Living in Boonton Township, NJ: Trails, Schools and Taxes Next to Downtown Boonton

Autumn forest trail in the wooded hills of Morris County, near Boonton Township, NJ

Short answer: Boonton Township NJ homes sit in a quiet, wooded municipality of about 4,400 people right next door to downtown Boonton. It is a separate town from Boonton itself, with its own government, its own PreK-8 school, a lower tax rate than the Town, and parkland at Tourne County Park and Pyramid Mountain.

If some “Boonton” listings you see say Boonton Township, there is a reason: two different municipalities share the Boonton name.

Boonton Township vs. the Town of Boonton

The Town of Boonton is the compact downtown on Main Street, with the train station, shops, and denser blocks of homes. Boonton Township is the more wooded, spread-out municipality next door. It was created by state act on April 11, 1867, when the old Pequannock Township was divided.

The two have separate governments, school districts, and tax rates. Boonton Township is run by a Township Committee. For buyers, the difference shows up in the tax bill and the school assignment. If you want the walkable downtown side of the story, our guide to living in the Town of Boonton covers it.

Quick facts Boonton Township Town of Boonton
2020 Census population 4,380 8,815
2026 general tax rate (per $100 assessed) 2.585 3.574
2025 general tax rate (per $100 assessed) 2.538 3.478
2025 effective tax rate 1.967 2.334
2025 average residential tax bill $13,463 $12,603
2025 average residential assessment $530,443 $362,351
Residential properties (2025 line items) 1,520 2,386

Sources: NJ Department of Labor 2020 Census tables; Morris County Board of Taxation (2026 rates); NJ Division of Taxation 2025 General Tax Rates and 2025 Average Residential Statistics.

Sections and Neighborhoods in Boonton Township

Boonton Township is not built around a single downtown. It is a collection of older settlements and later subdivisions spread across hills and valleys. The State of New Jersey’s list of local place names puts Powerville, Deer Pond, and Dixons Pond inside the Township, and the Township’s own history page describes Rockaway Valley and Powerville as its historic villages.

  • Rockaway Valley: The northern valley along Rockaway Valley Road, where the first settler of record had a large plantation by 1758. The Rockaway Valley Methodist Church dates to 1842.
  • Powerville: Along Powerville Road, where the Morris Canal once ran. The Township notes that three canal locks were built here, and that the old Powerville Hotel near Lock 11 later served as an Underground Railroad stop.
  • Oak Hills and Farber Hill: Residential areas the Township names in its road notices, with streets such as Overlook Road and Twin Hills Drive.

Expect mostly single-family homes. Morris County’s 2025 hazard mitigation plan reports that residential and farm property makes up about 94.6% of the Township’s parcel value and that about 85% of housing units are owner-occupied.

Boonton Township NJ Homes: Prices and Property Taxes

Boonton Township NJ homes carry a higher average assessment than homes in the Town of Boonton, so the average bill is a bit higher even though the rate is lower. The state’s figures:

Measure Value Period / source
Average residential tax bill $13,259 2024, NJ Division of Taxation
Average residential tax bill $13,463 2025, NJ Division of Taxation
Township (municipal) portion of the tax rate $0.479 2025 budget, unchanged since 2023
Average residential assessment $533,155 2026 Average Residential Statistics
Residential sales / average sales price 22 sales / $781,799 2026 Average Residential Statistics
Morris County single-family median sale price $737,500 September 2026, NJ REALTORS

The municipal share is only one slice of the bill, which also funds schools and the county. Our explainer on how NJ property taxes work in Morris County walks through general vs. effective rates and how to estimate a bill on a specific house.

For the wider market, NJ REALTORS reported that Morris County single-family homes sold for a median of $737,500 in September 2026, with sellers receiving 104.0% of list price and 2.5 months of supply on the market. Ask us for current comparable sales in the Township itself.

Parks and Open Space

  • Tourne County Park: The Borough of Mountain Lakes lists the park as lying in Boonton Township, Denville, and Mountain Lakes. Morris County Parks describes over 550 acres, a summit at 897 feet with views of the New York City skyline and a wildflower trail.
  • Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area: The visitor center is at 472 Boonton Avenue in Montville, and the park covers more than 1,600 acres with glacial boulders such as Tripod Rock and Bear Rock. The Trust for Public Land helped conserve the 61-acre Ellinwood Forest on Rockaway Valley Road in Boonton Township and add it to the park, with the Township as a funding partner.
  • Doolittle’s Landing Playground at RVA Fields: The Township has announced an upgrade planned for 2026.

The Boonton Reservoir, owned by Jersey City, is close by but sits in the Town of Boonton and Parsippany-Troy Hills, not the Township.

Getting Around: Roads and Trains

The Township’s own roads are mostly local and county roads. Route 202 and I-287 run through the neighboring Town of Boonton, with an I-287 interchange at Main Street (Exit 44). Two NJ Transit stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line are a short drive away: Boonton station at Main Street and Route 202 in Boonton, and Mountain Lakes station on Midvale Road in Mountain Lakes. If commuting by rail is a priority, see our guide to buying near the Montclair-Boonton Line and check current NJ Transit schedules before you commit.

Schools

The Boonton Township School District runs one school, Rockaway Valley School at 11 Valley Road, serving PreK through grade 8. The NJ School Performance Report lists 409 students for 2023-24. For high school, the district’s 2025-26 parent handbook says Boonton Township students attend Mountain Lakes High School on a tuition sending-receiving basis. Confirm current arrangements with the district.

Septic, Wells, and Older Homes

The Township Board of Health has its own ordinance for individual sewage disposal (septic) systems. It requires a permit to repair or replace a system, inspection of components before they are covered, and engineer certification. If the house you like has a septic system, budget for a full inspection; our NJ septic inspection guide explains what is involved. Ask the seller and the Township whether the property uses a private well, and plan on water testing if it does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boonton Township the same as Boonton, NJ?

No. Boonton Township and the Town of Boonton are separate municipalities with separate governments, school districts, and tax rates. Because both use the Boonton name, check which municipality a listing is in.

What is the property tax rate in Boonton Township, NJ?

The 2025 general tax rate was 2.538 per $100 of assessed value, with an effective rate of 1.967, according to the NJ Division of Taxation. The 2025 average residential tax bill was $13,463.

Where do Boonton Township students go to high school?

Rockaway Valley School serves PreK through grade 8. According to the district’s 2025-26 parent handbook, high school students attend Mountain Lakes High School under a sending-receiving agreement.

Is there a train station in Boonton Township?

No. The closest NJ Transit stations are Boonton station in the Town of Boonton and Mountain Lakes station in Mountain Lakes, both on the Montclair-Boonton Line.

Sources

Talk to the MorrisAgent Team

Call (973) 200-4800, email [email protected], or stop by our office at 518 Main Street, Suite 102, Boonton. No pressure, and no surprises.