Netcong & Stanhope NJ Housing Market: 2 Towns, 1 Lake
Netcong & Stanhope NJ Housing Market: 2 Towns, 1 Lake
The Netcong and Stanhope NJ housing market is a tight seller's market right now. The median single-family sale price was $477,000 from July 29 to Oct 27, 2026. That's down from a $559,000 spring spike, but up 5.5% from last fall and winter. Only 6 homes were for sale, and closed sales jumped 54%. Homes sold right at 100% of list price, down from 106.6% the quarter before.
Why are Netcong and Stanhope in one report?
Stanhope didn't have enough sales this quarter to stand on its own, so I paired it with its lake neighbor.
It's a tale of 2 counties, 2 towns, and 1 lake. Stanhope is in Sussex County. Netcong is in Morris County. Lake Musconetcong sits right between them. The lake was made in the 1840s, when the Morris Canal company dammed the Musconetcong River at Stanhope. Back then, it was called the Stanhope Reservoir, and it fed water to the canal. The two towns even share roots. Netcong started out as "South Stanhope," settled by miners who worked in Stanhope. It took the name Netcong in 1889.
Source: Wikipedia: Lake Musconetcong, Canal Society of New Jersey, and Wikipedia: Netcong, NJ
What is the median home price in Netcong and Stanhope right now?
The median sale price for a single-family home is $477,000, based on sales closed in the last 90 days.
Last quarter, the median was $559,000. That looks like a big drop, but spring's number came from only 13 sales. In a small market, a few pricey closings can push the median way up. Compare it with last fall and winter instead. Back then, the median was $452,000. So prices are actually up about 5.5% over that stretch. The median list price of the homes that sold was $496,000.
Source: Garden State MLS
Are there any homes for sale around Lake Musconetcong?
Barely. There were just 6 active single-family listings across both towns.
Last quarter, there were 14. That's a 57% drop in 90 days. Meanwhile, 20 homes closed, or about 7 a month. That works out to roughly 0.9 months of supply. Under 6 months usually means a seller's market. Under 1 month means buyers are waiting on every new listing.
Source: calculated from Garden State MLS data
Are homes in Netcong and Stanhope still selling over asking?
Not anymore. Homes sold for a median of 100% of list price, right at asking.
That's down from 106.6% the quarter before. On a $500,000 list price, last quarter's buyer paid about $33,000 over. This quarter, that same buyer paid asking. In the fall and winter window, homes sold at about 105.3% of list. So the bidding wars have cooled off, even with so few homes for sale.
Source: Garden State MLS
How fast are homes selling in Netcong and Stanhope?
The median home took 29 days to sell, up from 15 days last quarter.
That's about 4 weeks, which is still quick. But it's almost double the spring pace. Buyers seem to be taking a little more time to decide. Sales still picked up, though. There were 20 closings, compared with 13 the quarter before. That's a 54% jump.
Source: Garden State MLS
What's it like to live in Netcong and Stanhope?
It's small-town lake living with an easy commute.
Netcong has a busy Main Street right along the lake, and it's home to The Growing Stage, a children's theater. Its motto is "All Roads Lead to Netcong," and it's not kidding. Route 80 and Route 46 run right by. Netcong also has an NJ Transit station on the Morristown and Montclair-Boonton lines. Stanhope calls itself the Gateway to Sussex County, and it has about 3,600 residents. It grew up as an iron forge town on the Morris Canal. Kids in both towns go to their own K-8 schools, then Lenape Valley Regional High School, which also serves Byram. Many homes here are on town water and sewer, unlike a lot of Sussex County. Always ask which one a home has before you make an offer.
Source: Borough of Netcong, Borough of Stanhope, and Wikipedia: Netcong station
What does this mean for buyers and sellers?
Buyers need to be ready. Sellers are in a strong spot if they price it right.
If you're buying, get pre-approved before you start looking. With only 6 homes on the market, the right one won't wait. The good news is you're paying asking, not way over. If you're coming from Bergen, Essex, or Passaic counties, the train and Route 80 make this an easy place to commute from. If you're selling, buyers are hungry for new listings. Price your home right from day one and you'll likely sell at asking in about 4 weeks. Overpricing is still risky, since buyers aren't paying over asking like they did in the spring.
- $477,000 median sale price, July 29 to Oct 27, 2026
- -14.7% vs. the prior 90 days, but +5.5% vs. last fall and winter
- 6 active single-family listings, down from 14
- 100% median sale price as a share of list price
- 29 days median days on market
- 20 closed sales, up 54%
- About 0.9 months of supply
The Bottom Line
The Lake Musconetcong market is tight. Prices settled down from a spring spike, but they're still above where they sat last fall and winter. Homes are scarce, sales are up, and buyers are paying asking. Thinking about buying or selling near the lake? Let's talk about what your street looks like right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Netcong and Stanhope, NJ?
The median single-family sale price for Netcong and Stanhope combined was $477,000 from July 29 to Oct 27, 2026. That's according to Garden State MLS data.
Why are Netcong and Stanhope reported together?
Stanhope didn't have enough sales this quarter for a reliable report on its own. Netcong is its neighbor across Lake Musconetcong, so the two towns are combined into one lake-area report.
Is it a seller's market in Netcong and Stanhope?
Yes. There were only 6 active single-family listings and about 0.9 months of supply. Anything under 6 months is usually a seller's market.
Are homes in Netcong and Stanhope still selling over asking?
Not right now. Homes sold for a median of 100% of list price, down from 106.6% the quarter before. Homes are selling right at asking.
What county are Netcong and Stanhope in?
Netcong is in Morris County. Stanhope is in Sussex County. The two boroughs border each other along Lake Musconetcong.
Sources
- Garden State MLS (https://www.gsmls.com/): Market Condition Statistics Report (1004 MC), single-family homes in Netcong Boro (Morris County) and Stanhope Boro (Sussex County), Oct 27, 2025 to Oct 27, 2026. Supports median sale price, list price, active listings, days on market, closed sales, and sale-to-list ratio. Info deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
- Months of supply and price differences are estimates calculated from the Garden State MLS figures above.
- Lake Musconetcong history: Wikipedia and the Canal Society of New Jersey.
- Netcong history, transit, and schools: Wikipedia: Netcong, Wikipedia: Netcong station, and the Borough of Netcong.
- Stanhope history, population, and schools: Borough of Stanhope.
Nina Fradl is a REALTOR® with United Real Estate North Jersey, serving all of Sussex County, including Andover Boro, Andover Twp, Branchville Boro, Byram Twp, Frankford Twp, Franklin Boro, Fredon Twp, Green Twp, Hamburg Boro, Hampton Twp, Hardyston Twp, Hopatcong Boro, Lafayette Twp, Montague Twp, Newton Town, Ogdensburg Boro, Sandyston Twp, Sparta Twp, Stanhope Boro, Stillwater Twp, Sussex Boro, Vernon Twp, Walpack Twp, and Wantage Twp, plus neighboring Morris County towns like Netcong.
Nina Fradl, REALTOR®
United Real Estate North Jersey
Phone: (973) 490-4999
Email: Nina@NinaFradl.com
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