Elizabeth, NJ Real Estate Guide: Buy, Sell & Rent

Elizabeth is the county seat of Union County, with about 137,300 residents as of the 2020 Census. It's a city of rail stations, highway interchanges and waterfront industry: two NJ Transit stations, two New Jersey Turnpike exits, the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island, part of Newark Liberty International Airport and a share of the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal all sit within its borders. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Elizabeth.

Why People Choose Elizabeth

Few places in New Jersey are as well connected. Elizabeth is on the Northeast Corridor, next to the airport and served by two Turnpike exits, so it suits people who commute to Manhattan, Newark, the airport or the port.

The city also has deep historic roots. The Mid-Town Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, covers the downtown blocks around Broad Street, East Jersey Street and Elizabeth Avenue, with buildings dating from about 1850 to 1949. Nearby on East Jersey Street are Boxwood Hall State Historic Site, the Belcher-Ogden Mansion and the Bonnell House, whose front section was built before 1700.

Getting Around: Commuting from Elizabeth

• Train: Elizabeth station (Broad Street/Midtown, 11 West Grand Street) and North Elizabeth station (1180 North Avenue) are both served by NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines. Trains run to New York Penn Station, Newark and Trenton.
• Bus: NJ Transit routes 111, 112, 113 and 115 go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Routes 24, 40, 48, 59 and 62 serve Newark, and local routes 26, 52, 56, 57 and 58 run through the city.
• Car: Turnpike Exit 13 connects to I-278 and the Goethals Bridge, plus Route 439. Exit 13A connects to Route 81 toward Newark Liberty, North Avenue and The Mills at Jersey Gardens. US 1/9 and Routes 27, 28 and 439 also cross the city.
• Air: Newark Liberty International Airport sits partly within Elizabeth.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Elizabeth is mainly a renter's city. Census estimates show only about a quarter of housing units are owner-occupied. What you'll find:

• Midtown: The downtown core around Broad Street and Elizabeth station, inside the Mid-Town Historic District. Union College's Elizabeth campus is on West Jersey Street, and the Union County Courthouse is on Broad Street.
• Quality Hill: A section the county's historic tour describes as large Italianate and Second Empire homes built between 1860 and 1890.
• Two-to-four-family homes: A frequent first purchase for owner-occupants who want rental income.
• Apartment buildings and condos: Along with multi-family houses, these make up much of the city's rental supply.
• Single-family homes: Available throughout the city, though they make up a smaller share of the housing.

Buying a Home in Elizabeth

Here's what we help Elizabeth buyers check:

• Multi-family financing: With an FHA loan, a two-to-four-family property can be bought with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units. We'll help you look at the existing leases and the condition of every unit.
• Rent control: Elizabeth has rent control and stabilization regulations, and the rules on allowable increases have changed in recent years and been challenged in court. If you're buying a property with tenants, we'll confirm which units are covered and what the current rules allow before you commit.
• Flood risk: A New Jersey DEP flood mitigation study notes that the city sits on Newark Bay and the Arthur Kill, that FEMA maps show a large part of it within the 100-year coastal flood area, and that areas along the Elizabeth River are at risk if the levee is overtopped, as happened during Hurricane Sandy. The same study also points to street flooding from stormwater. We review flood maps and insurance requirements for every address.
• Older-home inspections: Much of the housing is decades old, so inspections should cover the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, heating and separate utilities in multi-unit homes.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for each home you're considering.

We can connect you with a lender for pre-approval, and we work with cash buyers too.

Selling Your Elizabeth Home

Elizabeth draws owner-occupants, investors and commuters, and each prices a property differently. A multi-family is valued largely on its rents, leases and rent control status. A single-family home is judged more on condition, location and distance to the train. Buyers also compare Elizabeth with nearby Linden, Union, Hillside, Roselle and Newark. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of truly similar properties, organize rent rolls and lease details for investor buyers, and market your home across the MLS and major online channels.

Renting and Investing in Elizabeth

Since most housing units in Elizabeth are renter-occupied, the rental market runs year-round. Choices range from apartments in multi-family houses to larger buildings near the train stations. For investors, two-to-four-family properties are the core of the market, and the numbers depend on rent control coverage, taxes, insurance, flood exposure and condition. We'll walk through all of it before you buy, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Mid-Town Historic District and Hersh Tower, the city's first office tower, built in the Art Deco style
• Ritz Theatre on East Jersey Street
• Boxwood Hall State Historic Site, the Belcher-Ogden Mansion and the Bonnell House on East Jersey Street
• Union County Courthouse and the Elizabeth Public Library on Broad Street
• Warinanco Park, a 205-acre Union County park shared with Roselle, originally designed by the Olmsted firm, with the Warinanco Sports Center's ice rink
• Mattano Park, with ball fields, playgrounds and a skate park
• Veterans Memorial Waterfront Park
• The Mills at Jersey Gardens, reached from Turnpike Exit 13A
• Union College of Union County, New Jersey, Elizabeth campus
• Public schools: Elizabeth Public Schools, whose high school academies include Elizabeth High School Frank J. Cicarell Academy

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Elizabeth with nearby towns? Read our guides to Hillside, Union, Roselle and Linden, 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 Elizabeth.

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.