South Jersey Town With Only 3 Houses Has State's Highest Property Taxes

TAVISTOCK, NJ — A tiny South Jersey town that formed so residents could golf on Sundays has New Jersey's highest average property tax bill, according to newly released state data.

Tavistock Borough has a grand total of three houses and a population of nine, according to the 2020 U.S. census. Each household paid an average of $37,908 in property taxes in 2024, according to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The state average was $9,898, while Millburn had New Jersey's second-highest annual property tax payments at $25,407 per household.

Despite the hefty price tag, Tavistock's residents actually received tax cut of 0.78 percent from the prior year.

Tavistock seceded from Haddonfield a century ago, gaining state recognition as its own municipality in 1921.

While some believe Tavistock's founding was driven by Haddonfield's status as a dry borough, it was actually to free Tavistock Country Club members from Haddonfield's blue law that prohibited sporting activities on Sundays.

Here are a few other facts about Tavistock:

• The golf course fills most of the 0.28-square-mile borough, which borders Barrington, Haddonfield and Lawnside.
• Tavistock's three houses all overlook the golf course. The average home is valued at $2.64 million.
• The borough's local government has three nonpartisan commissioners who are elected every four years. So moving there will give you pretty good odds at becoming an elected officeholder.
• Tavistock was a true battleground in last year's presidential election, with four residents voting for Donald Trump and four selecting Kamala Harris.