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County Real Estate Guide

Union County, NJ

Union County sits at the geographic heart of northern New Jersey, offering some of the best value for NYC commuters in the state. With direct NJ Transit service from eight towns and a median home price of $642,500, it bridges the gap between affordable urban centers like Elizabeth and Linden and premium suburban enclaves like Westfield and Summit. The county's 21 municipalities span every lifestyle — from walkable downtown Cranford to sprawling estates in Mountainside — all within 30 to 60 minutes of Midtown Manhattan.

$642,500
Median Price
21
Municipalities
38 days
Days on Market
+4.7%
YoY Appreciation
42 min
Avg Commute NYC
102.1%
Sale-to-List Ratio
Direct NJ Transit service to NYC Penn Station from 8 towns
Home prices range from $478K (Roselle Park) to $1.4M+ (Westfield)
19 of 21 towns below NJ tax compliance — revaluations coming
Violent crime rate 12.4 per 1K (vs 22.7 national average)
Downtown Westfield, Union County NJ — shops and restaurants on East Broad Street
Downtown Westfield
Warinanco Park in Union County NJ — 204-acre county park designed by Frederick Olmsted
Warinanco Park
Springfield Township Municipal Building, Union County NJ — historic colonial architecture
Springfield Township

Housing Market

The Union County market is competitive with homes selling at 102% of asking price. Single-family homes have appreciated 4.7% year over year, driven by strong NYC commuter demand. The widest price gap in the county is between Roselle Park ($478K median) and Westfield ($1.4M) — towns separated by just 3 miles on the same Raritan Valley train line. This creates a unique opportunity: buyers priced out of Westfield can find similar commute times at 60% less in neighboring towns.

Compare Towns

21 municipalities sorted by median price

Town Median Price Schools To NYC Tax Rate Est. Annual Tax Walkability
Westfield $1,400,000 9/10
48 min
Westfield Station
Raritan Valley
2.18% $17,890
72
Summit $1,150,000 9/10
44 min
Summit Station
Morris & Essex
1.89% $18,765
68
Cranford $795,000 8/10
57 min
Cranford Station
Raritan Valley
2.45% $12,890
74
Berkeley Heights $780,000 8/10
52 min
Berkeley Heights Station
Raritan Valley
2.47% $14,237
28
New Providence $740,000 8/10
50 min
New Providence Station
Raritan Valley
2.31% $14,102
45
Mountainside $735,000 7/10
48 min
Bus to Westfield
2.05% $13,467
15
Scotch Plains $725,000 8/10
55 min
Fanwood Station
Raritan Valley
2.39% $13,456
32
Fanwood $620,000 8/10
50 min
Fanwood Station
Raritan Valley
2.61% $11,975
55
Elizabeth $593,000 5/10
32 min
Elizabeth Station
Northeast Corridor
2.54% $10,001
82
Springfield $575,000 7/10
45 min
Bus to Summit
2.28% $12,345
38
Garwood $571,000 6/10
55 min
Bus to Cranford
2.79% $9,876
58
Clark $560,000 7/10
50 min
Bus to Rahway
2.38% $11,488
25
Union $530,000 6/10
52 min
Union Station
Raritan Valley
2.67% $10,234
45
Kenilworth $485,000 6/10
52 min
Bus to Elizabeth
2.58% $9,234
42
Roselle Park $478,000 6/10
54 min
Roselle Park Station
Raritan Valley
2.96% $8,543
62
Linden $475,000 5/10
37 min
Linden Station
Northeast Corridor
2.89% $9,156
52
Rahway $460,000 6/10
40 min
Rahway Station
Northeast Corridor
2.78% $8,654
72
Hillside $445,000 5/10
54 min
Hillside Station
Raritan Valley
3.12% $9,543
48
Roselle $420,000 5/10
57 min
Roselle Station
Raritan Valley
3.21% $9,234
55
Plainfield $410,000 4/10
67 min
Plainfield Station
Raritan Valley
3.45% $8,976
68
Winfield $185,000 5/10
55 min
Bus to Linden
1.95% $4,567
35

Town Profiles

Westfield

$1,400,000
🏫 Schools 9/10 🏙️ 48min to NYC 🚶 Walk 72/100 🚂 Westfield Station

Premier suburban town with nationally ranked schools, vibrant downtown shopping district, and colonial architecture. The most expensive market in Union County.

Summit

$1,150,000
🏫 Schools 9/10 🏙️ 44min to NYC 🚶 Walk 68/100 🚂 Summit Station

Midtown Direct express to Penn Station. Top-tier schools, historic village center, and Summit Medical Group campus. Strong appreciation.

Cranford

$795,000
🏫 Schools 8/10 🏙️ 57min to NYC 🚶 Walk 74/100 🚂 Cranford Station

The Venice of New Jersey — Rahway River runs through the charming downtown. Young professional favorite with craft breweries, restaurants, and a vibrant community theater.

