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

Kenilworth is a Union County borough of 2.15 square miles, with 8,427 residents counted in the 2020 Census. It is bordered by Union Township, Roselle Park, Cranford and Springfield, and it sits right at Garden State Parkway Interchange 138. Here's what you should know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Kenilworth.

Why People Choose Kenilworth

Highway access and open space are the main draws. The Parkway runs along the borough's east side and U.S. Route 22 crosses its north end, so Newark, the airport and Central Jersey are an easy drive. At the same time, the borough's 2011 Master Plan counts about 23 percent of its land as open space, much of it in Union County's Galloping Hill, Black Brook and Lenape parks.

Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough in 1907 from parts of Cranford and Union Township. It was first developed as New Orange in the 1890s and later renamed Kenilworth, in part to avoid confusion with the Oranges in Essex County.

Getting Around: Commuting from Kenilworth

• Bus: NJ Transit routes 113 and 58 serve the borough. The 113 runs toward Newark and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and the 58 provides local service.
• Train: Kenilworth has no station of its own. The Roselle Park station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line is less than a mile away, with service toward Newark and New York Penn Station.
• Car: The Garden State Parkway (Interchange 138), U.S. Route 22, the Boulevard (County Route 509) and Michigan Avenue (County Route 617) are the main routes in and out of town.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Kenilworth is small enough that buyers shop by street and zone rather than by named neighborhood. According to the Master Plan, single-family detached homes make up the large majority of the housing stock, and most of it was built before 1970. Two-family homes are the next most common type, and the zoning code permits them in several designated residential areas. Along the Boulevard, a group of buildings between 20th and 24th Streets has apartments above the storefronts. Census figures show about three-quarters of occupied homes are owner-occupied.

The biggest change underway is on the east side of the Parkway. The borough has designated the 107-acre former Merck campus at 2000 Galloping Hill Road as a redevelopment area, and its redevelopment plan allows uses such as life sciences labs, offices, light industrial and retail. Ask us for the current status of the project if you're considering a home nearby.

Buying a Home in Kenilworth

Here's what we help Kenilworth buyers check:

• 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.
• Flood maps: The Master Plan identifies flood hazard areas near the Lenape Park dike and along Black Brook, near the West Branch of the Elizabeth River on the golf course side, and in a few low-lying sections on both sides of the Parkway. The borough also has a flood damage prevention ordinance. We check the current FEMA map and insurance requirements for every property.
• Older-home inspections: Most homes here are decades old, so plan on a thorough inspection of the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing and heating, plus a review of past permits.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home on your list.

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

Selling Your Kenilworth Home

Most Kenilworth homes are single-family, and each competes with similar homes nearby. Two-family sellers reach a second pool of buyers: owner-occupants using FHA financing and investors. 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.

Renting and Investing in Kenilworth

Kenilworth's rental market is small and made up mostly of two-family units and apartments over Boulevard storefronts. 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 flood zone status, taxes, insurance and the condition of older homes. We'll run realistic numbers with you before you buy.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Galloping Hill Golf Course, part of Union County's Galloping Hill Park, with an 18-hole course, a 9-hole learning course and a driving range
• Black Brook Park and Lenape Park, Union County parkland in and around the borough
• Oswald J. Nitschke House, a restored circa-1880 home run by the Kenilworth Historical Society as a living history museum and listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places
• Di Mario Park, a borough park
• Kenilworth Library and the Boulevard business district
• Public schools: Kenilworth Public Schools, including David Brearley High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Kenilworth with nearby towns? Read our guides to Cranford, Union, Roselle Park and Springfield, 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 Kenilworth.

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.