Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0East Orange spent more per resident in 2022 than 93% of similar cities
East Orange’s city government spent $438.4 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $6,405 per resident. Water and other utilities ($14.2 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how East Orange is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$6,965 per resident in 2022: more than 93% of them
East Orange’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($6,965 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 15 New Jersey cities that run their own schools: the median was $4,752, and the middle half spent $4,428–$5,758. East Orange spent more than 93% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($6.6 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
New Jersey cities that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; East Orange itself left out).
About $6,405 per resident a year, or $17.55 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 67% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
East Orange runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with New Jersey cities that run their own schools.
Day-to-day spending is down 3% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years East Orange reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $6,965 · 2023: $6,708 · 2024: $6,405. Per resident it went from $6,965 to $6,405 (down 8%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 64,630 to 68,446.
full-time in March 2025, down from 2,247 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $9,970 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.72% of the home’s value, vs 2.11% across New Jersey.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at East Orange’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to East Orange’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in East Orange →
Who’s in charge in East Orange
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
East Orange’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on eastorange-nj.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 33 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (68,446).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
East Orange City School District
East Orange’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by East Orange, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $27,161 per pupil, $13,727 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
New Jersey districts overall: 48% local, 46% state, 6% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for East Orange.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: eastorange-nj.org ↗
- 2New Jersey General AssemblyState representatives
- 3New Jersey SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of New Jersey
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How East Orange compares with the towns next door
East Orange spent $6,965 per resident in 2022; the 3 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,212 to $6,743. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomfield Township | $1,212 | $10,000+ |
| Newark | $2,867 | $7,262 |
| City of Orange Township | $6,743 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| South Orange Village Township | estimate | $10,000+ |
| East Orange | $6,965 | $9,970 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach East Orange’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about East Orange’s government
How much does East Orange spend per resident?
About $6,405 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $6,965 was more than 93% of 15 New Jersey cities that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in East Orange?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $9,970 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.72% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.11% across New Jersey. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see eastorange-nj.org.
Who runs East Orange’s government?
See eastorange-nj.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for East Orange yet.
How many people work for East Orange?
2,103 full-time and 506 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $19.1M (about $228.9M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents East Orange in the state legislature?
State Senate District 34 (Britnee Timberlake) and General Assembly District 34 (Carmen Morales and Mike Venezia). The General Assembly district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about East Orange’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →