Why Perth Amboy, NJ?
Perth Amboy is a waterfront city of 55,000 residents on the Raritan Bay in Middlesex County, one of the oldest cities in the United States. Settled in 1683 and incorporated in 1718, it served as the colonial capital of East Jersey from 1686 to 1776. The name combines Perth from the Earl of Perth who governed the colony and Amboy from the Lenape word ompoge meaning level ground. Today Perth Amboy is a predominantly Hispanic city where 83.6% of residents identify as Latino and 50.6% were born outside the United States, creating one of the most culturally vibrant communities in New Jersey. With a Walk Score of 93, a direct train to Penn Station on the North Jersey Coast Line, and a median home price of $427,000 appreciating at 20.9% year over year, Perth Amboy is one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the state.
Perth Amboy Real Estate Market in 2026
The Perth Amboy real estate market is surging with 20.9% year over year appreciation, the highest of any city in this guide. The median home price stands at $427,000 with an average price of $313 per square foot. Homes sell in an average of 45 days. Property taxes are among the lowest in the region at an average of $6,881 per year. The rental market is dominant at 67% of occupied housing, with one bedroom apartments averaging $1,917 per month. Active inventory ranges from 41 to 95 listings depending on the platform. Over $500 million in active development including the $200 million Sea Gate waterfront project and a brand new $292 million high school signal strong institutional confidence in the city's trajectory.
Best Neighborhoods in Perth Amboy
10 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and price range
Downtown Perth Amboy
$300,000 to $350,000Victorian homes and the marina form the core of Perth Amboy's original center. Smith Street is the main commercial spine with diverse Latin restaurants, grocers, and walkable shopping. The NJ Transit station enables direct commuting to Manhattan. The most affordable entry point in the city.
The Waterfront
$470,000 to $487,000Historic coastal neighborhood on Raritan Bay with Victorian, Colonial, and Queen Anne homes. Waterfront views are common along the sandy coastline with a fishing pier. Mix of single family homes, rowhouses, and small apartment buildings. Premium pricing for bay access.
Spa Springs
$555,000 to $560,000The wealthiest and most suburban neighborhood in northwestern Perth Amboy. Single family homes with garages dominate tree lined streets with a quiet, private residential feel. Mostly older, established residents. The highest prices in the city.
Harbortown
$400,000 to $410,000Predominantly rental community dating to 1979 with clubhouse, gym, and outdoor pool. Fishing pier on Arthur Kill tidal strait with views to Staten Island. Thomas Mundy Peterson Park nearby with soccer and baseball fields. Marina and sandy beaches accessible to the south.
State Street
$380,000 to $420,000Working class Hispanic neighborhood east of the NJ Transit tracks with historic Caribbean community roots. The Landings at Harborside redevelopment project is under construction bringing new housing. Dynamic cultural character with active revitalization.
Waterfront West (Kearny Cottage Area)
$410,000 to $450,000Blue collar Hispanic neighborhood west of Kearny Avenue with homes over 100 years old. Home to the historic Kearny Cottage from 1781, now a museum preserving maritime history. Sadowski Parkway Park with sandy beaches and waterfront walkway.
Chickentown
$350,000 to $400,000Named for pre World War II chicken farms, this western neighborhood contains Washington Park, Perth Amboy's largest park. Mix of historic pre 1939 and mid century homes. Predominantly owner occupied three to four bedroom single family homes. Moderate income, blue collar families.
The Gateway
$340,000 to $380,000Southwest neighborhood near Route 35 with primarily Latino residents and Eastern European influences. Historic Irish heritage in the area once known as Dublin. Mixed residential and industrial characteristics with the most affordable pricing in Perth Amboy.
Fords Section
$360,000 to $410,000Quiet residential neighborhood in northern Perth Amboy offering escape from the city bustle. Tree lined streets and well maintained homes create a close knit community. More suburban character than the downtown areas.
The Barber Section
$380,000 to $420,000Puerto Rican centered neighborhood on Hall Avenue that hosts an annual three day Puerto Rican festival. Located east of the NJ Transit tracks near the Woodbridge and Sewaren borders. Strong cultural identity with waterfront access to the east.
Commuting from Perth Amboy to NYC
Source: NJ Transit schedules, June 2026. Peak hour commute times.
Walkability and Livability in Perth Amboy
How easy is it to live car-free or car-light in Perth Amboy?
