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City · 137,302 residents · Union County, New Jersey

Elizabeth , New Jersey

In Elizabeth, a typical home is worth $449,300 and typical rent is $1,523 a month. Compared with all of Union County, typical household income is 36% lower, the typical home value is 15% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 32 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $449,300

    15% below the county

    About the same as New Jersey

    • Elizabeth
    • Union
    • New Jersey

  • Typical rent

    $1,523a month

    12% below the county

    11% below New Jersey

    • Elizabeth
    • Union
    • New Jersey

  • Typical household income

    $66,555a year

    36% below the county

    36% below New Jersey

    • Elizabeth
    • Union
    • New Jersey

  • Households that own their home

    26%

    32 points below the county

    38 points below New Jersey

    • Elizabeth
    • Union
    • New Jersey

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$552,348
2.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,230 a month
0.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Elizabeth is in Union County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Union County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Elizabeth apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 26% of households in Elizabeth own their home, against 57% in Union County.

  2. The typical household income in Elizabeth is $66,555, 36% less than in Union County as a whole ($103,202).

  3. Nearby, in Newark, the typical home value is $373,700: 17% less than in Elizabeth ($449,300).

  4. The typical home in Elizabeth is worth $449,300, 15% less than in Union County as a whole ($529,200).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Elizabeth

What homes there are in Elizabeth, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Elizabeth there is a bit of everything: no kind of home reaches half. The most common are buildings of 2 to 4 homes (47%), more than in Union County (25%).

Year built

In Elizabeth, half of the homes were built before 1957; in Union County, before 1956.

There are fewer big homes in Elizabeth than in Union County: 39% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Elizabeth cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($2,233): about 85%.

With a mortgage

$2,916 a month

Union County: $3,203 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,386 a month

Union County: $1,438 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Union County: 67%

Owning costs less in Elizabeth: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,916 a month; in Union County, $3,203. Without one, $1,386.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Elizabeth gained value faster than in Union County: 59% against 44%.

Rents in Elizabeth rose more slowly than in Union County: 31% since 2015–2019, against 34%.

To compare: typical income in Elizabeth rose 38%; the home, +59%; the rent, +31%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureElizabethUnion CountyNew JerseyUnited States
Rental vacancy 2.8%3.1%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.0%0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 11.3%5.8%4.0%3.4%
People per household 2.952.822.622.53
Drive alone 58%61%62%69%
Carpool 17%9%8%9%
Public transit 11%9%8%3%
Walk or bike 5%3%3%3%
Work from home 6%14%17%15%
Other means 3%4%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Elizabeth look like those in Union County: the rental vacancy rate is 2.8%.

More than one person per room: that is how 11.3% of households in Elizabeth live, more than in Union County (5.8%).

Much as in Union County, a household in Elizabeth has 2.95 people on average.

More people carpool to work in Elizabeth than in Union County: 17% against 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Elizabeth?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Elizabeth, worth $449,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 76% of the typical household income in Elizabeth, which is $66,555 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $180,406 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Union County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Elizabeth. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $15,726 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,209

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$441,162
Total interest
$634,728
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,588 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,553 a month

  • Tight

    $1,553 to $1,997 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,997 a month

    Your payment · 76%

Compared with the typical household income in Elizabeth ($66,555 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,209
Principal & interest$2,989
Property tax$835
Home insurance$187
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$199

You need at least $15,726 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Elizabeth and Union County

Elizabeth is in Union County, New Jersey. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Elizabeth's own numbers

Typical home value
$449,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,523
Typical yearly household income
$66,555
Households that own their home
26%
Effective property tax rate
2.23%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Union County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,209,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,233
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.9%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Union County.

Everything about Union County

Buying

Buying a home in Elizabeth

A typical home in Elizabeth is worth $449,300: 15% below the county and about the same as New Jersey. With the typical household income in Elizabeth ($66,555 a year), a typical home costs 6.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Elizabeth 6.8 years
  • Union 5.1 years
  • New Jersey 4.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Union County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Union County rose 84% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Union County.

