Town guide · Middlesex County
Living in Perth Amboy, NJ
Perth Amboy is one of New Jersey's oldest cities, set where the Raritan River meets Raritan Bay and the Arthur Kill. It was a colonial capital of East Jersey, and its brick waterfront promenade, marina and historic houses face Staten Island across the water.
- County
- Middlesex
- Population
- About 55,400 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 4.7 square miles of land
- Setting
- Historic waterfront city with a downtown and dense residential streets
- Main roads
- Route 35, Route 440, Route 184 and the Outerbridge Crossing to Staten Island
Neighborhoods
Waterfront, downtown and beyond
Scottish colonists settled here in 1683, and the city received a royal charter in 1718. It was named the capital of East Jersey in 1686. The waterfront, where the city began, still holds its oldest buildings.
- The Waterfront: The original city, with Victorian homes, a redbrick promenade and the Proprietary House.
- Downtown: The main commercial district along Smith Street, meeting at the Five Corners.
- Barber section: Around Hall Avenue east of the rail line, including the Harbortown development near the Arthur Kill.
- Amboy Avenue: A section along Amboy Avenue, sometimes called the hospital section.
- Other sections: Names you will hear include State Street, Spa Springs and the Western Waterfront.
Homes
What you will find
- Victorian homes: Older homes near the waterfront, in the oldest part of the city.
- Row houses: Century old row houses in the western waterfront section, west of Kearny Avenue.
- Harbortown: A waterfront townhouse development with a mix of condominium and rental homes.
- Single family homes: Detached homes with garages in sections such as Spa Springs.
Worth knowing: Perth Amboy has a rent control ordinance overseen by its Rent Leveling Board, so we check early whether rental units are covered. Flood zones matter on the waterfront. Most of the city sits high enough to be outside FEMA's flood hazard areas, but land along the shore is in higher risk zones where flood insurance is required with a mortgage, and Hurricane Sandy damaged the marina and waterfront walkways in 2012.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Perth Amboy
- 2.296%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $7,9362025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $350,000 on today's market would pay roughly $8,036 a year at Perth Amboy'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
Perth Amboy station is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line, with trains toward Newark and New York. The Outerbridge Crossing, opened in 1928, carries Route 440 across the Arthur Kill to Staten Island, and Route 440 also leads west toward the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 287. The Victory Bridge carries Route 35 over the Raritan River to Sayreville. NJ Transit bus 116 runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York. Downtown along Smith Street is the city's main commercial district.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Proprietary House: A waterfront house completed in 1764 as the home of William Franklin, now owned by the state and open for tours and events.
- Perth Amboy City Hall: Begun as a county courthouse in 1714, it is described as the oldest city hall in continuous use in the United States. The state Assembly ratified the Bill of Rights here in 1789.
- Perth Amboy Harbor Walk: A brick waterfront walkway of about 0.7 miles along Raritan Bay, passing a fishing pier, Bayview Park and the municipal marina.
- Kearny Cottage: A historic house from 1781, now on Catalpa Avenue near the waterfront.
- Washington Park: The city's largest park, just south of Route 440 and west of Route 35.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Perth Amboy
What are property taxes in Perth Amboy, NJ?
Perth Amboy City's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.296 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $7,936, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Does Perth Amboy have a train station?
Yes. Perth Amboy station is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line. Trains run toward Newark and New York.
How do you get from Perth Amboy to Staten Island?
By the Outerbridge Crossing, which carries Route 440 over the Arthur Kill. It opened in 1928 and connects Perth Amboy directly to Staten Island.
Does Perth Amboy have rent control?
Yes. Perth Amboy has a rent control ordinance, Chapter 353 of the city code, enforced by the Rent Leveling Board. The board hears tenant complaints and landlord applications and sets limits on yearly increases.
Is Perth Amboy in a flood zone?
Mostly not. FEMA places most of the city in a lower risk zone because of its elevation. Land along the shoreline is in higher risk flood zones, so homes near the water need a careful flood check.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Perth Amboy
Buying or selling in Perth Amboy?
Waterfront history, practical advice
On the waterfront, a Perth Amboy sale can hinge on the flood zone. Inland, the rent rules may matter more. We sort out which applies to your home and explain every way to sell it.
Call or text either of us directly.