Looking for the best neighborhoods in Elizabeth, NJ? Here’s the short answer. Elmora and Elmora Hills are largely residential, with shopping and dining along Elmora Avenue. Midtown and the North End put you closest to the train. Elizabethport has some of the newest waterfront townhomes. Bayway, Keighry Head and Frog Hollow are where buyers find two- to four-family homes and rentals, and Peterstown, Keighry Head and Frog Hollow offer some of the lowest entry prices in the city. The right choice comes down to your budget, your commute and whether you want rental income from the property.
We’re Adrien and Oscar Cortizo, real estate agents with The Arendel Group, and we work with buyers and sellers across every one of these neighborhoods from our office on North Avenue. This guide walks through each area: what kind of homes you’ll find, how you’ll get around, and what to check before you make an offer.
Elizabeth NJ Housing Market at a Glance (Fall 2026)
Before choosing a neighborhood, it helps to know what the citywide market looks like. According to Redfin’s data for the three months ending August 2026:
- Median sale price: about $655,000, up 5.4% from a year earlier.
- Homes sold in August 2026: 119, up 19% from August 2025.
- Median days on market: 42 days, compared with 35 days a year earlier.
- Competition: 66.5% of homes sold above list price, and the average home sold for 102.7% of its asking price.
- Price cuts: 18.2% of listings had a price drop, up from the year before.
Keep in mind that these medians mix single-family homes, condos and multi-family buildings, so prices vary widely by property type and by block. For comparison, the statewide New Jersey median was about $587,550 in August 2026.
Elizabeth Neighborhoods Compared
| Neighborhood | Where it is | What you’ll find | A good fit if you want |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmora | West side, near Roselle and Roselle Park | One- and two-family homes, condos, high-rises near the train | Walkable shopping and dining on Elmora Ave |
| Elmora Hills | Northwest corner of Elmora | Residential streets near Elmora Ave | A quieter setting close to Elmora’s shops |
| Westminster | Northwest, along the Elizabeth River near Hillside | Larger Tudor-style homes | Character homes near green space |
| Midtown | City center | Apartments, condos, older multi-family buildings | The shortest walk to Elizabeth station |
| North End | North side, toward Newark | Larger one- and two-family homes, condos on North Ave | Train, highway and airport access |
| Keighry Head | Next to Midtown | One- and two-family homes, apartment houses | Lower entry prices near downtown |
| Elizabethport | East side, out to the waterfront | Renovated older homes, new townhomes and two-families | Newer construction near the water |
| Frog Hollow | Southeast, east of Atlantic St | Older, more affordable homes and rentals | Value and rental opportunities |
| Peterstown | Southeast, between Atlantic St and S Spring St | Affordable homes on quiet blocks | Local markets around Union Square |
| Bayway | South side, bordering Linden | Two- to four-family homes, apartment complexes | Multi-family investment, Staten Island access |
Elmora
Elmora is a residential neighborhood on Elizabeth’s west side, roughly forming a “V” between the Central Railroad tracks and Rahway Avenue. Its main street, Elmora Avenue, is lined with restaurants, shops and boutiques, and Warinanco Park sits at the neighborhood’s edge.
What buyers find: a mix of one- and two-family homes, condos, and several high-rise buildings near the edge of the neighborhood, some with views of the New York City skyline.
Getting around: the high-rises and many surrounding blocks are within reach of Elizabeth station, which has NJ Transit service to Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station.
Market pulse: Elmora is one of the city’s more competitive areas. Redfin reports a median sale price of about $642,000 for the three months ending August 2026, up 9.8% year over year, with homes selling in a median of 30 days and about three in four selling above list price.
Elmora Hills
Elmora Hills is the northwestern part of Elmora. Originally called Shearerville, it was annexed from Union Township in the early 20th century. Its streets are residential, with Elmora Avenue’s shops and Elizabeth station a short drive away. Ask us for recent sales here, since inventory is limited and moves quickly.
Westminster
Westminster sits in the northwest part of the city, bordering Hillside, with the Elizabeth River running along its edge. It was developed with some of the city’s largest Tudor-style homes and is known for its rolling hills and greenery off North Avenue, near the historic Liberty Hall.
What buyers find: larger, older homes with architectural character.
Outdoors: the Phil Rizzuto Park area along the river is used for walking, bird watching and recreation.
Keep in mind: homes this size and age deserve a thorough inspection, especially of roofs, heating systems and foundations.
Midtown
Midtown is Elizabeth’s main commercial district and one of its historic areas. It includes the First Presbyterian Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, the 1931 Art Deco Hersch Tower and the Ritz Theatre, which has been operating since 1926.
What buyers find: apartments, condos and older multi-family buildings. Nearby Quality Hill, once lined with mansions, has seen new condominium construction, and The Point, close to Midtown, has many newer two-family homes.
Getting around: Elizabeth station is in Midtown, with NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast Line trains. NJ Transit buses also run from Elizabeth to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and to Newark.
North End (North Elizabeth)
The North End runs from “the Arch” north to the Newark city line, between North Broad Street and Routes 1&9. It was largely built in the 1920s and has its own NJ Transit stop, North Elizabeth station.
What buyers find: many larger one- and two-family homes, many of them rebuilt over the past decade, plus well-kept apartment houses and condos on and around North Avenue.
