Hillside is a Union County township of about 2.8 square miles, with 22,456 residents counted in the 2020 Census. It sits in the northeast corner of the county, bordered by Newark and Irvington in Essex County, by Elizabeth, and by Union Township. Interstate 78, U.S. Route 22 and the Garden State Parkway all pass through or along the township, and Newark Liberty International Airport is only a few minutes away. Here's what you should know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Hillside.

Why People Choose Hillside

Location is the big draw. Hillside borders Newark and sits close to the airport and the Newark and Elizabeth seaports, and its highway access makes it practical for people who drive to jobs across North and Central Jersey. NJ Transit buses, including routes that run along Hillside Avenue, connect the township to Newark, Elizabeth and Midtown Manhattan.

Hillside also has a long history of its own. The township separated from Union Township and incorporated in 1913, and its name refers to the surrounding hills. Several streets carry the names of the farms that once covered the area, including Woodruff and Conant. In the decades that followed, Hillside grew into an industrial town: Lionel ran its toy train factory here for much of the 20th century, and Bristol-Myers Squibb was another major employer. Industrial and commercial uses still line Route 22, I-78 and the rail corridor, while Liberty Avenue serves as the main street for shops and restaurants.

Getting Around: Commuting from Hillside

• Bus: NJ Transit routes 113 and 114 run through Hillside toward Newark and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Union County lists routes 26, 59, 65, 66 and 99 as serving the township as well, with connections to Newark, Elizabeth and other Union County towns.
• Train: There is no passenger rail station in Hillside. The closest NJ Transit stations are in Union, on the Raritan Valley Line, and in Elizabeth, on the Northeast Corridor Line, both with service toward New York Penn Station.
• Car: Route 22 is the township's main arterial, and I-78 and the Garden State Parkway cross its northwest section. Route 439 and County Route 509 also serve the area.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Hillside is compact, and most buyers shop by street and property type rather than by named neighborhood. One section that does carry a name is Westminster, home to Conant Park. In 1981, Kean University bought the former Pingry School property in Westminster for use as its East Campus.

According to Union County's municipal profile, most of Hillside's housing is single-family detached homes, but two-family homes make up roughly a fifth of all units, and buildings with three or more units account for most of the rest. More than three-quarters of the housing was built before 1960, so older homes make up most of the market. Census figures show that about two-thirds of occupied homes are owner-occupied, with the rest rented.

Buying a Home in Hillside

Hillside gives buyers a mix of single-family homes and small multi-family properties close to Newark and the airport. Here's what we help buyers check:

• Two-to-four family homes: With so many two-families in town, house hacking is a common strategy. If you're using an FHA loan, you can buy a two-to-four family property with a low down payment, as long as you live in one of the units.
• Older-home inspections: Because so much of the housing predates 1960, plan on a careful look at the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, heating and any past permits.
• Flood maps: The Elizabeth River runs through the township, and Hillside's flood damage prevention ordinance adopts FEMA flood insurance rate maps that identify special flood hazard areas. We check the current flood map and insurance requirements for every property before you commit.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home on your list so you can budget accurately.

Need financing? We can connect you with a lender for pre-approval before you start touring.

Selling Your Hillside Home

Hillside's buyer pool includes owner-occupants, FHA buyers looking at two-families, and investors. Each property type has its own set of comparable sales, so pricing a single-family colonial is a different exercise from pricing a two- or three-family. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your home across every MLS and online channel.

Plan ahead for the township's paperwork. Hillside's Building and Housing Department requires a Certificate of Continued Occupancy when a residential property is sold, so we help sellers schedule the inspection early and handle any repairs before closing.

Renting and Investing in Hillside

About a third of Hillside's occupied homes are rented, mostly in two-family homes and small multi-family buildings. Bus access to Newark and New York and quick highway connections keep these units in demand. We help renters find homes that fit their budget and commute, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Landlords should know the local rules. Hillside requires a Certificate of Habitability before any residential unit is rented, and the township has landlord registration requirements and a vacant property registration ordinance. For investors, the key questions are taxes, insurance, flood zone status and the condition of older buildings. We'll help you run realistic numbers on any two-to-four family property before you buy.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Woodruff House and Eaton Store Museum on Conant Street, run by the Hillside Historical Society. The site includes a house dating to about 1735, a circa-1900 general store, a post-and-beam barn and a Phil Rizzuto sports museum, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• Conant Park, bounded by the Elizabeth River and Conant Street
• Elizabeth River Park, Sanford Park and the Hillside Community Pool
• Hillside Public Library at the municipal complex on Liberty Avenue
• The Liberty Avenue shopping district
• Newark Liberty International Airport, about two miles east
• Public schools: Hillside Public Schools, including Hillside High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Hillside with nearby towns? Read our guides to Elizabeth, Union, Irvington and Newark, or browse all of our North Jersey town guides.

Talk to a Local Broker

The Thompson Realty Group is a licensed New Jersey real estate brokerage based at 20 MacArthur Ave in Garfield, serving buyers, sellers, renters and investors across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. Whether you're a first-time FHA buyer, a cash investor, or a homeowner wondering what your place is worth, we'll give you straight answers about Hillside.

Call or text 201-928-5562 or book a free 15-minute consultation. You can also search every active New Jersey listing on our website.

Information on this page is provided for general guidance and is believed accurate as of October 2026. Programs, ordinances, taxes and transit schedules change, so please verify details for any specific property. Equal Housing Opportunity.