Why Linden, NJ?
Linden is a city of 44,000 residents in Union County, New Jersey, with a rich industrial heritage and a direct 39 minute train ride to NYC Penn Station. Established in 1861 from portions of Elizabeth, Rahway, and Union Township, and named after the linden trees German settlers brought to the area, it became a manufacturing powerhouse in the 20th century. The General Motors Assembly Plant operated here from 1937 to 2005, producing Buicks, Pontiacs, and Oldsmobiles while building over 3,500 military aircraft during World War II. Today that 140 acre site has been transformed into the Legacy Commerce Center, home to Blue Apron and Wayfair, employing over 7,000 people. With a median home price of $549,000, a walkability score of 88, and one of the strongest commuter positions in Union County, Linden offers an affordable entry point to the NYC metro area without sacrificing convenience or community.
Linden Real Estate Market in 2026
The Linden real estate market shows strong buyer demand with sales volume surging 30% year over year. The median home price stands at $549,000 with an average price of $338 per square foot. Homes sell in an average of 45 days. In April 2026, 117 homes sold compared to 90 in the same period the prior year, reflecting growing interest from NYC commuters and investors. The rental market is competitive with one bedroom apartments averaging $2,013 per month, up 3.5% year over year. Linden's housing stock favors owner occupancy at 61%, with a healthy mix of single family homes, duplexes, and multi family properties. The city's $92,915 median household income provides strong purchasing power relative to home prices, making it one of the more balanced markets in Union County.
Best Neighborhoods in Linden
10 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and price range
Sunnyside
$450,000 to $550,000Historic family neighborhood named after the former Sunnyfield Golf Club. Tree lined streets with quiet residential atmosphere and strong community identity. Home to Congregation Anshe Chesed, founded in 1914, reflecting the neighborhood's deep roots.
Grasselli/Tremley
$625,000 to $700,000Upper middle income neighborhood with waterfront character near the Arthur Kill. Victorian homes and three deckers with 42% of properties being two to four unit buildings. Strong South American and Dominican heritage with a nautical feel from the nearby waterways.
Woodlawn
$440,000 to $540,000Primarily residential suburban neighborhood known for tree lined streets and a dog friendly community. Mix of single family homes and apartments with easy access to parks and local shops. One of the most family oriented areas in the city.
Linden Center/Downtown
$350,000 to $450,000Urban hub anchored by the new $120 million OneWest luxury apartments and the NJ Transit station. Restaurants, shops, and municipal services concentrated along Wood Avenue. The heart of the city's redevelopment with the most transit accessible housing in Linden.
Tremley Point
$420,000 to $520,000Suburban neighborhood near the Rahway River offering quiet surroundings with business district accessibility. Established homes built from the 1940s to 1960s with a mix of families and retirees. Polish, Puerto Rican, and South American populations give it a multicultural identity.
Bayway
$380,000 to $480,000Industrial residential neighborhood near the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery. Waterfront location on New York Harbor with new multi family construction emerging. The most affordable area in Linden with redevelopment potential as industrial sites convert to residential use.
Aviation Plaza
$415,000 to $515,000Named after the former Linden Airport, now home to one of New Jersey's largest shopping centers with Target, Home Depot, AMC, and ShopRite. Surrounding residential areas benefit from retail convenience and easy highway access to the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
South Wood Avenue
$430,000 to $530,000Vibrant community corridor featuring restaurants, shops, and regular cultural events. Mixed use neighborhood with strong local business activity and neighborhood identity. The commercial spine of southern Linden with a walkable feel.
West Linden
$460,000 to $560,000Suburban neighborhood offering comfortable residential living with direct highway access to I-95, I-278, and the NJ Turnpike. Popular with NYC and Newark commuters who prefer driving to transit. Quiet streets with well maintained single family homes.
East Linden
$385,000 to $475,000Mixed residential and industrial area bordering Elizabeth and the Phillips 66 complex. Close proximity to Newark Liberty Airport makes it practical for airport workers and frequent travelers. Affordable homes with renovation potential in a transitioning area.
Commuting from Linden to NYC
Source: NJ Transit schedules, June 2026. Peak hour commute times.
Walkability and Livability in Linden
How easy is it to live car-free or car-light in Linden?
