Union City, NJ Real Estate Guide for Buyers, Sellers & Renters

Union City sits on top of the Hudson Palisades in Hudson County, with about 68,600 residents counted in the 2020 Census on roughly 1.3 square miles of land. That makes it extremely compact and walkable, with apartment buildings, row houses and multi-family homes packed between Kennedy Boulevard and the cliffs above Weehawken and Hoboken. It sits minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel, has a light rail station tunneled deep under the Palisades, and has a long, busy shopping street running its full length. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest here.

Why People Choose Union City

Location is the biggest draw. Union City borders Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City, West New York and North Bergen, so the Hudson waterfront and Midtown Manhattan are a short bus ride away. The city was formed in 1925, when the towns of West Hoboken and Union Hill merged, and both names still turn up when people describe the southern and northern parts of town.

Daily life runs along Bergenline Avenue, the main commercial corridor, which runs the length of the city from north to south and continues into West New York and North Bergen. Its biggest stretch of retail and chain stores starts around 32nd Street, mixed in with restaurants, bakeries and everyday services, so most errands can be done on foot. The Summit Avenue area around Transfer Station is a second, smaller shopping district.

Getting Around: Commuting from Union City

• Bus to Manhattan: NJ Transit buses are the main way most commuters reach New York. Routes such as the 156 and 159 run along Bergenline Avenue to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown, and many other routes pass through on the way to the Lincoln Tunnel.
• Local bus: Routes including the 22 and 84 run along New York Avenue and connect Union City with neighboring Hudson County towns.
• Light rail: The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail's Bergenline Avenue station, between 48th and 49th Streets, is fully accessible. Elevators drop down to an underground platform with service toward Weehawken, Hoboken and Jersey City and north to North Bergen.
• Car: Route 495 runs through the city directly into the Lincoln Tunnel and west to the New Jersey Turnpike, with connections to Route 3 and U.S. 1/9 along the way.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Union City is built up block by block, with very little vacant land, so most homes here are older multi-unit buildings. Census data shows most homes are renter-occupied. The main housing types you'll see:

• Two-to-four-family homes: The classic Union City investment and first-purchase property, found throughout the city on small urban lots.
• Row houses and brownstone-style homes: Older attached homes, some still single-family and many converted to multiple units over the decades.
• Condominiums: These range from units in converted older buildings to newer mid- and high-rise buildings with elevators.
• Apartment buildings: Walk-ups and larger rental buildings make up a large share of the city's housing.

Buying a Home in Union City

Buyers here are usually choosing between a condo and a multi-family. A condo offers a simpler entry point and less maintenance. A two-to-four-family home gives you rental income to offset your mortgage. With 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 as your primary residence.

What we help buyers check in Union City:

• Older-building inspections: Much of the housing stock is decades old. Roofs, masonry, heating systems, plumbing and electrical service deserve a careful look, especially in multi-unit buildings.
• Existing tenants and rent stabilization: If you're buying a multi-family with tenants in place, we review the leases, registered rents and how the city's rent stabilization ordinance applies before you commit.
• Condo associations: We review monthly fees, reserves, rules on renting out units, and any planned special assessments.
• Parking: Street parking is tight in a city this dense, so we confirm whether a property includes a driveway, garage or assigned space.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so you can budget accurately.

We can also connect you with a lender for pre-approval before you start touring.

Selling Your Union City Home

Union City properties draw owner-occupants, Manhattan commuters and investors, and each group looks at a property differently. An owner-occupant buying a two-family cares about the condition of the unit they'll live in. An investor wants rent rolls, lease terms and expenses. A condo buyer focuses on the building and its association. We prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of similar properties, package the documents buyers will ask for, and market your home across the MLS and online channels.

Renting and Investing in Union City

With so much of the city's housing rented, demand for apartments near the Lincoln Tunnel bus routes and the light rail is steady. Union City has a rent stabilization ordinance (Chapter 334 of the city code), administered by a rent stabilization office and a Rent Stabilization Board, which handle rent registrations and tenant and landlord matters. A 2017 amendment made clear that parking tied to an apartment is covered too. Qualifying new construction can be exempt under state law, but the rules are specific. We help investors review a building's rent history, run realistic numbers on taxes, insurance and repairs, and decide whether a property makes sense. We also help landlords price, market and screen tenants, and help renters find a unit that fits their commute.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Bergenline Avenue shopping and dining corridor
• Reservoir Park, a 14-acre reservoir shared with Weehawken, with a walking loop and Manhattan skyline views
• Union City City Hall on Palisade Avenue
• Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Bergenline Avenue station
• Three Olympic-size city swimming pools, two of them indoors, plus playgrounds and water parks across the city
• Public schools: Union City School District, including Union City High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Union City with nearby towns? Read our guides to Weehawken, West New York, North Bergen 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 Union City.

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.