Berkeley Heights

$780,000
🏫 Schools 8/10 🏙️ 52min to NYC 🚶 Walk 28/100 🚂 Berkeley Heights Station

Wooded, hilly terrain with larger lots. Gateway to the Watchung Reservation. Strong schools and a quiet, nature-oriented community.

New Providence

$740,000
🏫 Schools 8/10 🏙️ 50min to NYC 🚶 Walk 45/100 🚂 New Providence Station

Small-town feel with excellent schools and Murray Hill corporate corridor nearby. Ideal for families who want suburban without sprawl.

Mountainside

$735,000
🏫 Schools 7/10 🏙️ 48min to NYC 🚶 Walk 15/100

Quiet borough bordering Watchung Reservation with just 7,000 residents. No commercial district — residential only. Deerfield School sends to Governor Livingston HS.

Scotch Plains

$725,000
🏫 Schools 8/10 🏙️ 55min to NYC 🚶 Walk 32/100 🚂 Fanwood Station

Spacious lots and top schools at a Westfield-adjacent location without the Westfield price tag. Golf courses, parks, and a quieter suburban feel.

Fanwood

$620,000
🏫 Schools 8/10 🏙️ 50min to NYC 🚶 Walk 55/100 🚂 Fanwood Station

Tiny borough (1.3 sq mi) with its own train station. Shares Scotch Plains schools. Victorian homes, walkable downtown, and strong community identity.

Elizabeth

$593,000
🏫 Schools 5/10 🏙️ 32min to NYC 🚶 Walk 82/100 🚂 Elizabeth Station

NJ's 4th largest city and Union County seat. 32 minutes to Penn Station. Over 50 countries represented. Little Colombia on Morris Avenue. Massive redevelopment pipeline.

Springfield

$575,000
🏫 Schools 7/10 🏙️ 45min to NYC 🚶 Walk 38/100

Affordable alternative to neighboring Summit and Millburn. Route 22 retail corridor. Jonathan Dayton High School named after a signer of the Constitution.

Garwood

$571,000
🏫 Schools 6/10 🏙️ 55min to NYC 🚶 Walk 58/100

Smallest borough in Union County. Downtown revitalization with new restaurants. 60% cheaper than neighboring Westfield with walkable character.

Clark

$560,000
🏫 Schools 7/10 🏙️ 50min to NYC 🚶 Walk 25/100

Family-oriented with good schools and reasonable prices. Hyatt Hills Golf Complex. Easy access to GSP and NJ Turnpike.

Union

$530,000
🏫 Schools 6/10 🏙️ 52min to NYC 🚶 Walk 45/100 🚂 Union Station

Large, diverse township. Kean University campus. Mix of single-family and multi-family. Strong rental demand. Good highway access.

Kenilworth

$485,000
🏫 Schools 6/10 🏙️ 52min to NYC 🚶 Walk 42/100

Compact, affordable borough. David Brearley High School. Strong Italian-American heritage. Annual Kenilworth Feast.

Roselle Park

$478,000
🏫 Schools 6/10 🏙️ 54min to NYC 🚶 Walk 62/100 🚂 Roselle Park Station

Best value train town in Union County. Own station, walkable downtown, and the lowest median price of any town with direct rail service.

Linden

$475,000
🏫 Schools 5/10 🏙️ 37min to NYC 🚶 Walk 52/100 🚂 Linden Station

Industrial heritage city with direct NEC service. Aviation Plaza shopping. Diverse population with growing Hispanic community. Bayway refinery creates unique tax dynamic.

Rahway

$460,000
🏫 Schools 6/10 🏙️ 40min to NYC 🚶 Walk 72/100 🚂 Rahway Station

Arts district revival with Rahway Arts District designation. Northeast Corridor express to Penn Station in 40 minutes. Union County Performing Arts Center. Strong appreciation trajectory.

Hillside

$445,000
🏫 Schools 5/10 🏙️ 54min to NYC 🚶 Walk 48/100 🚂 Hillside Station

Diverse suburb bordering Newark and Elizabeth. Affordable with easy highway access. Growing Caribbean and West African communities.

Roselle

$420,000
🏫 Schools 5/10 🏙️ 57min to NYC 🚶 Walk 55/100 🚂 Roselle Station

Affordable and diverse. Abraham Clark High School. Historic district. Where Thomas Edison first demonstrated incandescent street lighting in 1883.

Plainfield

$410,000
🏫 Schools 4/10 🏙️ 67min to NYC 🚶 Walk 68/100 🚂 Plainfield Station

Queen City — stunning Victorian architecture and wide boulevards. Downtown revitalization in progress. Deepest value play in the county with significant upside potential.

Winfield

$185,000
🏫 Schools 5/10 🏙️ 55min to NYC 🚶 Walk 35/100

Unique co-op community of ~1,500 residents. All housing is cooperative ownership with extremely low costs. One of the smallest municipalities in NJ.

Ready to find your home?

George Castro and the Premier Homes team know every town in Union County.