Perth Amboy Schools and Ratings
Perth Amboy Public Schools serves over 10,000 students across 12 schools. The brand new $292 million Perth Amboy High School opened in September 2025, the largest Schools Development Authority project ever undertaken in New Jersey, serving 2,685 students with 18 AP courses. The district also operates a Dual Language School for English and Spanish immersion and a Magnet Technical School offering career focused trades with cooperative work experience across 150 local employers. 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
Perth Amboy Magnet School
Edward J. Patten Elementary School
James J. Flynn Elementary School
Perth Amboy High School
Samuel E. Shull Middle School
William C. McGinnis Middle School
Anthony V. Ceres Elementary School
Robert N. Wilentz Elementary School
Perth Amboy vs Neighboring Towns: Cost Comparison
| City | Median Price | Tax Rate | Annual Tax | NYC Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Amboy | $427,000 | 1.61% | $6,881 | 55 min |
| Woodbridge | $490,000 | 1.83% | $8,950 | 45 min |
| South Amboy | $450,000 | 1.78% | $8,000 | 50 min |
| Sayreville | $480,000 | 1.98% | $9,500 | 55 min |
Where to Eat in Perth Amboy
Dominican (Smith Street and State Street)
El Meson Restaurant at 409 Smith Street specializes in Dominican breakfast, mofongo, pernil, oxtail, and sancocho. Don Manuel operates two locations at 587 Fayette Street and 287 State Street serving fresh homemade Dominican cuisine daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. Eden's Legacy at 462 Amboy Avenue offers Dominican Asian fusion with innovative dishes like sushi aplatanao and ropa vieja empanadas, open until 2 AM with live DJs.
Puerto Rican (High Street)
Torres Cafe at 431 High Street is a Star Ledger Best of Award winner that has sold over two million empanadas. Known for pasteles, mofongo, and arroz con gandules. Owned by Carlos and Lizbeth Torres with full catering services available.
Mexican and Colombian (New Brunswick Avenue and Smith Street)
La Hacienda at 178 New Brunswick Avenue serves authentic Mexican cuisine including beef birria, tacos, enchiladas, and pupusas. Alquimia Bakery at 161 Smith Street is an authentic Colombian bakery open daily from 6 AM serving pandebonos, arepas, pan de yuca, tamales, and mojarra.
Waterfront and Portuguese (Front Street)
The Armory at 200 Front Street is housed in a fully restored naval ammunition building from World War I and II with waterfront views of Raritan Bay. Specializes in fresh seafood, steak, and Portuguese influenced cuisine. Banquet facilities accommodate 50 to 220 guests for waterfront events.
Parks and Recreation in Perth Amboy
Sadowski Parkway Waterfront Park
8 acres of open green space on the Raritan Bay with a half mile sandy beach, 2 fishing piers at High Street and Brighton Avenue, 8 tennis courts, half court basketball courts, exercise stations along the waterfront, and a dog park. Swimming is prohibited due to dangerous currents. Home to the Brighton Avenue Community Center and Teen Center. Hosts the annual Waterfront Arts Festival on Memorial Day weekend.
Bayview Park
Waterfront park at 222 Water Street across from the municipal marina. Recently redeveloped with Green Acres funding including restored stairways, replaced stage and restrooms, and a large performance gazebo overlooking the marina. Hosts summer concerts on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons from June through September.
Washington Park
Perth Amboy's largest park located in the historic Chickentown neighborhood. Features a skateboard facility, basketball courts, baseball and softball field, walking paths, and 2 children's playgrounds. A community anchor for the western residential neighborhoods.
Harborside Marina
Municipal marina with 137 boat slips for vessels 20 to 40 feet, a 300 foot berth, and floating concrete docks with water and electric hookups. Home to the Raritan Yacht Club, the 7th oldest yacht club in the United States. Views across Arthur Kill to Staten Island.
New Development and Growth in Perth Amboy
Sea Gate (Kushner Companies)
$200 million waterfront neighborhood with 602 market rate apartments in 5 buildings on the Arthur Kill waterfront. Public waterfront esplanade from Front Street to the bulkhead plus playground, landscaped plazas, and dog park. Approved January 2026 with $1.2 million in annual PILOT payments and $1 million contribution to affordable housing.
Gateway (Viridian Partners)
$110 million mixed use Smith Street redevelopment assembling 28 separate parcels. Includes a 471,000 square foot Class A warehouse and 9 acres of public recreation with natural areas and Raritan River overlook. Active demolition phase started April 2024. Over 400 permanent jobs and $1 million plus in annual tax revenue. Viridian remediates 9 acres at zero cost to the city.
Perth Amboy High School
$292 million, 585,000 square foot new high school opened September 2025, the largest Schools Development Authority project ever undertaken in New Jersey. Total SDA investment in Perth Amboy since inception exceeds $431 million in completed projects.
