How Does Toms River's Tax Burden Compare With N.J., Ocean County?

New Jersey residents – for numerous reasons – suffer the burden of having to pay the nation's highest property taxes.

But how does Toms River stack up compared to other towns in New Jersey and Ocean County?

Though township residents are facing a 3.8 cent per $100 valuation tax hike on the municipal portion of their property tax bills this year, data from the township shows the average Toms River taxpayer will spend significantly less than the average New Jersey resident.

In 2013, the average New Jersey resident paid $7,988 in combined local, school district and county property taxes in 2013 — a 1.7 percent jump from the previous year, NJ.com reported.

According to township documents, the average Toms River taxpayer had to fork over $4,758 last year, about 41 percent less than the state average.

When compared to other towns in Ocean County, Toms River's taxpayers were still ranked in the lowest third in the county – 23rd out of the county's 33 municipalities. The Ocean County average combined tax bill was $6,118 last year, 22 percent higher than Toms River's average.

The average municipal tax bill (separate from school district or county taxes) has staggered for several years in Toms River, however. Over the last four years, residents paid $1,274 in 2013 and $1,413 in 2012, the highest and lowest. With the proposed jump in 2014's tax bill, the average resident is projected to pay $1,365 in municipal property taxes.