Cost to Own
United StatesNew JerseyEssex CountyCaldwell Population 8,898 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Caldwell, New Jersey

A $563,000 home here costs

$4,612

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,894. The real number is $1,718 higher every month — 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Caldwell median: $563,000
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $450,400 borrowed $2,894
Property tax1.776% effective rate for Caldwell itself $833
Homeowners insuranceNew Jersey averages $1,309/yr (NAIC), or 0.294% of home value $138
Electricity23.27¢/kWh — New Jersey residential average, EIA $209
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $469
Total monthly $4,612

Caldwell against Essex County and New Jersey

MeasureCaldwellEssex County
Median home value$563,000$494,400
Median property tax$10,001$10,001
Effective tax rate1.776%2.023%
Median gross rent$1,937$1,459
Population8,898854,130

The weather behind that power bill

Caldwell sits in Essex County, which averages a high of 85.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.9°F in its coldest, with 44.88" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 973 cooling and 5,272 heating degree days, which is what sets the $209 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Essex County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Essex County

Full Essex County cost breakdown · Every county in New Jersey

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Caldwell?

A $563,000 home in Caldwell, New Jersey costs approximately $4,612 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $2,894 principal and interest, $833 property tax, $138 homeowners insurance, $277 utilities and $469 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Caldwell?

Caldwell has an effective property tax rate of 1.776%, based on a median home value of $563,000 and median real estate taxes of $10,001. That is lower than the Essex County average of 2.023%.

What is the average home price in Caldwell?

The median owner-occupied home value in Caldwell, New Jersey is $563,000, against $494,400 across Essex County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Caldwell?

Median gross rent in Caldwell is $1,937 a month, against $4,612 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Caldwell — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for New Jersey.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology