Cost to Own
United States › New Jersey › Union County › Mountainside Population 6,967 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
Before you budget for Mountainside FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Union County Relatively High, with strong wind its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Mountainside, New Jersey

A $756,000 home here costs

$6,002

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $257,000 a year.

P&I 69%Tax 14%Insurance 3%Utilities 4%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,122. The real number is $1,880 higher every month, 46% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Union County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Mountainside median: $755,600
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
NJ 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, $604,800 borrowed $4,122
Property tax1.324% effective rate for Mountainside itself $834
Homeowners insuranceNew Jersey averages $1,309/yr (NAIC), or 0.294% of home value $185
Electricity24.61ยข/kWh, New Jersey residential average, EIA $163
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $630
Total monthly $6,002

Mountainside against Union County and New Jersey

MeasureMountainsideUnion County
Median home value$755,600$488,800
Median property tax$10,001$10,001
Effective tax rate1.324%2.046%
Median gross rent$3,500+$1,664
Population6,967572,549

The weather behind that power bill

Mountainside sits in Union County, which averages a high of 85.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 25.1°F in its coldest, with 50.39" of precipitation a year and 28% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,123 cooling and 4,856 heating degree days, which is what sets the $163 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Union County

Full Union County cost breakdown · Every county in New Jersey

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Mountainside averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Mountainside every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Mountainside I already own here and may sell

Common questions

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

A $756,000 home in Mountainside, New Jersey costs approximately $6,002 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $4,122 principal and interest, $834 property tax, $185 homeowners insurance, $231 utilities and $630 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Mountainside?

Mountainside has an effective property tax rate of 1.324%, based on a median home value of $755,600 and median real estate taxes of $10,001. That is lower than the Union County average of 2.046%.

What is the average home price in Mountainside?

The median owner-occupied home value in Mountainside, New Jersey is $755,600, against $488,800 across Union County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mountainside?

Median gross rent in Mountainside is above $3,500 (the Census reporting cap) a month, against $6,002 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Mountainside?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Mountainside, New Jersey at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $257,000 a year. That covers the full $6,002 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Mountainside, 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