Highland Park, NJ real estate: the numbers, explained.

Home values in Highland Park

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

Zillow’s Home Value Index for Highland Park was $590,990 as of September 30, 2026, up 3.3% from a year earlier and up 33.3% over five years. Over ten years the index rose 62.3%. 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 $622,003 across 65 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 $471,700 (2020–2024 average), compared with a Middlesex County town median of $446,400.

Highland Park property taxes

Highland Park’s 2025 general tax rate was 2.723 per $100 of assessed value, and its effective tax rate was 2.802%, higher than the Middlesex County town median of 2.098% and higher than the statewide municipal median of 2.141%. That ranks it #25 lowest of 25 Middlesex County municipalities by effective rate. The average residential tax bill was $13,112 on an average assessment of $481,522 across 3,183 residential properties.

Applied to the typical home value of $590,990, the effective rate implies roughly $16,560 a year ($1,380 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 $590,990 home with 20% down ($118,198) 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 $3,203 a month. With estimated property tax that’s about $4,583, before insurance, any HOA fee and utilities. For comparison, the Census median gross rent in Highland Park is $1,873 and Zillow’s observed rent index (asking rents, Sept. 2026) is $2,447, up 7.3% in a year.

Run my numbers for Highland ParkRent vs buy here

Who lives in Highland Park

About 15,121 people live in Highland Park. 40.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied (county town median 65.6%), so renters are a large part of the market and rentals turn over often. 32% of housing units are single-family detached houses. The median resident age is 35.2, and 69.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Median household income is $104,694, about the same as the county town median of $107,892.

The median home in Highland Park was built in 1962. 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 Highland Park

Workers in Highland Park average 27.1 minutes each way (those who don’t work from home), shorter than the Middlesex County town median of 31.7 minutes. 7.8% commute by public transportation, so transit is a real option for some commuters and 26.4% work from home.

Schools

I don’t republish unofficial school scores. For Highland Park, 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 Highland Park’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 59.7% of homes renter-occupied, Highland Park 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 33.3% in five years, so many owners have significant equity. See your number in the seller net sheet.

Nearby towns at a similar price