Housing Market
Sussex County is the value play of northern NJ. At a $425K median, it's 44% cheaper than Bergen County with significantly larger lots and a lifestyle that includes skiing, hiking, and lakefront living. The 8.9% appreciation rate tells the story: remote work permanently expanded the buyer pool, and the coming Andover NJ Transit station will convert Sussex from a drive-only county to a rail-connected suburb. Towns within 15 minutes of the new station — Andover, Byram, Stanhope — are already seeing price pressure.
Compare Towns
24 municipalities sorted by median price
| Town | Median Price | Schools | To NYC | Tax Rate | Est. Annual Tax | Walkability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | $550,000 | 8/10 |
75 min
Drive to Dover/Netcong
|
2.23% | $10,567 |
25
|
| Fredon | $470,000 | 7/10 |
75 min
Drive to Netcong
|
1.89% | $8,901 |
5
|
| Lafayette | $450,000 | 7/10 |
85 min
Drive to Dover
|
1.78% | $9,456 |
8
|
| Andover Township | $440,000 | 7/10 |
65 min
Andover (2026)
Lackawanna Cut-Off
|
2.12% | $8,456 |
10
|
| Byram | $430,000 | 7/10 |
70 min
Drive to Netcong
|
2.23% | $9,123 |
15
|
| Vernon | $425,000 | 7/10 |
80 min
Drive to Dover
|
2.34% | $8,901 |
12
|
| Hardyston | $420,000 | 7/10 |
75 min
Drive to Dover
|
2.34% | $8,123 |
10
|
| Hopatcong | $410,000 | 6/10 |
65 min
Drive to Dover
|
2.45% | $7,890 |
18
|
| Wantage | $400,000 | 7/10 |
90 min
Drive to Dover
|
1.95% | $8,234 |
5
|
| Stanhope | $380,000 | 6/10 |
60 min
Netcong Station
Morris & Essex
|
2.45% | $7,234 |
45
|
| Montague | $360,000 | 6/10 |
100 min
Drive to Port Jervis
|
2.01% | $7,234 |
5
|
| Newton | $350,000 | 6/10 |
80 min
Drive to Dover/Netcong
|
2.89% | $7,123 |
65
|
| Franklin | $340,000 | 6/10 |
80 min
Drive to Dover
|
2.56% | $7,234 |
35
|
| Ogdensburg | $330,000 | 6/10 |
78 min
Drive to Dover
|
2.56% | $6,890 |
32
|
| Hamburg | $310,000 | 6/10 |
80 min
Drive to Dover
|
2.67% | $6,789 |
52
|
| Sussex Borough | $290,000 | 5/10 |
85 min
Drive to Dover
|
2.78% | $6,234 |
48
|
Property Tax Calculator
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Best Towns For...
🚂 NYC Commuters
🏠 First-Time Buyers
📈 Investors
Town Profiles
Sparta
$550,000Sussex County's premier family town. Sparta High School ranked A by Niche with 98% graduation rate. Lake Mohawk private community (800-acre lake est. 1927). Active downtown with restaurants and shops. Youth sports powerhouse.
Fredon
$470,000Small, quiet township with larger lots and privacy. Kittatinny Valley State Park. Feeds to Kittatinny Regional HS. Under 3,500 residents. Popular with buyers seeking acreage close to I-80 access.
Lafayette
$450,000Pastoral township with rolling farmland and historic homes. Lafayette Village has a general store and post office feel. Swartswood State Park and lake nearby. Rural NJ at its most authentic.
Andover Township
$440,000The town that changes everything. NJ Transit Andover station opening late 2026 will provide direct rail to Hoboken and Penn Station. Properties near the station are already seeing price pressure. Best investment play in Sussex County.
Byram
$430,000Lake-focused community with Cranberry Lake, Forest Lake, and Lake Lackawanna. Close to I-80 for commuting. Byram Township schools feed to Lenape Valley Regional. Strong community identity around its lakes.
Vernon
$425,000Mountain Creek ski resort and waterpark drive seasonal economy. Highland Lakes private community with lakefront living. Appalachian Trail access. Largest municipality in Sussex County by area. Four-season outdoor lifestyle.
Hardyston
$420,000Mountain Creek resort area. Crystal Springs golf community. Mix of estate homes and family neighborhoods. Wallkill River valley. Growing township with new construction. Hamburg Mountain wildlife management area.
Hopatcong
$410,000Surrounds Lake Hopatcong — NJ's largest freshwater lake. Year-round lakefront living with boating, fishing, and swimming. Hopatcong HS. Nolan's Point entertainment area. Affordable lakefront compared to Sussex lake communities.
Wantage
$400,000Large, rural township in northwestern Sussex County. Horse farms and agricultural properties. High Point State Park — the highest elevation in NJ (1,803 ft). Appalachian Trail. Space and privacy at affordable prices.
Stanhope
$380,000Shares the Netcong NJ Transit station — the closest rail access in Sussex County. Lake Musconetcong. Waterloo Village historic site nearby. Compact borough with village character. Gateway to Sussex from the train.
Montague
$360,000NJ's northernmost municipality at the NY/PA tri-state point. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. High Point State Park. Stokes State Forest. The most remote and rural town in NJ — for buyers who want wilderness.
Newton
$350,000County seat with the most walkable downtown in Sussex County. Newton Theatre for live shows. Spring Street shops and restaurants. Sussex County Community College. Court Square historic district. Most urban character in the county.
Franklin
$340,000Historic mining borough — the Sterling Hill Mining Museum and Franklin Mineral Museum showcase world-famous fluorescent mineral deposits. Affordable single-family homes. Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge nearby.
Ogdensburg
$330,000Tiny borough of 2,400 surrounded by Franklin and Sparta. Sterling Hill Mining Museum. Affordable single-family homes. Feeds to Wallkill Valley Regional HS. Tight-knit community.
Hamburg
$310,000Small borough with affordable homes and a walkable downtown. Hamburg Mountain for hiking. Gingerbread Castle historic site. Compact community under 4,000 residents. Best entry price in northern Sussex.
Sussex Borough
$290,000Small borough of 2,000 residents with the most affordable homes in the county. Main Street has a few shops and restaurants. Sussex County Fairgrounds nearby hosts the annual county fair. Quiet, rural character.
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