Housing Market
Essex County has the highest sale-to-list ratio in NJ at 109.1% — meaning the average buyer pays $68,000 above asking price. This is driven almost entirely by the Midtown Direct corridor: Maplewood, South Orange, Montclair, Glen Ridge, and Millburn/Short Hills, where homes in the $750K-$1.5M range regularly receive 5-10 offers. Meanwhile, Newark and East Orange remain deeply affordable with median prices under $400K and significant upside as PATH and NEC service improve. The gap between the two markets creates an opportunity curve that doesn't exist in most counties.
Compare Towns
22 municipalities sorted by median price
| Town | Median Price | Schools | To NYC | Tax Rate | Est. Annual Tax | Walkability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millburn/Short Hills | $1,650,000 | 10/10 |
35 min
Short Hills Station
Midtown Direct
|
- | - |
55
|
| Essex Fells | $1,100,000 | 8/10 |
50 min
Bus to Newark
|
1.89% | $18,901 |
8
|
| Montclair | $850,000 | 8/10 |
42 min
Montclair Station
Montclair-Boonton
|
2.89% | $16,234 |
78
|
| North Caldwell | $850,000 | 8/10 |
48 min
Bus to Newark
|
2.01% | $16,789 |
12
|
| Glen Ridge | $775,000 | 9/10 |
40 min
Glen Ridge Station
Montclair-Boonton
|
2.56% | $17,890 |
72
|
| Livingston | $750,000 | 8/10 |
45 min
Bus to Newark/NYC
|
2.23% | $16,789 |
32
|
| South Orange | $725,000 | 8/10 |
35 min
South Orange Station
Midtown Direct
|
2.78% | $17,234 |
72
|
| Maplewood | $700,000 | 8/10 |
37 min
Maplewood Station
Midtown Direct
|
2.67% | $15,678 |
68
|
| West Caldwell | $650,000 | 8/10 |
48 min
Bus to Newark
|
2.23% | $14,234 |
28
|
| Roseland | $600,000 | 7/10 |
45 min
Bus to Newark
|
2.12% | $14,567 |
22
|
| Caldwell | $575,000 | 7/10 |
45 min
Bus to Newark
|
2.45% | $13,456 |
62
|
| Verona | $560,000 | 7/10 |
42 min
Bus to Newark
|
2.56% | $13,890 |
52
|
| Cedar Grove | $545,000 | 7/10 |
48 min
Bus to Newark
|
2.34% | $12,567 |
25
|
| Nutley | $530,000 | 7/10 |
49 min
Bus to Newark/NYC
|
2.67% | $10,567 |
62
|
| West Orange | $520,000 | 6/10 |
42 min
Bus to Newark
|
2.89% | $12,345 |
35
|
| Fairfield | $480,000 | 7/10 |
55 min
Bus to Willowbrook
|
2.12% | $11,234 |
15
|
| Bloomfield | $475,000 | 6/10 |
35 min
Bloomfield Station
Montclair-Boonton
|
2.78% | $9,876 |
68
|
| Belleville | $440,000 | 5/10 |
30 min
Belleville Station
Montclair-Boonton
|
2.89% | $8,765 |
65
|
| Orange | $380,000 | 4/10 |
28 min
Orange Station
Morris & Essex
|
3.23% | $7,890 |
72
|
| Newark | $380,000 | 4/10 |
22 min
Newark Penn Station
NEC/PATH
|
3.45% | $6,789 |
85
|
| East Orange | $370,000 | 4/10 |
25 min
East Orange Station
Morris & Essex
|
3.12% | $8,234 |
72
|
| Irvington | $350,000 | 4/10 |
35 min
Irvington Station
Morris & Essex
|
3.34% | $7,654 |
68
|
Property Tax Calculator
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Best Towns For...
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Town Profiles
Millburn/Short Hills
$1,650,000The most expensive real estate in Essex County. Millburn High School ranked in NJ's top 5. Short Hills Mall is premier luxury retail. Midtown Direct express to Penn Station in 35 minutes. Paper Mill Playhouse for live theater.
Essex Fells
$1,100,000One of the smallest and wealthiest boroughs in NJ. Population under 2,500. Single-family homes only — no commercial zone. Essex Fells Elementary feeds to West Essex Regional. Ultra-private.