Getting around: easy access to the train, Routes 1&9, the New Jersey Turnpike and Newark Liberty International Airport, which is partly within Elizabeth. That makes the North End a practical choice for buyers who commute to New York or Newark or travel often.
Keighry Head
Keighry Head sits next to Midtown, roughly between East Grand Street and Flora Street. It’s one of the more affordable areas close to downtown.
What buyers find: one- and two-family homes and apartment houses.
Why buyers consider it: a lower price point with the Midtown shopping district and Elizabeth station close by. It’s worth a look for first-time buyers who want to be near transit.
Elizabethport
Elizabethport, also called E-Port or simply “the Port,” is Elizabeth’s oldest neighborhood, stretching east of 7th Street to the shoreline. It was once home to the Singer sewing machine factory and has seen major reinvestment since 2000.
What buyers find: renovated older homes, newer replacement houses, and new townhomes and two-family homes along the waterfront.
Lifestyle: the restored Elizabeth Marina hosts events through the year, from a spring festival to a winter tree lighting.
Keep in mind: waterfront and low-lying blocks carry more flood exposure. Check the flood zone and get an insurance quote before you make an offer (more on that below).
Frog Hollow
Frog Hollow is a small neighborhood east of Atlantic Street, west of the Arthur Kill and south of Elizabeth Avenue. Its name comes from the frogs that were once caught in its marshes.
What buyers find: older-style, more affordable homes and plenty of rentals, which makes it worth a look for investors.
Nearby: local restaurants and the Veterans Memorial Waterfront Park.
Peterstown
Peterstown, sometimes called “The Burg,” is in the southeastern part of the city, between Atlantic Street and South Spring Street, from First Avenue to the Elizabeth River. It was developed at the end of the 19th century and has quiet streets with a small-town feel.
What buyers find: affordable homes on compact blocks.
Lifestyle: historic Union Square is home to produce stands, butchers and fish markets, and the seasonal Peterstown Farmers’ Market is held there on Tuesdays from July through November.
Bayway
Bayway is in the southern part of Elizabeth, bordering Linden, between the Elizabeth River and the Arthur Kill. It developed in the early 1900s, and the western end of the Goethals Bridge to Staten Island is here.
What buyers find: older, well-maintained housing, including many two- to four-family buildings and several apartment complexes. That makes it one of the city’s main areas for multi-family buyers.
Lifestyle: restaurants, bars and shops along Bayway Avenue, with a wide range of Latin American cuisine.
Getting around: quick access to the Goethals Bridge, the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 1&9.
Which Elizabeth Neighborhood Is Right for You?
Most buyers narrow it down by what matters most to them:
- Commuting to New York or Newark: Midtown and the North End, which each have a train station, plus the parts of Elmora closest to Elizabeth station.
- Buying a multi-family and renting out units: Bayway, Keighry Head and Frog Hollow, plus the newer two-families in The Point and Elizabethport. Many loan programs, including FHA, let you buy a building with up to four units if you live in one of them. See our Elizabeth investing guide and why multi-generational homes are in demand in Elizabeth.
- Larger homes: Westminster’s Tudor-style houses and the North End’s larger one- and two-family homes.
- Newer construction: Elizabethport’s waterfront townhomes and the new condos around Quality Hill.
- The lowest entry price: Keighry Head, Frog Hollow and Peterstown are usually where your budget goes furthest.
What to Check Before You Buy in Elizabeth
- Flood risk. First Street’s data, shown on Redfin, estimates about 14% of properties citywide face severe flood risk over the next 30 years, compared with about 9% in Elmora. Look up the FEMA flood zone and get an insurance quote early, especially near the Elizabeth River, Newark Bay and the Arthur Kill.
- School assignment. Elizabeth Public Schools serves the whole city. Confirm the assigned school for a specific address directly with the district.
- Your financing. With about two in three homes selling above list price, a solid pre-approval matters. Use our mortgage calculator to estimate payments before you tour.
- The specific block. Conditions can change from one street to the next in a city this size. We can pull recent sales on any block you’re considering.
Elizabeth NJ Neighborhoods: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best neighborhoods in Elizabeth, NJ?
What is the median home price in Elizabeth, NJ in 2026?
Which Elizabeth neighborhoods are closest to the train?
Where can I find multi-family homes in Elizabeth?
How competitive is the Elizabeth housing market right now?
Do I need flood insurance to buy a home in Elizabeth?
Find Your Neighborhood with the Cortizo Brothers
We help buyers compare Elizabeth neighborhoods block by block, with recent sales, rental potential and what to expect at closing. Search current Elizabeth listings, browse our residential listings, or talk to our residential real estate team about what fits your budget.
Thinking of selling instead? Start with a free home valuation or read our 10 tips for selling your Elizabeth home.
Call the Cortizo Brothers at (908) 554-4609, email cortizobrothers@thearendelgroup.com, or visit us at 1324 North Ave, Elizabeth, NJ 07208.
Sources
- Redfin: Elizabeth, NJ Housing Market (data for the three months ending August 2026; flood data from First Street)
- Redfin: Elmora Housing Market (three months ending August 2026)
- Redfin: New Jersey Housing Market (August 2026)
- Elizabeth, New Jersey (neighborhood history, transit)
- Go Elizabeth NJ: Guide to Elizabeth’s Neighborhoods