Warren, NJ real estate: the numbers, explained.

Home values in Warren

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

Zillow’s Home Value Index for Warren Township was $1,134,759 as of September 30, 2026, up 5.8% from a year earlier and up 39.5% over five years. Over ten years the index rose 56.4%. 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 $1,131,797 across 39 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 $930,800 (2020–2024 average), compared with a Somerset County town median of $547,600.

Warren property taxes

Warren’s 2025 general tax rate was 1.752 per $100 of assessed value, and its effective tax rate was 1.841%, lower than the Somerset County town median of 2.030% and lower than the statewide municipal median of 2.141%. That ranks it #8 lowest of 21 Somerset County municipalities by effective rate. The average residential tax bill was $16,999 on an average assessment of $970,235 across 5,393 residential properties.

Applied to the typical home value of $1,134,759, the effective rate implies roughly $20,891 a year ($1,741 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 $1,134,759 home with 20% down ($226,952) 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 $6,150 a month. With estimated property tax that’s about $7,891, before insurance, any HOA fee and utilities. For comparison, the Census median gross rent in Warren is $2,170.

Run my numbers for WarrenRent vs buy here

Who lives in Warren

About 16,186 people live in Warren. 88.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied (county town median 79.6%), so the market is mostly owner-occupied single homes. 87.4% of housing units are single-family detached houses. The median resident age is 44.7, and 67.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Median household income is $204,063, higher than the county town median of $148,056.

The median home in Warren was built in 1985. Newer housing stock usually means fewer legacy issues like buried oil tanks or lead paint, but still inspect roofs, HVAC age and drainage, and check any HOA’s finances.

Commuting from Warren

Workers in Warren average 33.4 minutes each way (those who don’t work from home), longer than the Somerset County town median of 30.4 minutes. 3.1% commute by public transportation, so most commuters drive and 33.5% work from home.

Schools

I don’t republish unofficial school scores. For Warren, 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 Warren’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

• 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 39.5% in five years, so many owners have significant equity. See your number in the seller net sheet.
• Low turnover: about 39 residential sales were in the state’s 2026 report, so good listings can be scarce. Set alerts and be ready to act.

Nearby towns at a similar price