Ranking · North & Central NJ · Updated Nov 2026

Biggest 5-year home value gains in North & Central NJ

Change in Zillow’s Home Value Index from Sept. 2021 to Sept. 2026. Past growth doesn’t predict future growth.

#1Brielle+61.2% · Monmouth
#2Demarest+59.3% · Bergen
#3Spring Lake+56.8% · Monmouth
Median of 210 towns+35.45%5-yr ZHVI change
#TownCounty5-yr ZHVI changeTypical home valueEffective tax rate
1BrielleMonmouth+61.2%$1.34M1.284%
2DemarestBergen+59.3%$1.54M1.924%
3Spring LakeMonmouth+56.8%$1.52M0.444%
4MillburnEssex+56.1%$1.30M1.571%
5Fair HavenMonmouth+55.1%$1.64M1.454%
6Little SilverMonmouth+54.2%$1.20M1.638%
7HaworthBergen+53.9%$1.23M2.185%
8RumsonMonmouth+52.9%$2.39M1.107%
9Franklin LakesBergen+51.7%$1.63M1.400%
10ManasquanMonmouth+50.1%$1.24M0.978%
11RidgewoodBergen+50%$1.25M1.944%
12Ho-Ho-KusBergen+49.9%$1.42M1.706%
13JamesburgMiddlesex+49.6%$456K2.631%
14West Long BranchMonmouth+48.4%$997K1.302%
15Colts NeckMonmouth+47.5%$1.36M1.489%
16MontclairEssex+47.1%$1.15M2.160%
17Saddle RiverBergen+47%$2.42M1.030%
18Glen RockBergen+46.5%$1.09M2.436%
19MaplewoodEssex+45.1%$960K2.434%
20SummitUnion+45.1%$1.41M1.475%
21ClosterBergen+45%$1.20M2.017%
22West OrangeEssex+44.4%$690K3.080%
23Essex FellsEssex+44.2%$1.47M1.885%
24South OrangeEssex+44.2%$1.08M2.469%
25Woodcliff LakeBergen+44.1%$1.27M2.043%

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Sept. 30, 2026; NJ Division of Taxation, 2025 General Tax Rates and 2025 Average Residential Statistics. Municipalities with at least 2,000 residents in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth counties. Click a column to sort.

How to use this ranking

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Questions, answered

Which NJ town ranks #1 for biggest 5-year home value gains?

Brielle (Monmouth County), at +61.2%, among 210 municipalities with at least 2,000 residents. Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Sept. 30, 2026.

Where does this data come from?

Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Sept. 30, 2026. Rankings cover municipalities in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth counties with at least 2,000 residents.

Is this a list of the best places to live?

It ranks one measurable factor. For a combined view, try the best places to live scorecard, where you set the weights.

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