Linden Schools and Ratings
Linden Public Schools serves over 6,300 students across 11 schools including 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and Linden High School. The high school has been an International Baccalaureate World School since 2001, one of the longest running IB programs in New Jersey, and offers dual enrollment with Union County College at no cost to students. Premier School Scores are calculated from real NJSLA 2024 to 2025 test data published by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Source: NCES CCD 2023 to 2024, NJDOE NJSLA 2024 to 2025
Number 9
Number 10
Myles J. McManus MIddle School
Number 1
Number 8
Number 6
Joseph E. Soehl Middle School
Number 2
Linden vs Neighboring Towns: Cost Comparison
Where to Eat in Linden
Polish and Portuguese (Elizabeth Avenue)
Abigail's Cafe at 804 West Elizabeth Avenue blends Hungarian, Polish, and Portuguese cuisine in a former Portuguese restaurant since 2008. Known for mixed pierogies (potato, meat, sauerkraut and mushroom), Schnitzel a la Warsaw, Bigos hunter stew served in a bread bowl, and Hungarian potato pancakes stuffed with beef goulash. Open late with a full menu until midnight or 2 AM.
Portuguese BBQ (North Stiles Street)
Chop Spot BBQ at 889 North Stiles Street is a family owned Portuguese Churrasqueira with over 20 years in business. Known for Picadinho, fall apart ribs, brisket, flame grilled shish kebabs with seasoned rice, and chicken and shrimp in garlic sauce. Generous portions and fresh ingredients at moderate prices.
Dominican (North Wood Avenue)
Toscana Restaurant at 451 North Wood Avenue serves authentic Caribbean cuisine with generous portions. Known for Mofongo, fresh seafood selections, and the house specialty Toscana dish. BYOB with affordable pricing and daily service. Part of the growing Hispanic dining corridor on Wood Avenue.
Mexican (North Wood Avenue)
Mami's Cocina at 449 North Wood Avenue specializes in authentic Mexican food. Known for birria tacos with flavorful dipping sauce, Gorditas de Carnitas and Al Pastor, Torta Cubana with sausage, ham, cheese, and breaded steak, and Huaraches with black beans and fresh toppings. Homemade horchata and natural pineapple juice.
Parks and Recreation in Linden
Wheeler Park
Union County park featuring an 11,000 square foot spray fountain with 33 interactive water attractions including sprayers, fountains, and water cannons. Also includes a soccer field, softball field, children's playground, skateboard area, and picnic grounds. One of the most popular summer destinations for families in Union County.
Warinanco Park
205 acres designed by the Olmsted Brothers (sons of Central Park's designer) and opened in 1925, shared with Elizabeth and Roselle. Named after Warinanco, a Lenape sachem recorded in 1664. Features an ice skating rink, splash pad, boat rentals, a 400 meter athletic track, 10 baseball diamonds, and the Chatfield Memorial Garden. Japanese cherry blossoms donated in 1931 and magnolia groves make it a seasonal botanical destination. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985.
Wilson Park Recreation Center
Community recreation area at Summit Terrace featuring tennis courts, basketball courts, a maintained playground, a lake with fishing access, and walking paths. A neighborhood anchor for outdoor recreation in western Linden.
Linden Memorial Park
The city's premier athletic complex with 6 lighted ball fields, 4 lighted tennis courts, seasonal ice skating, a field house, basketball courts, 2 lighted handball courts, and a paved play area. Picnic areas available by permit. Serves as the home field for Linden's youth sports leagues year round.
New Development and Growth in Linden
OneWest Apartments (Downtown)
$120 million mixed use development by MORDEVCO at North Wood and West Elizabeth Avenues, adjacent to Linden Train Station. 334 residential units plus 13,000 square feet of retail. Completion spring 2026. The largest Transit Village project in Linden's history.
Linden Logistics Center (Tremley Point)
Seven building, 4.1 million square foot logistics complex developed by Advance Realty, Greek Development, and PGIM Real Estate. 91% leased as of April 2026 with Maersk (233,492 sq ft for US ground freight) and SpeedX (165,000 sq ft last mile carrier) as anchor tenants. $300 million Phase 2 financing secured.
Legacy Commerce Center (Former GM Plant)
The former 140 acre General Motors Assembly Plant redeveloped by Duke Realty into a modern commerce hub. Blue Apron operates a 495,000 square foot fulfillment center employing over 2,000 people. Wayfair also on site. Over 7,000 regional jobs created, more than replacing the manufacturing jobs lost when GM closed in 2005.
Aviation Plaza Retail Center
644,565 square foot retail center built on the site of the former Linden Airport. Major tenants include AMC Theaters, Home Depot, Target, Marshalls, ShopRite, and Starbucks. Generates $2.5 million in annual municipal tax revenue. One of the largest retail destinations in Union County.
