New Jersey vs Wyoming
Same underlying data as the individual state pages, side by side. Statutory rates and redemption windows only — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.
| | New Jersey | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Sale type | Tax lien certificate | Tax lien certificate |
| Rate / penalty | Up to 18%, premium bidding | 15% + one-time 3% penalty, no bidding |
| Redemption | 2 years | 4+ years |
Both states run the same kind of sale — tax lien certificate — so the real difference between them comes down to rate and redemption, not the underlying mechanism.
Redemption windows differ: New Jersey gives owners 2 years, Wyoming gives 4+ years — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
New Jersey combines an 18% statutory cap with premium bidding (N.J.S.A. 54:5-32): once the rate is bid below 1% or to zero, bidders compete with a cash premium that the municipality holds without interest and returns only on redemption (§ 54:5-33). A private holder can file to foreclose two years after the sale (§ 54:5-86).
Full New Jersey page →Wyoming certificates are sold for the amount due, with no bidding on rate or price; when several buyers want a parcel, the county draws a number. The owner repays the price plus a one-time 3% and 15% simple interest a year (W.S. 39-13-109(e)(iv)), and can redeem until the holder's deed application is accepted, which is allowed from four to six years after the sale (W.S. 39-13-108(e)(v)).
Full Wyoming page →Property & tax market
| | New Jersey | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $454,400 | $309,700 |
| Median property tax / year | $9,590 | $1,767 |
| Tax / home value | 2.1% | 0.6% |
| Tax / household income | 9.3% | 2.3% |
| Homes owned outright | 36.1% | 44.2% |
| “Other vacant” homes | 1.9% | 4.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1981 |
A typical home in New Jersey pays 5.4× the property tax of one in Wyoming ($9,590 against $1,767 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical New Jersey lien ties up about 5.4× the money of a Wyoming one — and, at the same rate, earns 5.4× the dollars.
Homes owned outright — where no lender has a reason to pay the delinquent bill for the owner — are 36.1% of owner-occupied homes in New Jersey and 44.2% in Wyoming. The Census “other vacant” share (foreclosures, homes in legal limbo or needing repairs, abandoned homes) is 1.9% against 4.4%: Wyoming has more of the empty properties that tend to go unredeemed — and to need work if the deed ends up yours.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25077, B25103, B25081, B25002, B25004, B25035, B19013). Medians of what owners report paying, not statutory rates. County-level figures are on each state page.
Quick answers
Is New Jersey or Wyoming a tax lien state?+
New Jersey is a tax lien certificate state. Wyoming is a tax lien certificate state.
Which has the higher rate, New Jersey or Wyoming?+
New Jersey: Up to 18%, premium bidding. Wyoming: 15% + one-time 3% penalty, no bidding. Compare the actual statutory ceiling, not just the headline number — most "up to" rates get bid down at auction.
Which redeems faster, New Jersey or Wyoming?+
Redemption windows differ: New Jersey gives owners 2 years, Wyoming gives 4+ years — the state with the shorter window resolves faster, for better or worse depending on what you're optimizing for.
Are property taxes higher in New Jersey or Wyoming?+
The median homeowner pays $9,590 a year in New Jersey and $1,767 in Wyoming (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates). A typical home in New Jersey pays 5.4× the property tax of one in Wyoming ($9,590 against $1,767 a year). One unpaid year is roughly the face value of a one-year certificate, so a typical New Jersey lien ties up about 5.4× the money of a Wyoming one — and, at the same rate, earns 5.4× the dollars.
Want to line up more than two states, or swap in different ones? Use the interactive comparison tool — up to four states at once.
See where these two rank against all 50 states: full rankings.
This page is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates and redemption periods are set by state statute and can change by county or legislative session — always confirm against the county's own auction notice before bidding.