But I haven't been there in decades.

[link:http://www.joeshimkus.com/NJ-Tax-Rates.aspx|

That highlights the degree of unfairness in the property taxes.

drown that home soon enough.

Your property tax rate has 3 components (4 if you have a regional high school district in addition to you local k-8). Your municipal government, your county government and your school tax are all combined into a single tax bill that is collected by the municipality. The bill is determined by the tax rate and the value of your home. Small towns in general have very low tax rates. It's reflective of the level of services and school costs. Mendham Township has a very low tax rate. A lot of high value homes, minimal services and a regional high school they share with 5 other towns. That makes your rate low. Bay Head has less than 1,000 people. A lot of seasonal residents so a small local school district, a regional high school district and minimal services and lots of high value homes. That makes for a low tax rate. If you live in a town that has to provide a lot of services, has a large police force, a large complex school system, and other services, you probably have a high tax rate. That's how your property taxes work in NJ.

...I'm just appalled that they don't work for anyone but the rich folks.

This only makes sense since those in Bay Head have to put up with the ocean and beach. Folks in my area have the attractiveness of Philly and Camden to make paying those extra taxes all worthwhile.