Town guide · Union County
Living in Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth is the Union County seat, a historic city with two train stations on the Northeast Corridor, a busy Midtown along Broad Street, and part of Newark Liberty Airport inside its borders.
Elizabeth is the county seat of Union County and, with 137,298 residents at the 2020 Census, the fourth-most populous city in New Jersey. It covers about 13.6 square miles and borders Newark to the north, Hillside, Union, Roselle Park and Roselle to the west and Linden to the southwest, with Newark Bay and the Arthur Kill on its eastern side.
Pete grew up in Elizabeth and taught physical education here for 18 years, so this is the city he knows best. Founded in 1664 as Elizabethtown, it was New Jersey's first capital and became a city in 1855. Today it has two train stations, part of Newark Liberty Airport and the Elizabeth Marine Terminal within its borders, and neighborhoods from Elmora to Elizabethport that each have their own character.
Neighborhoods and areas
Why people choose Elizabeth
Commute
Elizabeth and North Elizabeth stations, with trains to Newark Penn and New York Penn Station.
History
Founded in 1664 as Elizabethtown, New Jersey's first capital.
Housing mix
Two-family homes, apartment buildings, Tudors in Westminster and newer townhomes in Elizabethport.
Living in Elizabeth
Getting around
Elizabeth has two NJ Transit stations on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Lines, both with trains to Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station. Elizabeth station on Broad Street in Midtown was rebuilt and reopened in June 2024; North Elizabeth station on North Avenue has accessible high-level platforms but limited weekend service. NJ Transit buses 111, 112, 113 and 115 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Turnpike, I-278, U.S. Route 1/9 and Routes 27, 28, 81 and 439 run through the city, the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island starts in Bayway, and Terminal A of Newark Liberty Airport is inside city limits.
Parks and outdoors
Warinanco Park, a Union County park planned by the Olmsted Brothers in the 1920s, has an ice rink that opened in 1962. The Elizabeth River Parkway, developed between 1925 and 1930, follows the river through the city. Other parks include Mattano Park, Kellogg Park in the North End and Veterans Memorial Waterfront Park in Frog Hollow. The Elizabeth Marina in Elizabethport hosts events year-round, from a late-spring festival to a winter Christmas tree lighting.
Downtown and everyday life
Midtown, along Broad Street around Elizabeth station, is the main commercial district, with many historic buildings. Elmora Avenue has restaurants, shops and boutiques, and Union Square in Peterstown has produce stands and meat, fish and poultry markets. The Mills at Jersey Gardens, New Jersey's largest outlet mall, opened in 1999 near the Turnpike. Elizabeth has an Urban Enterprise Zone, so qualifying purchases get a reduced sales tax rate, and the Elizabeth Public Library has a main library and three branches.
Schools
Elizabeth Public Schools runs PreK through 12th grade under a nine-member board of education. The buildings below high school are K-8 schools, and high school is organized into seven academies, including Elizabeth High School Frank J. Cicarell Academy, Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy and Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Academy. Union County College has an Elizabeth campus.
History and landmarks
George Washington left Elizabethtown by boat in 1789 for his inauguration in Manhattan. Boxwood Hall, built about 1750 on East Jersey Street, was the home of Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress, and is a National Historic Landmark. Singer opened its sewing-machine factory in Elizabethport in 1873, and Electric Boat began building submarines here with USS Holland in 1897. Look for the 1931 Art Deco Hersch Tower, the Ritz Theatre (open since 1926), City Hall (1940), First Presbyterian Church, Nugent's Tavern in the North End and Little Jimmy's Italian Ices, around since 1932.
Homes in Elizabeth
Elizabeth has about 49,000 housing units, and most are in multi-family buildings: about 32% are in two-unit buildings, 16% in three- or four-unit buildings and about a third in buildings of five or more units, with single-family homes making up about 19%. More than half the housing was built before 1960 (about a quarter before 1940), and about 17% since 2000. Westminster is known for large Tudor-style houses, and Elizabethport on the waterfront has renovated homes and newer townhomes and duplexes.
Elizabeth questions buyers ask
What county is Elizabeth, NJ in?
Union County. Elizabeth is the county seat.
Does Elizabeth have a train station?
Two. Elizabeth station on Broad Street (Midtown) and North Elizabeth station on North Avenue are both on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Lines, with trains to Newark Penn, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station.
Can I take a bus from Elizabeth to Manhattan?
Yes. NJ Transit routes 111, 112, 113 and 115 run from Elizabeth to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Which school district serves Elizabeth?
Elizabeth Public Schools, PreK through 12th grade, with K-8 schools and seven high school academies.
How much are property taxes in Elizabeth, and when are they due?
The state's 2025 figures put Elizabeth's average residential tax bill at $9,727, with an effective tax rate of 2.113 per $100 of market value (in 2024 the average bill was $9,215, below the Union County average of $12,047). Taxes are paid quarterly, due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Your bill depends on your home's assessment, so check the city's tax records for a specific address.
Working with Pete
Pete Moriello is one of the most reliable and skilled real estate professionals I've worked with in my career. We've partnered for many years, and he consistently demonstrates exceptional care for his clients.
Pete kicked ass with helping me sell my home. I will recommend him to anyone buying or selling their property. He helped me every step of the way!!
He is very professional, kind, and respectful. He communicates clearly and makes the process easy to understand. He is helpful, trustworthy, and always willing to answer questions.
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Top photo: Boxwood Hall, Elizabeth by Dmadeo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.