1.64% or $90, to $5,383. Down the shore in West Cape May, the average tax bill dropped by 2.62% or $191, to $7,120. Experts say these decreases can happen when factors like new lower-priced housing entering the market, property reassessments lowering values, or changes in the number of taxable homes occur in a town.

  • The latest property tax data is from 2026.

The players

Stow Creek

A town in Cumberland County, New Jersey that saw a 1.64% decrease in average property tax bills.

West Cape May

A town in Cape May County, New Jersey that saw a 2.62% decrease in average property tax bills.

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The takeaway

While most New Jersey homeowners continue to face rising property taxes, the modest decreases seen in Stow Creek and West Cape May provide a rare bit of good news and a reminder that tax bills don't always have to go up, even in a high-tax state like New Jersey.