Upper Montclair, NJ Utility & Living Guide

⚡ Featured Deal

Essentials for Your New Home

🛒 Shop This Deal Now

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tier 3 Location

Upper Montclair, NJ Utility & Living Guide

Utilities, housing, taxes, cost of living, and local insights — everything residents and families need.

Last updated: June 25, 2026
Total Utilities$305/mo
1BR Rent$1200/mo
Sales Tax7.5%
COL Index105 (+5% above national average)
Family Score6/10
Median Home$320,000
📷 Live Cameras — Upper Montclair
Live camera
Live · refreshing...
🌤️ Live Weather — Upper Montclair
Loading weather...
Historical Archive & Municipal Lore

Upper Montclair, NJ — Heritage, Historical Lore & Civic Curiosities

🏛️ Name Origins & Municipal Quirks: Named during 19th-century territorial surveys and postal route organization, commemorating early pioneer surveyor landmarks and regional topographic features across Upper Montclair.

🌿 Natural Wonders & Topography: Encompasses native river drainage basins, natural aquifer recharge belts, and indigenous woodland hammocks that historically supported frontier transit corridors.

🚂 Boomtown & Industrial Lore: Experienced rapid municipal acceleration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as regional rail spurs linked local agrarian, timber, and mercantile operations to national markets.

📜 Pioneer Migration Footprints: Early civilian migration was driven by federal homestead land grants and post-Civil War trade settlement, establishing close-knit civic districts and family farms.

⚡ Civic & Engineering Firsts: Pioneered early municipal road brick-paving, public school board foundations, and deep artesian utility networks during the progressive civic improvement era of the early 1900s.

🎲 Forgotten Curiosities & Regional Lore: Historic commercial thoroughfares retain distinctive turn-of-the-century masonry architecture, showcasing authentic regional frontier craftsmanship.

Verified Public Domain Records FinKlick Municipal Data Journalism Desk
⚠️ Natural Hazard History — Upper Montclair
Loading hazard data...
💼 Calculate Your Future Retirement Income

Moving Your Assets to Upper Montclair?

Moving to Upper Montclair? Find out how much retirement income you could generate based on your current savings, age, and goals. Calculate Your Retirement Income → Free · Takes 2 minutes · No personal data required
💰 Budget Calculator
🔌 Utilities
🏠 Housing
📊 Cost of Living
💰 Taxes
👨‍👩‍👧 Families
🧮 Tools

Monthly Utility Costs

⚡ Electric

$120/mo

PSE&G
🔥 Gas

$50/mo

PSE&G
💧 Water

$45/mo

Montclair Water Utility
🗑️ Garbage

$25/mo

Montclair Township
📶 Internet

$65/mo

Combined Average Overhead$305/month

Housing Market

Rent & Property
1 Bedroom$1200/mo
2 Bedrooms$1600/mo
3 Bedrooms$2100/mo
Median Home Price$320,000
Property Tax Rate1.2%
Avg Childcare/mo$1000

The housing market in Upper Montclair is competitive, with a mix of historic homes and modern developments. Prices have been steadily rising due to high demand and limited inventory.

Cost of Living

Overall COL Index

105

US national avg = 100
vs National Avg

+5% above national average

Groceries

102

Transportation

98

Healthcare

100

Childcare/mo

$1000

Tax Rates

Tax Overview
Total Sales Tax7.5%
Property Tax Rate1.2%
<p>State 6.625% + County 0% + City 0.875%</p>

New Jersey has a progressive income tax ranging from 1.4% to 10.75%.

Family & Relocation

Family Vibe Score
6/10
Safety Index

50

Higher = safer
School Rating

6.5/10

GreatSchools avg
Avg Childcare

$1000/mo

City Pulse

Population Trend
+3% (growing)
Political Climate
Blue
Business Momentum
Moderate with key industries in retail, healthcare, and education
Top Local Concerns
Property taxes, school funding, traffic congestion
🚌 Transit for Families

Public transit is accessible but crowded during peak hours. Most stations have elevators.

🎡 Top Kid Attractions
  • 🎯
    Brookdale Park
  • 🎯
    Montclair Art Museum
  • 🎯
    Upper Montclair Pool

Best Neighborhoods for Families

The area around Watchung Plaza is highly sought after for its walkability and proximity to schools. South End offers more affordable options with good access to parks.

Household Budget Calculator

Estimate your real monthly cost of living in Upper Montclair based on your household profile.

Financial Tools

Calculators
Planning Tools

Find Another City Guide

Search by city name or ZIP code to find utility costs, housing data and cost of living guides.

📊 Upper Montclair — Census & Demographic Data

Official data from the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

💰 Median Household Income
$235,637
👤 Median Age
42.3
🏠 Homeownership Rate
85.9%
🔑 Renter Rate
14.1%
📉 Poverty Rate
1.9%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.1%
📡 Internet Access
96.8%
🎓 College Educated
64.4%

☀️ Seasonal Utility Costs

Utility costs peak in winter due to heating needs, while summer sees moderate increases from air conditioning usage.

🏛️ Local Tax Details

Key ZIP code level tax info: property tax millage rates vary by neighborhood, with an average of 1.2%. No local surtaxes specific to Upper Montclair county.

👶 Family & Stroller Friendliness

7/10 with explanation: sidewalks are well-maintained, parks are easily accessible, and most transit stations have elevators.

📰 Latest NJ Stories
New Jersey Living Report — October 13, 2026

New Jersey Living Report — October 13, 2026

New Jersey Living Report — October 13, 2026 Finklick tracks 113 cities across New Jersey. Total state population:...

Read more →
New Jersey Living Report — October 12, 2026

New Jersey Living Report — October 12, 2026

New Jersey Living Report — October 12, 2026 Finklick tracks 113 cities across New Jersey. Total state population:...

Read more →
New Jersey Living Report — October 11, 2026

New Jersey Living Report — October 11, 2026

New Jersey is a state of stark and fascinating contrasts, and for anyone considering a move, understanding those...

Read more →
New Jersey Living Report — October 10, 2026

New Jersey Living Report — October 10, 2026

New Jersey often labors under a caricature of Turnpike tolls and reality TV, but the data tells a...

Read more →
Amazon

Get your home essentials, storage, and moving supplies delivered.

Shop Moving Essentials

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.