Montclair
$850,000The cultural capital of suburban NJ. Six distinct commercial districts. Montclair Art Museum, Wellmont Theater, and a restaurant scene that rivals Brooklyn. Diverse, progressive community. Six train stations across town.
North Caldwell
$850,000Exclusive borough with large lots and estate-style homes. The Sopranos house is here. West Essex Regional school district. Under 7,000 residents. Privacy and space in the heart of Essex County.
Glen Ridge
$775,000Tiny borough of 7,500 with 200+ gas-lit streetlamps. Historic homes on tree-lined streets. Glen Ridge High School is excellent. Own train station. Tight-knit community where neighbors know each other.
Livingston
$750,000Large township with excellent schools and diverse population. Livingston High School ranked in NJ's top 25. Livingston Mall and Eisenhower Parkway retail. Strong Asian-American community. Spacious lots.
South Orange
$725,000Midtown Direct express with a walkable village center. Seton Hall University campus. South Mountain Reservation for hiking. Columbia High School (shared with Maplewood) is diverse and well-regarded.
Maplewood
$700,000One of the most integrated suburbs in America by design. Midtown Direct service. Springfield Avenue arts and dining district. South Mountain Reservation at the doorstep. Strong community engagement.
West Caldwell
$650,000Quiet residential township with James Caldwell High School. Large lots and colonial homes. Hatfield Swamp near the Passaic River. Affordable alternative to neighboring Essex Fells.
Roseland
$600,000Corporate office corridor along Eisenhower Parkway. Small residential population under 6,000. Roseland Elementary feeds to West Essex Regional HS. ADP and Automatic Data Processing HQ.
Caldwell
$575,000Walkable borough with charming downtown centered on Bloomfield Avenue. Grover Cleveland's birthplace. Caldwell University campus. Independent shops and restaurants. Small-town feel in suburban Essex.
Verona
$560,000Family-friendly borough with Verona Park designed by Olmsted Brothers. HB Whitehorne High School. Community pool complex. Bloomfield Avenue corridor for dining. Good value for the school quality.
Cedar Grove
$545,000Residential township bordering the Watchung Mountains. Cedar Grove High School. Mills Reservation County Park with panoramic views. Italian-American heritage. Quiet streets and generous lots.
Nutley
$530,000Family-oriented township with strong Italian-American heritage. Franklin Avenue downtown district. Nutley HS is competitive. Yanticaw Park and Kingsland Park along the Third River. Solid value.
West Orange
$520,000Large, diverse township from the valley to the Watchung Ridge. Thomas Edison National Historic Park. Turtle Back Zoo. South Mountain Reservation. West Orange HS. Wide price range from $350K to $1M+.
Fairfield
$480,000Quiet residential township in western Essex County. West Essex Regional school district. Great Piece Meadows nature area. Route 46 retail corridor. Suburban feel with lower density than most of Essex.
Bloomfield
$475,000Diverse, evolving township on the NJ Transit Montclair-Boonton line. Bloomfield Avenue commercial corridor. Brookdale Park designed by Olmsted firm. Growing restaurant scene. Affordable with improving schools.
Belleville
$440,000Working-class township with deep roots. Branch Brook Park (more cherry blossoms than Washington DC) straddles the Newark border. NJ Transit station. Diverse population with growing Latino community. Affordable.
Orange
$380,000Compact city undergoing transformation. Valley Arts District emerging as a creative hub. Orange Station on Morris & Essex line. Hat City since the 1800s. Strong value with upside potential.
Newark
$380,000NJ's largest city and a major renaissance story. Prudential Center, NJPAC, Ironbound District dining. Penn Station hub for NEC, PATH, and NJ Transit. Newark Liberty Airport. Massive development pipeline. The ultimate value play with 22-minute express to Manhattan.
East Orange
$370,000Historically significant city with stunning Victorian architecture. Three NJ Transit stations. Major hospital campus. Revitalization in progress. Most affordable train-connected town in Essex County.
Irvington
$350,000Urban township bordering Newark with NJ Transit service. Large Caribbean and West African communities. Olympic Park historically significant. Deepest value entry into Essex County with train access.
Homes for Sale
20 active listings in Essex County
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