BridgePort II (Bridge Industrial)
Dual logistics facilities totaling over 1 million square feet on a 73 acre remediated waterfront site near I-95 and the Outerbridge Crossing. 500 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent positions. Generates $2.9 million annually in tax revenue with a $1 million open space trust fund commitment.
Downtown Revitalization
$2.6 million in pedestrian infrastructure upgrades including sidewalk and roadway improvements, new streetscape furniture, parking optimization, and traffic flow improvements across the downtown core. Part of a broader strategy to make downtown a vibrant hub for residents, businesses, and visitors.
History of Perth Amboy, NJ
Settled in 1683 and incorporated as a city in 1718, Perth Amboy is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The name combines Perth from the Earl of Perth who governed the colony and Amboy from the Lenape word ompoge meaning level ground.
Served as the colonial capital of East Jersey from 1686 to 1776. The city hall has been in continuous use since 1784, making it one of the oldest municipal buildings in the country.
Thomas Mundy Peterson of Perth Amboy became the first Black person in the United States to vote under the 15th Amendment on March 31, 1870, in a local election.
Perth Amboy was a major center of the terra cotta and clay industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s, producing architectural tiles and ceramics that decorated buildings across the Northeast.
The Outerbridge Crossing, connecting Perth Amboy to Staten Island, opened on June 29, 1928. Named after Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge, the first chairman of the Port Authority, it remains a critical link between New Jersey and New York.
A ferry between Perth Amboy and Tottenville, Staten Island operated from 1709 until October 17, 1963, making it one of the longest running ferry routes in American history.
Immigration waves transformed the city from its colonial English roots through Irish, Hungarian, and Jewish communities in the 1800s and 1900s to today's predominantly Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Ecuadorian population.
Safety in Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy has invested in community policing and quality of life enforcement in recent years. The city benefits from a dense, walkable layout that puts eyes on the street throughout the day and evening. The safest areas are the waterfront neighborhoods and Spa Springs in the northwest. The police department operates community engagement programs and coordinates with Middlesex County law enforcement on regional crime reduction. The downtown revitalization and over $500 million in development investment have contributed to improving conditions across the city center.
Notable Residents
Annual Events and Festivals
Recently Sold Homes in Perth Amboy, NJ
Public record data from NJ Division of Taxation SR1A filings.
| Address | Sale Price | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 684 COLGATE AVE. | $431,500 | 260616 |
| 768B STATE ST. | $665,000 | 260611 |
| 283 WASHINGTON ST. | $420,000 | 260610 |
| 303 HOLLY DR. | $420,000 | 260608 |
| 285 WATER ST. | $457,000 | 260604 |
| 312 KIRKLAND PL. | $500,000 | 260520 |
| 434 LAWRENCE ST. UNIT 18 | $240,000 | 260520 |
| 454 LAWRIE ST. | $440,000 | 260518 |
| 54 STATE ST. | $387,500 | 260514 |
| 715 STATE ST. | $535,000 | 260513 |
| 737 CHARLES ST. | $465,000 | 260512 |
| 439 ASHLEY ST. | $475,000 | 260512 |
Source: NJ Division of Taxation, SR1A 2024-2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Perth Amboy, NJ
What is the median home price in Perth Amboy, NJ?
The median home price is $427,000 as of 2026, with 20.9% year-over-year appreciation. Average $313/sqft, selling in 45 days.
How long is the commute from Perth Amboy to NYC?
55 minutes via NJ Transit from Perth Amboy Station on the North Jersey Coast Line. Direct service, no transfers.
What are property taxes in Perth Amboy, NJ?
Tax rate is 1.61%. Average homeowner pays $6,881/year. At the median price of $427,000, expect about $6,875/year.
What are the best neighborhoods in Perth Amboy?
Downtown Perth Amboy ($300,000 to $350,000). The Waterfront ($470,000 to $487,000). Spa Springs ($555,000 to $560,000). Harbortown ($400,000 to $410,000). State Street ($380,000 to $420,000). See the full guide above for all 10 neighborhoods.
Is Perth Amboy safe?
Perth Amboy has invested in community policing and quality of life enforcement in recent years. The city benefits from a dense, walkable layout that puts eyes on the street throughout the day and evening. The safest areas are the waterfront neighborhoods and Spa Springs in the northwest. The police department operates community engagement programs and coordinates with Middlesex County law enforcement on regional crime reduction. The downtown revitalization and over $500 million in development investment have contributed to improving conditions across the city center.
How walkable is Perth Amboy, NJ?
Walk Score of 93, rated "Walker's Paradise." Median income $61,977, median age 37.9. 67% renter-occupied.
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