Period County New Jersey U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.5% +6.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +58% +63% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +84% +88% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Elizabeth next to Union County, New Jersey and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Elizabeth $449,300
  • Union $529,200
  • New Jersey $454,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Elizabeth $1,523
  • Union $1,730
  • New Jersey $1,720
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Elizabeth $66,555
  • Union $103,202
  • New Jersey $103,556
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Elizabeth next to Union County and New Jersey
Measure Elizabeth Union County New Jersey U.S.
Typical home value $449,300 $529,200 $454,400 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,523 $1,730 $1,720 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $66,555 $103,202 $103,556 $80,734
Households that own their home 26% 57% 64% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $10,001 $9,590 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.23% 1.89% 2.11% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 51% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Union County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Elizabeth

For a typical $449,300 home in Elizabeth, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Elizabeth's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,209a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $15,726
    Cash to close
    $29,205
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $199

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,127a month

    Down payment
    $22,465
    Cash to close
    $35,944
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $213

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,457a month

    Down payment
    $89,860
    Cash to close
    $103,339
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,873a month

    Down payment
    $67,395
    Cash to close
    $80,874
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Elizabeth and for Union County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Elizabeth

2.23%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Elizabeth.

  • Elizabeth 2.23%
  • Union 1.89%
  • New Jersey 2.11%

What New Jersey publishes ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ: one combined application (New Jersey Division of Taxation)

Exemptions and deadlines in New Jersey

Flood risk in Union County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Union County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.9%
4,874
Of those, with NFIP insurance
49%
County New Jersey U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.9% 6.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 49% 63% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Elizabeth

Typical rent in Elizabeth is $1,523 a month: 12% below the county. In Elizabeth, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Union County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,233 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $42.94 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Union County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,637 $31.48 $65,480
1 bedroom $1,850 $35.58 $74,000
2 bedrooms $2,233 $42.94 $89,320
3 bedrooms $2,785 $53.56 $111,400
4 bedrooms $3,188 $61.31 $127,520

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Elizabeth

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Elizabeth has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,990 in 07201 to $2,180 in 07202.

None is above the fair market rent for Union County ($2,233).

  • 07201 $1,990$2,490
  • 07202 $2,180$2,720
  • 07206 $2,120$2,640
  • 07208 $2,130$2,660

A ZIP code counts for Elizabeth when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Elizabeth

HUD lists 67 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Elizabeth. These are the largest.

  • Mravlag Manor Elizabeth 07202 423 low-income homes · Run by Elizabeth Housing Authority · Average payment: $442 a month · Average wait: 37 months (908) 965-2400
  • J WM Farley TWS 33 Cherry St, Elizabeth 07202 374 low-income homes · Run by Elizabeth Housing Authority · Average payment: $374 a month · Average wait: 105 months (908) 965-2400
  • Portside II 200 Pine St, Elizabeth 168 homes, 167 low-income · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 58 · 3 bd: 80 · 4 bd: 17 · In service since 2005
  • Westport Homes Elizabeth 07206 180 homes, 136 low-income · Run by Elizabeth Housing Authority · Average payment: $797 a month · Homes at several sites (908) 965-2400
  • Ford Leonard TWS 69 Division St, Elizabeth 07201 126 homes, 122 low-income · Run by Elizabeth Housing Authority · Average payment: $367 a month · Average wait: 100 months (908) 965-2400

See all 131 buildings in Union County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Elizabeth

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Union County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Elizabeth

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Elizabeth or Union County. The ones below are statewide in New Jersey: they work in Elizabeth the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in New Jersey

Housing counselors near Elizabeth

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Elizabeth, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Urban League of Union County

    1139 E Jersey St Ste 515, Elizabeth · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (908) 351-7200

  • NEIGHBORHOODS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE fka NHS of Staten Island

    1120 E Saint Georges Ave, Linden · 3 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (908) 808-4035

  • Tri-City Peoples Corporation

    675 S 19th St, Newark · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (097) 367-5448

Every agency in Union County All counseling agencies in New Jersey

Help in Spanish near Elizabeth

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Elizabeth

HUD’s record names them for Elizabeth or Union County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Elizabeth Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (908) 965-2400
  • Union County Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (732) 382-8100

5 other authorities have an office in Union County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Union County

These cities are also in Union County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Union County Housing in New Jersey

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Elizabeth, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Union County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Elizabeth.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Elizabeth

Short answers with the numbers for Elizabeth and all of Union County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Elizabeth?

The typical home value in Elizabeth is $449,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Union County it is $529,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Elizabeth?

Typical rent in Elizabeth is $1,523 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Union County is $2,233.

What is the FHA loan limit in Elizabeth?

Elizabeth uses the FHA limit for all of Union County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Elizabeth?

The typical homeowner in Elizabeth pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.23% of the home’s value; in Union County, the rate is 1.89%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Elizabeth?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Union County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).