Which has lower property taxes, Alpine or Old Tappan?

Old Tappan has the lower average property tax bill: $19,377 against $23,291 in Alpine (2025).

Which has better schools, Alpine or Old Tappan?

Alpine has the higher-ranked high school option in U.S. News (#23 in New Jersey against #47 for Old Tappan).

Alpine

Old Tappan

By Slava Zborovsky · Updated October 22, 2026

Alpine vs Old Tappan

Homes cost more in Alpine: a typical value of $3.26M against $1.25M in Old Tappan, about 161% higher.

Old Tappan has the lower average property tax bill: $19,377 against $23,291 in Alpine (2025).
Alpine has the higher-ranked high school option in U.S. News (#23 in New Jersey against #47 for Old Tappan).
Alpine has no rail service to New York; commuters there drive or take the bus.
Values rose faster in Alpine over the past year (13.4% against 7.7%).

Alpine and Old Tappan, side by side

Alpine

Old Tappan

Typical home value (Zillow): $3,262,000source$1,249,000source
Change in home value, past year: 13.4%7.7%
Average property tax bill (2025): $23,291source$19,377source
Effective tax rate (2025): 0.794%source1.785%source
High school: Tenafly HSNorthern Valley Regional HS at Old Tappan
Best high school option, NJ rank (U.S. News): #23source#47source
Niche grade: A+sourceA+source
Train to NY Penn (AM peak): No railsource55-69 minutes from Hillsdalesource
Own train station: NoNo
Road miles to the GW Bridge: 7.713.2
Population: 1,5886,008
Land area (sq mi): 6.4013.315
Median household income: $246,944$205,385
Owner-occupied homes: 92.7%94.1%
NJ seller transfer costs at the typical value: $134,805$25,078

Alpine vs Old Tappan: home values, taxes, schools and commute
	Alpine	Old Tappan
Typical home value (Zillow)	$3,262,000source	$1,249,000source
Change in home value, past year	13.4%	7.7%
Average property tax bill (2025)	$23,291source	$19,377source
Effective tax rate (2025)	0.794%source	1.785%source
High school	Tenafly HS	Northern Valley Regional HS at Old Tappan
Best high school option, NJ rank (U.S. News)	#23source	#47source
Niche grade	A+source	A+source
Train to NY Penn (AM peak)	No railsource	55-69 minutes from Hillsdalesource
Own train station	No	No
Road miles to the GW Bridge	7.7	13.2
Population	1,588	6,008
Land area (sq mi)	6.401	3.315
Median household income	$246,944	$205,385
Owner-occupied homes	92.7%	94.1%
NJ seller transfer costs at the typical value	$134,805	$25,078

Bold marks the lower cost, higher-ranked school or shorter trip. Sources: Zillow Home Value Index (2026-08-31); NJ Treasury 2025 tax rates and average residential bills; U.S. News and Niche school rankings; NJ Transit timetables; U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. Road miles calculated.

Full town guide

Alpine

Gated estates above the Palisades, minutes from the George Washington Bridge.

Full town guide

Old Tappan

Lake views and larger lots at the northern tip of the Northern Valley.

Alpine vs Old Tappan: questions

Is Alpine or Old Tappan more expensive?: Homes cost more in Alpine: a typical value of $3.26M against $1.25M in Old Tappan, about 161% higher.
Which has lower property taxes, Alpine or Old Tappan?: Old Tappan has the lower average property tax bill: $19,377 against $23,291 in Alpine (2025).
Which has better schools, Alpine or Old Tappan?: Alpine has the higher-ranked high school option in U.S. News (#23 in New Jersey against #47 for Old Tappan).

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