Irvington, NJ Real Estate Guide for Buyers, Sellers & Renters

Irvington is an Essex County township of about 2.9 square miles, with 61,176 residents counted in the 2020 Census. It sits between Newark to the east and Maplewood to the west, with Hillside and Union in Union County along its southern edge. The Garden State Parkway runs through the middle of town, and a major NJ Transit bus terminal anchors the Springfield Avenue business district. Here's what you should know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Irvington.

Why People Choose Irvington

Location and transit do most of the work. Irvington borders Newark, so downtown Newark, Newark Penn Station and Newark Liberty International Airport are close by, and the Parkway and Interstate 78 connect the township to the rest of North and Central Jersey. Buses leave the Irvington Bus Terminal throughout the day for Newark, Elizabeth, Clifton and Midtown Manhattan.

The town also has deep roots. The area was known as Camptown until 1850, when it was renamed in honor of the writer Washington Irving. It became a village in 1874, a town in 1898 and, after a 1982 referendum, a township. For most of the 20th century, Olympic Park, an amusement park with its main entrance on Chancellor Avenue, straddled the Irvington–Maplewood line until it closed in 1965.

The downtown is a focus of state-backed revitalization. In 2015, NJDOT designated the central business district around the bus terminal a Transit Village, a program that supports development near transit, and the area also sits within an Urban Enterprise Zone. NJDOT has funded a Springfield Avenue Streetscape project along the corridor.

Getting Around: Commuting from Irvington

• Bus: The Irvington Bus Terminal is a regional hub. Route 107 runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. Other routes using the terminal include the 13 to Clifton via downtown Newark, the 25 to Newark Penn Station, the 26 to Elizabeth, the 27 to Bloomfield, the 37 to Newark Liberty International Airport, the 70 between Newark and Livingston, and the 90 to Branch Brook Park.
• Train: Irvington has no rail station of its own. Many commuters ride a bus to Newark Penn Station to connect with NJ Transit trains, PATH and Amtrak.
• Car: The Garden State Parkway passes through the center of the township with local interchanges, and I-78 runs along the southeastern border. County Route 509 is the main local road.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Irvington is divided into North, South, East and West wards for local elections, and the township's planning documents refer to areas such as Irvington Manor and the Hilltop Center. Beyond that, buyers tend to shop by street, block and property type rather than by named neighborhood.

The housing stock is mostly older, and it covers a wide range: single-family homes, two-family and other small multi-family homes, and larger apartment buildings, along with mixed-use buildings with apartments over storefronts along Springfield Avenue. According to the Census Bureau, the majority of occupied homes in Irvington are rented rather than owner-occupied, so rental housing is a large part of the market.

New construction is coming. The Planning Board has approved a six-story mixed-use building at 734–748 Springfield Avenue, with 156 apartments over ground-floor retail, in the East Ward/East Springfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan area. Timelines change, so ask us for the current status of any project near a home you're considering.

Buying a Home in Irvington

Here's what we help buyers check in Irvington:

• Two-to-four family homes: 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.
• Rent control: Irvington has a rent control ordinance (Chapter 472 of the township code). Buildings with two or fewer units are exempt, and so are three- and four-unit buildings where an owner lives in one of the units. If you're buying a larger building, or a three- or four-family you won't live in, we review how the ordinance applies before you make an offer.
• Older-home inspections: Plan on a thorough inspection of the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing and heating, plus a review of any past permits.
• Flood maps: The Elizabeth River runs through the township, and FEMA has mapped flood risk in Irvington. 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 Irvington Home

Irvington homes draw owner-occupant buyers, FHA buyers looking at two- and three-family homes, and investors. Each property type has its own comparable sales, and rent rolls, unit count and condition all affect value. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of homes like yours, then market your home across every MLS and online channel. For multi-family sellers, we'll help you organize leases and rental history so buyers and lenders can move quickly.

Renting and Investing in Irvington

With so much of the township's housing rented, and with direct bus service to Newark and Manhattan, Irvington has a large rental market. We help renters find units that fit their budget and commute, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

For investors, the key questions are rent control coverage, taxes, insurance, flood zone status and the condition of older buildings. We'll help you run realistic numbers on any two-to-four family or larger building before you buy.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Irvington Park, a 24-acre Essex County park on Grove Street and Lyons Avenue, with an Olmsted-designed tiered landscape, a pond with a jogging path, a running track, ball fields, and lighted basketball and tennis courts
• Irvington Bus Terminal and the Springfield Avenue business district
• Civic Square, home to the Irvington Public Library
• The Elizabeth River, which runs through the township
• Newark Liberty International Airport, a short drive away
• Public schools: Irvington Public Schools, including Irvington High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Irvington with nearby towns? Read our guides to Newark, Maplewood and South Orange, 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 Irvington.

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.