Photo: Alansohn · CC BY-SA 4.0New Brunswick spent more per resident in 2022 than 87% of similar cities
New Brunswick’s city government spent $404.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $7,231 per resident. Water and other utilities ($10 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how New Brunswick is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$6,520 per resident in 2022: more than 87% of them
New Brunswick’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($6,520 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. New Brunswick spent more than 87% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($16.8 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; New Brunswick itself left out).
About $7,231 per resident a year, or $19.81 a day
Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 77% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
New Brunswick 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 up 11% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years New Brunswick 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: $6,520 · 2023: $6,840 · 2024: $7,231.
full-time in March 2025, up from 2,056 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 $6,316 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.79% 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 New Brunswick’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 New Brunswick’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in New Brunswick →
Who’s in charge in New Brunswick
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
New Brunswick’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on newbrunswick.com ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 25 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 (55,998).
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.
New Brunswick City School District
New Brunswick’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by New Brunswick, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $29,619 per pupil, $17,416 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 New Brunswick.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: newbrunswick.com ↗
- 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 New Brunswick compares with the towns next door
New Brunswick spent $6,520 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Township | $796 | $8,498 |
| North Brunswick Township | $996 | $10,000+ |
| Piscataway Township | $1,123 | $9,018 |
| East Brunswick Township | $1,201 | $10,000+ |
| Edison Township | $4,683 runs schools | $10,000+ |
| Highland Park | estimate | $10,000+ |
| New Brunswick | $6,520 | $6,316 |
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 New Brunswick’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about New Brunswick’s government
How much does New Brunswick spend per resident?
About $7,231 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $6,520 was more than 87% of 15 New Jersey cities that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in New Brunswick?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $6,316 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.79% of the typical home’s value, vs 2.11% across New Jersey. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see newbrunswick.com.
Who runs New Brunswick’s government?
See newbrunswick.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for New Brunswick yet.
How many people work for New Brunswick?
2,205 full-time and 440 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $18.0M (about $215.6M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents New Brunswick in the state legislature?
State Senate District 17 (Bob Smith) and General Assembly District 17 (Joe Danielsen and Kevin Egan). The General Assembly district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about New Brunswick’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 →