Phillipsburg Named Among 6 Most Affordable Towns to Retire in NJ

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - Phillipsburg, New Jersey was named among the most affordable places to retire in New Jersey by WorldAtlas.com , which was founded in 1994 and is one of the largest publishing resources in geography and other topics it covers – including sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

In the article, “6 Most Affordable Towns to Retire in New Jersey,” WorldAtlas says of Phillipsburg:

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This town of 15,206 residents has a cost of living below the state average with median house prices sitting at $144,200. Phillipsburg is another very walkable city with crime rates well below the national average and its own hospital in town. An old railroad community, Phillipsburg is home to the Delaware River Railroad Excursions, Phillipsburg Railroad Historians, and the Sigal Museum and Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society.

The town is a 30 minute drive from the Poconos and is geographically beautiful with its hills, the Delaware River, and woodlands all within the town's limits. Despite its slightly larger size, this is a tight-knit community that has thriving businesses and arts scene both live along the Riverfront and across its many galleries and restaurants. Warren County is also home to several seniors programs including a community meals program that hosts lunches and mingles.

Phillipsburg, Most Affordable Home Prices on the List
Notably, the next lowest median home price of any of the other towns that made the list of most affordable towns to retire in New Jersey are nearly $100,000 more expensive than Phillipsburg. Nestled on the banks of the Delaware River, the median price of a home in Phillipsburg is said to stand at $144,200 according to the Economic Research Institute. The median price of a home in Hainesport, New Jersey is said to be “around $240,000,” in Hopatcong, $240,600 and in Hammonton $243,000.

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At $144,200, the median price of a home in Phillipsburg is approximately 60 percent of the cost of a home in these other three towns. Other towns on the list include Rahway at $276,500 and Haddonfield at $534,000. Homes in Phillipsburg are just 52 percent of the cost of a home in Rahway.

In addition to featuring average home prices that are almost half the cost of other towns on the list, Phillipsburg is the only town which was also featured on the list of 30 towns with the lowest property taxes in New Jersey (more detail below).

“I’m pleased to see this recognition of Phillipsburg, but not surprised,” said Phillipsburg Business Administrator Matthew C. Hall, MPA. “We pride ourselves on making our town as affordable as possible while still doing everything we can to improve the quality of life for our residents – especially our seniors and our children.”

Recently, Phillipsburg has been able to leverage significant grants and private gifts (such as $1,000,000 from McWane Ductile) to make improvements in town and begin others.

Recent initiatives include:

• The new community pool and splash pad at Walters Park;
• The restoration of the historic railroad terminal on South Main St., Union Station, which has undergone extensive rehabilitation to date and is set for more with a grant from Warren County of $172,000;
• The state-of the-art 118,000-square-foot, multi-sport turf field called McWane Field at Walters Park which broke ground last October and is designed for baseball and softball programs, as well as football, soccer and lacrosse. Sponsored by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Norwescap and private donations such as that of McWane Ductile, the field is expected to cost $2,000,000 but cost the town nothing;
• Restoration and cleanup of the town’s Skate Park, undertaken by town volunteers with aid from Norwescap;
• Commencement of grant funding of $1,360,000 from the State of New Jersey for Phase I of the Phillipsburg Riverfront Heritage Trail;
• Commencement of grant funding of $50,000 to purchase nearly 30 acres of land for a 3-mile trail, converting old and unused railroad tracks into walking, biking and exercise paths that will join with Alpha’s 1.3 mile path of the same nature;
• Expansion of the Phillipsburg’s “Trolley” transportation system during town events to give seniors and other residents greater access;
• Refurbishment of the town senior center with funding from McWane Ductile;
• A grant application to AARP to refurbish Shappell Park to better accommodate seniors;
• Norwescap is currently seeking $900,000 in investment via the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax

Credit Program (NRTC) for its work on South Main Street in Phillipsburg for 2024.

In addition, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and the Environmental Protection Agency just approved Phillipsburg for:

• Grant funding of $1,400,000 for the purchase of property for Rails-to Trails, converting old and unused railroad tracks into walking, biking and exercise paths. Phase I features a wayfinding connection over the historic Northampton St. Bridge to Easton, PA, linking up to the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor spanning beyond Trenton, NJ to the Pocono Mountains;
• $500,000 in Urban Parks Grant Funding for Mercer Street Park;
• $750,000 in Inclusive (Jake’s Law) Playground Grant Funding for differently abled children at Brainard Street Park.

The funding, which is part of a larger statewide Green Acres initiative, will now advance to the independent Garden State Preservation Trust for review, approval and submission to the New Jersey Legislature for appropriation.

“These initiatives effectively redirect state and federal tax dollars as well as private donations to directly improve the quality of life for Phillipsburg residents,” said Patrick Kays, director of Municipal Services & Community Development. “We owe it to ourselves and to our children to make Phillipsburg the best possible and most affordable version of itself – and these grants, gifts and volunteer initiatives go a long way in making that a reality.”

More Infrastructural Improvements
In addition , the town recently undertook investments in IT infrastructure improvements and cyber security to ensure operational efficiency and data safety. The town also implemented a reorganization of the public works and recreation departments to ensure both are fully engaged in community development and maintenance of public facilities – with an emphasis on parks. To help expedite the revitalization and redevelopment of Phillipsburg, the town has also increased staff in the building inspections department.

Phillipsburg Property Taxes Again Among the Cheapest in New Jersey According to NJ.com
Any metric that purports to rank affordability in New Jersey should consider property taxes. According to WalletHub , New Jersey has the highest real estate tax rate in the country. According to NJ.com, Phillipsburg is among the 30 towns that have the lowest property taxes in New Jersey , ranking at 25 this year, with the cheapest property taxes of any town north of Trenton, with a population of more than 4,000. Phillipsburg is the only town featured in the list of “6 Most Affordable Towns to Retire in New Jersey” that is also featured on the list of lowest property taxes in New Jersey.

Last year, Phillipsburg ranked 27th among the towns and cities with the 30 cheapest property tax bills. According to NJ.com “the average property tax bill in New Jersey was $9,490 statewide in 2022, and homeowners in some towns paid more than $24,000.” NJ.com also noted that the average tax bill in Phillipsburg was $4,612 – which is less than half the state average.

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