Park Plastics Residential (Bayway)
City issued RFQ for residential redevelopment at 940 South Park Avenue. Planned for single family and two family dwellings on a former industrial site. Part of Linden's broader strategy to convert industrial parcels into housing near transit and employment centers.
History of Linden, NJ
Established as a township on March 4, 1861, from portions of Elizabeth, Rahway, and Union Township. The name comes from linden trees brought to the area by German settlers.
Achieved city status on January 1, 1925, following a referendum in November 1923. Population had grown from 1,396 in 1870 to nearly 20,000 by the 1920s.
The General Motors Assembly Plant opened in 1937 on 140 acres, producing Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile vehicles. At its peak it was one of the largest auto plants in the Northeast.
During World War II, the GM plant converted to military production as the Eastern Aircraft Division, building over 3,500 Grumman Wildcat and Avenger aircraft for the US Navy.
Linden Airport was constructed in 1942 as a US Navy test and commissioning facility where newly built Wildcat fighter jets were flight tested before delivery to combat units.
The Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery has operated in Linden since the early 1900s. It is the second largest refinery on the US East Coast, producing approximately 230,000 barrels per day.
Linden received Transit Village designation in 2010, creating the incentive framework that has driven over $500 million in development around the train station.
Safety in Linden
Crime in Linden dropped 50% in 2024 compared to 2023, one of the sharpest single year declines in Union County. The city recorded zero homicides in 2024, a significant milestone for a city of 44,000 residents. The safest areas are Linden West, Linden Northwest, and the Grasselli/Tremley neighborhood. The Linden Police Department runs an active Virtual Block Watch program and community policing initiatives focused on cooperative partnerships between officers and residents. Resident surveys show 50% rate the city as very safe with no concerns, reflecting improved conditions on the ground that older statistical data has not yet caught up to.
Notable Residents
Annual Events and Festivals
Recently Sold Homes in Linden, NJ
Public record data from NJ Division of Taxation SR1A filings.
| Address | Sale Price | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 10 N WOOD AVE UNIT 518 | $200,000 | 260623 |
| 824 N STILES ST | $325,000 | 260622 |
| 515 FAIRWAY RD | $875,000 | 260616 |
| 76 ELMWOOD TERR | $755,000 | 260609 |
| 10 N WOOD AVE UNIT 203 | $252,500 | 260609 |
| 501 W ELIZABETH AVE | $2,800,000 | 260602 |
| 64 ROBBINWOOD TERR | $605,000 | 260602 |
| 1600 MILDRED AVE | $400,000 | 260601 |
| 11 W 12TH ST | $750,000 | 260601 |
| 828 ALLEN ST | $462,000 | 260529 |
| 610 ELMWOOD TERR | $530,000 | 260527 |
| 1105 GEORGIAN DR | $680,000 | 260527 |
Source: NJ Division of Taxation, SR1A 2024-2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Linden, NJ
What is the median home price in Linden, NJ?
The median home price is $549,000 as of 2026, with 9.1% year-over-year appreciation. Average $338/sqft, selling in 45 days.
How long is the commute from Linden to NYC?
39 minutes via NJ Transit from Linden Station on the Northeast Corridor + North Jersey Coast Line. Direct service, no transfers.
What are property taxes in Linden, NJ?
Tax rate is 1.71%. Average homeowner pays $9,392/year. At the median price of $549,000, expect about $9,388/year.
What are the best neighborhoods in Linden?
Sunnyside ($450,000 to $550,000). Grasselli/Tremley ($625,000 to $700,000). Woodlawn ($440,000 to $540,000). Linden Center/Downtown ($350,000 to $450,000). Tremley Point ($420,000 to $520,000). See the full guide above for all 10 neighborhoods.
Is Linden safe?
Crime in Linden dropped 50% in 2024 compared to 2023, one of the sharpest single year declines in Union County. The city recorded zero homicides in 2024, a significant milestone for a city of 44,000 residents. The safest areas are Linden West, Linden Northwest, and the Grasselli/Tremley neighborhood. The Linden Police Department runs an active Virtual Block Watch program and community policing initiatives focused on cooperative partnerships between officers and residents. Resident surveys show 50% rate the city as very safe with no concerns, reflecting improved conditions on the ground that older statistical data has not yet caught up to.
How walkable is Linden, NJ?
Walk Score of 88, rated "Very Walkable." Median income $92,915, median age 40.1. 39% renter-occupied.
Homes for Sale in Linden, NJ
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