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

Harrison is a compact Hudson County town of about 1.3 square miles on the east bank of the Passaic River, directly across from downtown Newark. It counted 19,450 residents in the 2020 Census, a jump of more than 40 percent from 2010, and much of that growth has come from new construction around its PATH station. With a direct train to Lower Manhattan, a pro soccer stadium on the riverfront and a large redevelopment district still filling in, Harrison is one of the most transit-focused places in New Jersey to buy, rent or invest.

Why People Choose Harrison

The short answer is the PATH. Harrison is one of only a handful of New Jersey towns with its own PATH stop, which puts Jersey City and the World Trade Center a single train ride away without a transfer. The Port Authority spent years rebuilding the Harrison station complex, and the final new station house opened in 2024 with an elevator, a public plaza and bicycle parking.

The second answer is what has grown up around that station. The Harrison Waterfront Redevelopment Plan covers roughly 250 acres in the southern part of town, about a third of Harrison's land, and is aimed at turning former industrial property along the Passaic into a walkable, mixed-use district. Sports Illustrated Stadium (formerly Red Bull Arena), home of the New York Red Bulls, anchors the riverfront, along with hotels, parking structures and new apartment buildings.

Getting Around: Commuting from Harrison

• PATH: Harrison station is on the Newark–World Trade Center line. Trains run west to Newark Penn Station, where you can connect to NJ Transit and Amtrak, and east through Jersey City to the World Trade Center. Riders headed to Midtown can transfer to the 33rd Street line.
• Accessibility: The rebuilt station has ADA-compliant elevators, and the newest station house lets riders reach the platform without crossing Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard.
• Bus and bike: NJ Transit bus connections, park-and-ride parking and free bicycle parking are available at the station.
• Car: Interstate 280 runs through Harrison, and the Jackson Street and Stickel bridges cross the Passaic into Newark. I-280 connects west toward the Garden State Parkway and east toward the New Jersey Turnpike.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Harrison's housing falls into two broad groups: the new construction in the waterfront redevelopment area and the older housing in the rest of town. According to Census figures, most occupied homes in Harrison are rentals.

• The waterfront redevelopment area: The redevelopment plan calls for market-rate housing in low-, mid- and high-rise buildings near the PATH station, with an emphasis on studio and one-bedroom units and ground-floor retail along key streets. Rental buildings such as Water's Edge on Dey Street, near the river, are part of this wave.
• Riverfront condominiums: Condo buildings along the Passaic, such as River Park, give buyers a way to own close to the PATH and the waterfront walkway.
• Older housing outside the redevelopment area: North of the redevelopment district, Harrison Avenue and Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard serve as the town's established commercial corridors, and the surrounding blocks hold the town's older housing stock, which predates the waterfront redevelopment.

Buying a Home in Harrison

Buyers in Harrison usually start with one question: new condo near the PATH, or an older home elsewhere in town?

• Two-to-four family homes and FHA: If you're considering a multi-unit property, an FHA loan lets you buy a two-to-four family home with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units. Rent from the other units can help carry the mortgage.
• Condo association review: For newer and riverfront condos, we look at monthly fees, reserves, rental rules and any planned special assessments before you commit.
• Flood zones: The Passaic is a tidal river, and the state notes that much of Harrison's waterfront lies in a FEMA 100-year flood zone where flood insurance is required. We check flood maps and insurance needs for any property near the river up front.
• Older-home inspections: For homes outside the new construction, a thorough inspection of the roof, heating system, electrical and plumbing is a must.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a big part of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering, and we check whether a newer building has any special tax arrangement.

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

Selling Your Harrison Home

Harrison's PATH access gives sellers a broad pool of buyers to market to, from commuters to investors. Pricing, though, depends heavily on what you're selling. A condo near the station competes with the new rental buildings around it, while an older multi-unit property is often judged by investors on its rental income. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of homes like yours, then market your property across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Harrison

With a large and growing stock of apartments near the PATH, Harrison offers renters a wide choice of buildings within walking distance of the train. We help renters compare buildings and commutes, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants. For investors, we'll go through realistic rents, taxes, insurance, flood exposure and condition with you before you buy, so the numbers work from day one.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Harrison PATH station and its public plaza
• Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of the New York Red Bulls
• The Passaic River waterfront walkway, with public access points at Cleveland Avenue, Harrison Avenue, Warren Street, Sussex Street and Bergen Street
• West Hudson Park, a Hudson County park shared with Kearny, with ball fields and Fairy Lake
• Veterans Plaza on Harrison Avenue
• Harrison Public Library
• Shops and businesses along the Harrison Avenue commercial corridor
• Public schools: Harrison Public Schools, including Harrison High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Harrison with nearby towns? Read our guides to East Newark, Kearny, Newark and Jersey City, 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 Harrison.

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.