New Jersey homeowners already know their property tax bills are high. What many do not know is exactly how high, how Camden County compares to the rest of the state, and what state programs exist to bring that number down.
In 2025, the average New Jersey property tax bill exceeded $10,000 for the first time in state history, reaching $10,095 according to data from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. New Jersey now holds the highest effective property tax rate in the United States at 2.23%, according to Rocket Mortgage’s 2026 analysis. That rate is more than double the national median of 1.03%.
Camden County sits above even the New Jersey average. The county’s effective property tax rate runs around 3.08% to 3.27%, placing it among the highest in the state. The median property tax bill in Camden County is approximately $8,063, with significant variation by municipality. Haddonfield carries the highest median at $13,052. The city of Camden itself has the lowest in the county at $1,925, reflecting the gap between assessed values on opposite ends of the municipal spectrum.
Why Camden County Rates Are Higher Than the State Average
Property taxes in New Jersey fund three main things: county services, local municipal government, and public schools. School funding is the largest driver. In districts where local tax revenue carries a heavy share of the school budget, rates climb accordingly.
Camden County’s 37 municipalities each set their own rates, meaning a homeowner in Laurel Springs faces a different tax environment than a homeowner five miles away in Haddon Township. According to Ownwell’s property data, Laurel Springs has the highest median effective tax rate in the county at 4.54%, while Haddonfield has the lowest at 2.75%, despite having the highest median dollar bill due to home values.
For most Camden County homeowners, property taxes represent one of the single largest annual expenses they carry. Understanding what relief is available is not optional financial planning. It is a basic part of managing the cost of homeownership in this state.
The ANCHOR Program: Rebates for Homeowners and Renters
The most widely available relief program in New Jersey is ANCHOR, which stands for Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters. It replaced the previous Homestead Benefit program and significantly expanded the income eligibility thresholds.
Under ANCHOR, qualifying homeowners can receive up to $1,500 in annual property tax relief. Renters can receive up to $450. Eligibility is based on income, with thresholds set to cover a significant share of middle-income households across the state. The New Jersey Division of Taxation administers the program and maintains current application deadlines and income limits on its website.
Many Camden County homeowners who qualify do not apply, either because they are unaware of the program or because they assume they do not qualify. The eligibility thresholds are broad, and the application is straightforward. If you own a home in New Jersey and meet the income requirements, it is worth checking.
The Senior Freeze Program
The Senior Freeze, formally called the Property Tax Reimbursement Program, is designed for residents 65 and older or those receiving disability benefits. It does not eliminate property tax increases. It reimburses eligible residents for increases above a base year amount, effectively locking in their tax bill at the level it was when they qualified.
For older residents on fixed incomes in communities like Moorestown, Voorhees, or Haddonfield, where property values and assessments have climbed steadily, the Senior Freeze can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in annual relief. The New Jersey Division of Taxation’s Senior Freeze page covers income limits, base year rules, and how to apply.
Stay NJ
The Stay NJ program is newer and targets residents aged 65 and older who want to remain in their homes rather than relocate to lower-tax states. It is designed to provide additional tax reduction on top of the ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits. Payments began distributing quarterly in February 2026 for qualifying applicants.
The combined application for Senior Freeze and ANCHOR benefits, which also covers Stay NJ eligibility, is filed through the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Residents under 65 use a separate, simplified ANCHOR form.
Property Tax Appeals: Are They Worth It?
Camden County homeowners who believe their property has been over-assessed also have the right to appeal. An appeal challenges the assessed value the county has assigned to the property, which directly affects the tax bill. If the assessed value is reduced through an appeal, the annual tax bill drops accordingly.
Appeals are filed with the Camden County Board of Taxation. The annual deadline to file is April 1 in most cases. Homeowners who purchased a home recently or who believe their assessed value does not reflect current market conditions are the best candidates for an appeal. A licensed real estate attorney or a property tax appeal specialist can help evaluate whether the case is strong enough to pursue.
What This Means for Camden County Homeowners in 2026
New Jersey’s property tax burden is not going away. The state’s funding structure, school obligations, and municipal service costs all point to rates that remain among the highest in the nation for the foreseeable future. But the relief programs that do exist are real, funded, and available to a significant share of the people reading this.
If you have not checked your ANCHOR eligibility, looked into the Senior Freeze, or reviewed your property’s assessed value recently, this is the year to do it. The programs are not difficult to apply for, and the savings for qualifying households are substantial.
For more on how taxes and the broader economy affect South Jersey residents and business owners, follow the Camden Times business section. The recent increase to New Jersey’s minimum wage is another financial change affecting Camden County households and employers this year.