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

The Township of Union is a Union County municipality of about nine square miles, with 59,728 residents in the 2020 Census. It is home to Kean University, has its own NJ Transit station on the Raritan Valley Line, and sits at the junction of the Garden State Parkway, Interstate 78 and Route 22. Its housing is mostly single-family homes, with a sizable share of two-family houses. Here is what to know before you buy, sell or rent in Union.

Why People Choose Union

Highway access comes first for many buyers. The Garden State Parkway, I-78, Route 22 and Morris Avenue (Route 82) all run through the township, and Newark Liberty International Airport is a short drive east. That makes Union a practical base for commuting to Newark, Elizabeth, the shore or Manhattan.

Union also has a deep history. The Battle of Connecticut Farms was fought here on June 6, 1780, and Liberty Hall, the home built by New Jersey's first governor, William Livingston, still stands on Morris Avenue as a museum and National Historic Landmark.

The third draw is the variety of housing. About one in eight homes in Union is in a two-unit building, which gives buyers real options for owner-occupied rental income.

Getting Around: Commuting from Union

• Train: Union station, on Green Lane just off Morris Avenue near Kean University, is served by NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. Most trains run to Newark Penn Station, where riders can transfer for New York, and a limited number of off-peak weekday trains run directly into New York. The station has a parking lot of more than 450 spaces.
• Bus: NJ Transit local routes 26 and 52 connect with the train station, and other NJ Transit routes link Union with Newark and with the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. We can help you map the route from any home you're considering.
• Car: The Garden State Parkway, I-78, Route 22 and Route 82 cross the township.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Union is made up of many smaller sections. Union Center, around the intersection of Morris and Stuyvesant Avenues, is the traditional downtown, and Vauxhall has its own ZIP code (07088). Census figures compiled by Union County show the overall housing mix:

• Single-family homes: About two-thirds of Union's housing units are detached single-family homes, with a smaller share of attached homes such as townhouses.
• Two-family homes: About 13 percent of units are in two-unit buildings, a meaningful share for buyers who want rental income.
• Apartment and condo buildings: Roughly one in six units is in a building with three or more units.
• Older homes: Close to two-thirds of the township's housing was built before 1960.

Buying a Home in Union

Union gives buyers several ways in, from a single-family home to a two-family or a condo. Here is what we help buyers check:

• Two-to-four family homes and FHA: 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 unit can help carry the mortgage.
• Older-home inspections: With so much pre-1960 housing, a thorough inspection of the roof, heating system, electrical service, plumbing, sewer line and foundation is essential.
• Condo associations: We review monthly fees, reserves and any planned special assessments.
• Flood zones: Union County lists Union among the municipalities in the Rahway River basin, which has been the subject of a long-running flood-control study. We check FEMA flood maps and insurance needs for any property near a river or brook.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a major part of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering.

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

Selling Your Union Home

A train station, Kean University and access to three major highways give Union sellers a broad pool of buyers to market to, from first-time buyers to investors. Pricing still depends on the property: a single-family home near the station, a two-family in Union Center and an older home that needs work each compete for a different buyer. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of homes like yours, and market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Union

Census figures show most Union homes are owner-occupied, so rentals are concentrated in two-family homes and apartment buildings. Kean University and the Raritan Valley Line both support rental demand. We help renters find units that fit their commute and budget, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Investors should know the rules first. Union's township code includes a rent control article, administered by the township's Rent Leveling Board, that applies to multifamily buildings, with exclusions spelled out in the ordinance. We'll confirm whether a building is covered, then go through realistic rents, taxes, insurance and condition with you so the numbers work from day one.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Kean University, whose main campus is in Union
• Liberty Hall Museum, the Governor William Livingston House, on Kean's Liberty Hall Campus
• Galloping Hill Golf Course, an 18-hole public course shared with Kenilworth
• Elizabeth River Park, a Union County park
• Township parks including Friberger Park, Biertuempfel Park, Kawameeh Park, Brookside Park and Tom Mahoney Military Park
• Union Public Library on Morris Avenue
• Shops and restaurants in Union Center and along Route 22 and Morris Avenue
• Public schools: Union Public School District, including Union High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Union with nearby towns? Read our guides to Hillside, Springfield, Maplewood and Kenilworth, 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.

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.