Financial considerations play an important role in your decision to relocate. If Scotch Plains is on the list of New Jersey towns you’d like to call home, you’ll want to keep these cost of living factors in mind.

Jobs

A strong job market makes Central New Jersey a particularly great place to live. With a median household income of $128,890, Scotch Plains is well above the $55,322 national U.S. average. Residents work at local companies such as Nokia, Linden North America, Blue Apron, Merck & Co., and Overlook and Trinitas Hospitals, or travel to New York City or other parts of New Jersey for work. Many large companies and manufacturers have headquarters or large facilities just a short distance from Scotch Plains.

Scotch Plains is currently in the middle of a redevelopment project to attract new businesses to the downtown area. If you’re thinking about starting your own business now or in the future, downtown Scotch Plains may offer the ideal location for your company, office, retail store or restaurant.

Home Prices

The more desirable the area, the more you’ll pay for a home. Zillow reports a median sale price of about $600,000. Upscale homes naturally cost more than the median, while small homes and fixer-uppers sell for less.

Do you want to live in an older home or a brand new house? You’ll pay a little bit more for a new construction home, but you won’t have to worry about repairs or renovations for years. New houses also include brand new appliances, plenty of storage space, large bedrooms, and spacious bathrooms and upgraded kitchens. The same features that make your home more comfortable also increase its value and help you get the best price if you decide to sell one day.

Property Taxes

As of June 2020, the Scotch Plains Tax Rate is 11.129% at a ratio of 22.84%. According to NJ.com, Scotch Plains residents paid an average of $13,686 in property taxes in 2019. 

Transportation

Whether you work in Scotch Plains, New Brunswick, Edison, Bridgewater, Newark, Princeton, Trenton, Philadelphia or New York City, you’ll find convenient transportation options in this New Jersey community. It only takes about an hour to travel to New York’s Penn Station when you hop on board a NJ Transit train at the local Fanwood Station. A one-way trip will cost you $9.75, while a monthly pass is available for $298. NJ Transit also offers bus service into the city and throughout New Jersey.

Do you plan to drive to Manhattan via the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels? You’ll pay $11.75 for off-peak EZ Pass access and $13.75 for peak EZ Pass access. The cash toll is $16 for both peak and off-peak times.

Childcare

Finding a quality daycare center or after-school program is a priority if you’re anticipating a move. While you’re at work, the last thing you want to do is worry about your child’s safety or question whether your son or daughter will thrive in a particular program or center.

You’ll find many quality childcare options in the Scotch Plains area, although the price will vary depending on whether you choose a home- or center-based option. According to September 2019 NJ.com article, parents in Union County can expect to pay a monthly median childcare fee of $1,050 for an infant, $950 for a toddler and $820 for a preschooler. Costs in the 75^th percentile price are $1,586 for infants, $1,540 for toddlers and $1,100 for preschoolers.

School-aged children can attend the after school program at the JCC of Central New Jersey, or the before and after school programs at the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA. Monthly fees for five days a week are $285 at the JCC and $478 at the YMCA. Other schedules with lower fees are also available.

Country Classics is proud to have built and sold seven beautiful single family homes in the heart of Scotch Plains, NJ. This outstanding community may be sold out, but we have several other new home opportunities in the Central New Jersey area. Contact us today to learn more!