Caldwell, NJ real estate: the numbers, explained.

Home values in Caldwell

Zillow Home Value Index (all homes, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted) for the Zillow region “Caldwell”, September 30 of each year. Source: Zillow Research.

Zillow’s Home Value Index for Caldwell was $735,715 as of September 30, 2026, up 5.7% from a year earlier and up 37% over five years. Over ten years the index rose 65.2%. ZHVI models a typical home value. It isn’t the price of any specific house.

The NJ Division of Taxation’s 2026 Average Residential Statistics show an average residential sale price of $686,009 across 77 sales used in that report. Averages can be pulled up or down by a few sales, which is one reason it can differ from Zillow’s index.

The Census Bureau’s survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes, as estimated by owners, at $575,400 (2020–2024 average), compared with a Essex County town median of $646,550.

Caldwell property taxes

Caldwell’s 2025 general tax rate was 3.257 per $100 of assessed value, and its effective tax rate was 2.254%, about the same as the Essex County town median of 2.235% and higher than the statewide municipal median of 2.141%. That ranks it #12 lowest of 22 Essex County municipalities by effective rate. The average residential tax bill was $13,920 on an average assessment of $427,390 across 1,921 residential properties.

Applied to the typical home value of $735,715, the effective rate implies roughly $16,583 a year ($1,382 a month) in property tax. The Division publishes the effective rate for comparing towns, not for computing a specific bill, so use it as a ballpark.

What it costs to own vs. rent

For a $735,715 home with 20% down ($147,143) and a 30-year fixed loan at 7.18%, Freddie Mac’s national average for the week of November 5, 2026, principal and interest come to about $3,987 a month. With estimated property tax that’s about $5,369, before insurance, any HOA fee and utilities. For comparison, the Census median gross rent in Caldwell is $1,976.

Run my numbers for CaldwellRent vs buy here

Who lives in Caldwell

About 9,003 people live in Caldwell. 41.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied (county town median 72.6%), so renters are a large part of the market and rentals turn over often. 28.3% of housing units are single-family detached houses. The median resident age is 37.2, and 56.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Median household income is $96,824, lower than the county town median of $151,169.

The median home in Caldwell was built in 1959. Much of the housing predates 1978, so buyers should plan for older-home checks: lead-based paint disclosure, an oil-tank sweep if the house ever had oil heat, knob-and-tube or older electrical, galvanized plumbing, and a sewer-line scope. See the NJ inspection checklist.

Commuting from Caldwell

Workers in Caldwell average 29.5 minutes each way (those who don’t work from home), shorter than the Essex County town median of 32.8 minutes. 6.7% commute by public transportation, so transit is a real option for some commuters and 19.8% work from home.

Schools

I don’t republish unofficial school scores. For Caldwell, start with the New Jersey Department of Education’s School Performance Reports, then confirm the exact school assignment for any address with the district, since some NJ towns send students to regional or neighboring high schools. See how to research NJ schools.

Downtown, food and things to do

The best way to judge Caldwell’s restaurants, parks and weekend life is in person. Visit on a weeknight and a Saturday morning, check the town recreation calendar and walk the blocks you’d live on. My town scouting checklist shows what to look for.

My take for buyers, sellers and renters

• Renters: with 58.1% of homes renter-occupied, Caldwell has a deep rental market. Line up documents before touring. The move-in calculator shows the cash you’ll need.
• Buyers: taxes run above the county median, so budget on the tax bill, not just the price. Ask for the current bill on every listing.
• Sellers: values are up 37% in five years, so many owners have significant equity. See your number in the seller net sheet.

Nearby towns at a similar price