Town guide · Union County
Living in Union, NJ
Union Township sits in the middle of Union County, with Kean University, a train station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, and neighborhoods from Five Points to Vauxhall that each have their own feel.
Union Township covers about nine square miles in the north-central part of Union County, with roughly 59,700 residents at the 2020 Census. It borders Springfield, Kenilworth, Roselle Park, Elizabeth and Hillside, and touches Essex County to the north.
Union is one of the oldest communities in the area. It was first known as Connecticut Farms, for the settlers who came from Connecticut, and it became a township in 1808. Today it is a large, established suburb with a university, its own train station and quick access to the Parkway, Route 22 and I-78.
Neighborhoods and areas
Why people choose Union
Commute
Raritan Valley Line trains from Union station toward Newark, with connections into New York.
Campus town
Kean University brings events, jobs and steady rental demand.
Housing mix
Classic colonials, capes and split-levels, plus multi-family homes.
Living in Union
Getting around
Union station, on Green Lane next to Kean University, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station, where you can connect to New York; some trains continue to New York Penn. NJ Transit buses 113, 114 and 117 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown. By car, the Garden State Parkway (exits 139 to 141), I-78, Route 22 and Morris Avenue (Route 82) all run through town, and Newark Liberty Airport is about six miles east.
Parks and outdoors
Union has a long list of township and county parks, including Kawameeh Park, Biertuempfel Park, Brookside Park, Elizabeth River Park and Larchmont Reservation. Galloping Hill, a Union County golf course that opened in 1928, sits on the Union and Kenilworth line.
Downtown and everyday life
Union Center, around Morris and Stuyvesant Avenues, is the township's traditional downtown, with the main public library and local businesses, and a redevelopment project bringing new homes and retail. Route 22 is the big shopping corridor. Vauxhall has its own ZIP code (07088) and library branch.
Schools
The Union Public School District runs pre-K through 12th grade: six elementary schools, a fifth-grade school, two middle schools and Union High School. Kean University, founded in 1855, has been in Union since 1958.
History and landmarks
The Battle of Connecticut Farms was fought here in June 1780. Liberty Hall, the home of New Jersey's first governor William Livingston, is now a museum run by Kean University, and the Caldwell Parsonage and Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church are both on the National Register. Look for the 212-foot Union Watersphere and the poured-concrete Edison houses on Ingersoll Terrace.
Homes in Union
Most of Union is single-family homes, and about two-thirds of the housing was built before 1960, so you will see plenty of classic colonials, capes and split-levels, along with two-family homes.
Union market snapshot
All residential sales in ZIP 07083, March 1 to May 31, 2026. Source: Redfin. Ask me for this month's numbers.
Union questions buyers ask
What county is Union, NJ in?
Union County. The township joined the newly formed Union County in 1857; before that it was part of Essex County.
Is there a train station in Union?
Yes. Union station on Green Lane, next to Kean University, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station, and some trains continue to New York Penn Station.
Can I take a bus from Union to Manhattan?
Yes. NJ Transit routes 113, 114 and 117 run from Union to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Which school district serves Union?
The Union Public School District, pre-K through 12th grade, with six elementary schools, a fifth-grade school, two middle schools and Union High School.
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.
More towns
Top photo: Kean Hall, Kean University by Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.