Town guide · Union County
Living in Elizabeth, NJ
Elizabeth is the Union County seat. It was settled in 1664 as Elizabethtown and served as the state's first capital. Today it is a city of distinct neighborhoods with two train stations, the New Jersey Turnpike, part of Newark Liberty International Airport and the Port Newark Elizabeth Marine Terminal.
- County
- Union
- Population
- About 137,000 (2020 census), the fourth largest city in New Jersey
- Size
- About 13.6 square miles, including water
- Setting
- Urban, with a port, an airport, a waterfront and older residential neighborhoods
- Main roads
- New Jersey Turnpike (Exits 13 and 13A), Interstate 278 and the Goethals Bridge, U.S. Route 1 and 9, Routes 27, 28, 81 and 439
Neighborhoods
A city of named neighborhoods
Elizabeth was founded in 1664 and named for the wife of Sir George Carteret. It was incorporated as a city in 1855. People here usually answer with their neighborhood, and each has its own streets, landmarks and housing.
- Midtown: The main commercial district around Broad Street, Elizabeth station and the 1931 Hersch Tower.
- Elmora and Elmora Hills: The western side of the city, centered on Elmora Avenue, with high rise apartment complexes at its edge. Elmora Hills was annexed from Union Township in the early 20th century.
- North End: Between North Broad Street and Route 1 and 9, developed mostly in the 1920s, with its own North Elizabeth train station and Kellogg Park.
- Elizabethport: The city's oldest neighborhood, east of 7th Street to the shore, with the restored Elizabeth Marina and newer townhomes along the waterfront.
- Bayway and Peterstown: Older neighborhoods in the southern and southeastern parts of the city. Bayway sits between the Elizabeth River and the Arthur Kill at the foot of the Goethals Bridge.
- Other neighborhoods: Frog Hollow, Keighry Head, The Point and Westminster, developed by Edward J. Grassman with large Tudor style homes. The Westminster name continues across the line into Hillside.
Homes
What you will find
- One to four family homes: Many neighborhoods have older one and two family houses, and Bayway has many two to four family buildings.
- Apartment buildings and high rises: From walk up apartment houses to high rise complexes near Elizabeth station.
- Townhomes and condominiums: Newer townhomes along the Elizabethport waterfront and condominiums around North Avenue.
Worth knowing: Two things matter most here. First, Elizabeth has a municipal rent control ordinance that covers many rental units, and its rules have been the subject of recent votes and court cases, so anyone buying a building with tenants should confirm with the city whether it is covered and what rents are registered. Second, parts of the city can flood. The Elizabeth River overflowed during Hurricane Ida in 2021 and displaced about 700 people, and low areas near the river and the Arthur Kill should always be checked against the FEMA flood maps.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Elizabeth
- 2.113%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $9,7272025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $450,000 on today's market would pay roughly $9,508 a year at Elizabeth's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
The New Jersey Turnpike runs through the city, with Exit 13 for Interstate 278 and the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island and Exit 13A for Route 81 and Newark Liberty International Airport. U.S. Route 1 and 9 and Routes 27, 28 and 439 also cross the city. Elizabeth station in Midtown and North Elizabeth station on North Avenue are both on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines, with trains to New York Penn Station, Trenton and the Jersey Shore. NJ Transit buses 111, 112, 113 and 115 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and several routes run to Newark. Part of Newark Liberty International Airport lies inside the city.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Boxwood Hall State Historic Site: The circa 1750 home of Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress, on East Jersey Street, a National Historic Landmark run as a state museum.
- Belcher Ogden House: A 1742 house on East Jersey Street, part of a small National Register historic district with the Benjamin Price and Price Brittan houses.
- Warinanco Park: An Olmsted designed Union County park of about 200 acres on the Elizabeth and Roselle line, with a lake, an ice rink and a tulip garden.
- Mattano Park: A Union County park on the Elizabeth River, which wraps around two sides of it, with ball fields, a skate park and a splash pad.
- Veterans Memorial Waterfront Park: A waterfront park with a lawn overlooking the water, near the Frog Hollow neighborhood.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Elizabeth
What are property taxes in Elizabeth, NJ?
Elizabeth City's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.113 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $9,727, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Was Elizabeth the first capital of New Jersey?
Yes. Elizabeth, then called Elizabethtown, served as New Jersey's first capital. It was settled in 1664 and is the county seat of Union County today.
How many train stations are in Elizabeth?
Two. Elizabeth station in Midtown and North Elizabeth station on North Avenue are both served by NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines. A rebuilt Elizabeth station was completed in 2024, replacing the 1971 structure.
Is Newark Airport in Elizabeth?
Partly. Newark Liberty International Airport lies in both Newark and Elizabeth. The New Jersey Turnpike's Exit 13A in Elizabeth connects to Route 81 and the airport.
Does Elizabeth, NJ have rent control?
Yes. Elizabeth has a municipal rent control ordinance that limits annual increases on covered rental units, and the size of the cap has changed in recent years. Owners and buyers of rental property should confirm a building's status and current rules directly with the city.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Elizabeth
Buying or selling in Elizabeth?
Know the building before you price it
In Elizabeth, the neighborhood, the number of units and the rent rules all shape value. We confirm a building's rent control status with the city early, then lay out your options plainly.
Call or text either of us directly.