Raritan, NJ real estate: the numbers, explained.

Home values in Raritan

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

Zillow’s Home Value Index for Raritan was $541,864 as of September 30, 2026, up 2% from a year earlier and up 29% over five years. Over ten years the index rose 63.6%. 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 $555,957 across 43 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 $456,900 (2020–2024 average), compared with a Somerset County town median of $547,600.

Raritan property taxes

Raritan’s 2025 general tax rate was 3.042 per $100 of assessed value, and its effective tax rate was 2.009%, about the same as the Somerset County town median of 2.030% and lower than the statewide municipal median of 2.141%. That ranks it #10 lowest of 21 Somerset County municipalities by effective rate. The average residential tax bill was $9,822 on an average assessment of $322,884 across 1,898 residential properties.

Applied to the typical home value of $541,864, the effective rate implies roughly $10,886 a year ($907 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 $541,864 home with 20% down ($108,373) 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 $2,937 a month. With estimated property tax that’s about $3,844, before insurance, any HOA fee and utilities. For comparison, the Census median gross rent in Raritan is $2,112 and Zillow’s observed rent index (asking rents, Sept. 2026) is $2,525, up 3.2% in a year.

Run my numbers for RaritanRent vs buy here

Who lives in Raritan

About 8,368 people live in Raritan. 49.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied (county town median 79.6%). 45.2% of housing units are single-family detached houses. The median resident age is 41.3, and 44.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Median household income is $107,672, lower than the county town median of $148,056.

The median home in Raritan was built in 1969. 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 Raritan

Workers in Raritan average 22.2 minutes each way (those who don’t work from home), shorter than the Somerset County town median of 30.4 minutes. 0.7% commute by public transportation, so most commuters drive and 16.2% work from home.

Schools

I don’t republish unofficial school scores. For Raritan, 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 Raritan’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 50.1% of homes renter-occupied, Raritan has a deep rental market. Line up documents before touring. The move-in calculator shows the cash you’ll need.
• Buyers: a below-county-median effective tax rate stretches your budget further here than in many Somerset towns. Compare with the town comparison tool.
• Sellers: values are up 29% in five years, so many owners have significant equity. See your number in the seller net sheet.

Nearby towns at a similar price