Town guide · Union County
Living in Hillside, NJ
Hillside is a compact township of under three square miles on the northern edge of Union County, bordered by Newark, Elizabeth, Irvington and Union. It was carved from parts of its neighbors in 1913, and today it sits between Route 22, Interstate 78 and the Garden State Parkway, about two miles from Newark Liberty International Airport.
- County
- Union
- Population
- About 22,500 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 2.8 square miles
- Setting
- Densely built suburban township with a long industrial history
- Main roads
- Interstate 78 (Exit 54), U.S. Route 22, the Garden State Parkway and Route 439
Neighborhoods
Old farm names on a modern map
Hillside became a township in 1913, formed from land that had belonged to Newark, Elizabeth and Union. It took its name from the surrounding hills. Before the township existed, much of the land was farmland, including the Woodruff, Conant and Saybrook farms, and those names still show up around town.
- Lyons Farms, Saybrooke and Westminster: Long standing locality names still used for parts of the township. Lyons Farms lies partly within Hillside. Westminster is a name shared with the adjoining part of Elizabeth.
- Chancellor Avenue area: The section of town along Chancellor Avenue, next to the Weequahic section of Newark.
Homes
What you will find
- Established residential streets: Hillside has about 7,500 homes packed into less than three square miles, so most neighborhoods are built out on regular lots.
- An industrial history: Hillside has long been home to industry. Lionel built toy trains here from 1929 to 1974.
Worth knowing: Hillside is fully built out, so the condition and layout of each house matter more than lot size. Near Conant Park, where the Elizabeth River runs, we check the FEMA flood map. Because the township sits close to major highways and the airport, we also look at what surrounds each address before pricing it or writing an offer.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Hillside
- 2.279%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,9612025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,395 a year at Hillside'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
Interstate 78 runs through Hillside, with Exit 54 at Winans Avenue serving Hillside and Irvington as an eastbound exit and westbound entrance. The Garden State Parkway meets Interstate 78 at the Union line, and U.S. Route 22 and Route 439 also cross the township. There is no train station in Hillside. The closest are Union station on the Raritan Valley Line and North Elizabeth station on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines. NJ Transit buses 113 and 114 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York. Newark Liberty International Airport is about two miles east.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Conant Park: The township's largest park, established in the early 1950s and bounded by the Elizabeth River and Conant Street.
- Woodruff House and Eaton Store Museum: A house on Conant Street first built in 1735, with a store front added in 1900, run as a museum by the Hillside Historical Society and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Evergreen Cemetery: A 115 acre historic cemetery on North Broad Street, listed on the National Register, where authors Stephen Crane and Mary Mapes Dodge are buried.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Hillside
What are property taxes in Hillside, NJ?
Hillside Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.279 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,961, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is there a train station in Hillside?
No. A freight line passes through the township, but it has no passenger station. The closest stations are Union on the Raritan Valley Line and North Elizabeth on the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines. NJ Transit buses 113 and 114 run from Hillside to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York.
How close is Hillside to Newark Airport?
Newark Liberty International Airport is about two miles east of Hillside. Interstate 78 and U.S. Route 22 both run through the township.
Were Lionel trains made in Hillside?
Yes. Lionel manufactured its toy trains in Hillside from 1929 to 1974. The township has a long industrial history.
Is Stephen Crane buried in Hillside?
Yes. The author of The Red Badge of Courage is buried at Evergreen Cemetery on North Broad Street in Hillside. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Buying or selling in Hillside?
A built out town, house by house
With every lot in Hillside long since built on, the condition and layout of your house carry real weight. We walk through it with you, compare it with nearby sales and explain each way you could sell.
Call or text either of us directly.