Roselle is a Union County borough of about 2.6 square miles, with 22,695 residents counted in the 2020 Census. It borders Elizabeth, Linden, Cranford and Roselle Park, and it holds a notable place in the history of electricity: in 1883, Thomas Edison used Roselle to test lighting a whole village from a single generating station. Today it offers single-family homes, two-family houses and apartment communities, with Warinanco Park on its eastern edge. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Roselle.

Why People Choose Roselle

Location is a big part of the appeal. Roselle sits in central Union County between Route 28 on the north side and Route 27 on the south, with two NJ Transit rail lines just outside the borough and bus routes to Newark and New York.

The borough also has real history. Roselle was laid out in the late 1860s by the Roselle Land Improvement Company and incorporated as a borough in 1894, carved from part of Linden. According to the borough, Edison's generator began operating on January 19, 1883, at the corner of Locust Street and West First Avenue, and a marker and time capsule now mark the spot. The borough's high school is named for Abraham Clark, a New Jersey signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Getting Around: Commuting from Roselle

• Train: Roselle doesn't have its own station, but two lines are close. Roselle Park station, just north of the borough, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with trains to Newark Penn Station and some trains continuing to New York Penn Station. To the south, the Northeast Corridor Line stops in Linden.
• Bus: Union County lists NJ Transit routes 48, 56, 59, 94, 112 and 115 as serving the borough.
• Car: Route 27 runs along the southern edge of town and Route 28 along the north. Newark Liberty International Airport and the Garden State Parkway are a short drive away.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Roselle isn't divided into widely recognized named neighborhoods, so it makes sense to shop by housing type. Union County's borough profile, based on Census survey data, shows the mix:

• Single-family homes: More than half of Roselle's housing units are detached single-family homes.
• Two-family homes: About 14 percent of units are in two-unit buildings.
• Apartments: Roughly a quarter of units are in buildings with three or more units.
• Older housing stock: About two-thirds of homes were built before 1960.
• New rental construction: PARK, a rental community on the former Roselle Golf Club site at 417 Raritan Road, is planned for 932 apartments at full build-out, built in phases on a roughly 60-acre property.

The borough's downtown business district, which the borough defines as the corridor along First and Third Avenues between Walnut and Locust Streets, is where you'll find most local shops and services.

Buying a Home in Roselle

Here's what we help Roselle buyers check:

• Two-to-four-family homes: With so many two-family houses in town, this is a common first purchase. An FHA loan lets you 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: Since most homes here are more than 60 years old, we recommend a full inspection of the roof, heating system, electrical, plumbing, foundation and any oil tank.
• Rental rules for multi-family purchases: If you're buying a building with three or more units, Roselle's rent control ordinance will affect what you can charge. We review it with you before you make an offer (more below).
• Property taxes: Taxes are a major part of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering.

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

Selling Your Roselle Home

Roselle draws buyers looking for single-family homes, owner-occupants shopping for two-families and investors comparing income properties. Pricing has to match the property type. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours. For two-families, we'll help you organize leases and rent history so buyers and their lenders can see the income clearly, then market your home across the MLS and online channels.

Renting and Investing in Roselle

Close to half of Roselle's occupied homes are rentals, according to the county profile, so renters have a range of options, from two-family units to apartment complexes. We help renters find a place that fits their budget and commute, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Investors should know the borough's rules. Roselle's code includes a rent control and rent leveling ordinance (Chapter 334), administered by a Rent Leveling Board. It generally limits increases on covered units to the lesser of the change in the Consumer Price Index or 5 percent a year, allows increases only at lease renewal, and permits higher rents when a unit becomes vacant. Buildings with two or fewer units are exempt from the rent control article, and the code also requires rental property registration. We'll help you run realistic rents, taxes, insurance and condition before you commit.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Warinanco Park, a Union County park of about 205 acres in Roselle and Elizabeth, designed by the Olmsted firm, with Chatfield Gardens, the Warinanco Sports Center ice rink, tennis courts, ball fields and a turf field and track on the Roselle side
• Edison generator site marker at Locust Street and West First Avenue
• Abraham Clark replica home and museum at Chestnut Street and West Ninth Avenue
• Sylvester Land Memorial Field
• Roselle Public Library on West Fourth Street
• Downtown business district along First and Third Avenues
• Public schools: Roselle Public Schools, including Abraham Clark High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Roselle with nearby towns? Read our guides to Elizabeth, Linden, Roselle Park and Cranford, 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 Roselle.

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.