Union City, NJ real estate: the numbers, explained.

Home values in Union City

Zillow Home Value Index (all homes, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted) for the Zillow region “Union City”, September 30 of each year. Source: Zillow Research.

Zillow’s Home Value Index for Union City was $558,656 as of September 30, 2026, up 5% from a year earlier and up 39% over five years. Over ten years the index rose 111.2%. ZHVI models a typical home value. It isn’t the price of any specific house.

The NJ Division of Taxation’s 2026 Average Residential Statistics show an average residential sale price of $605,657 across 76 sales used in that report. Averages can be pulled up or down by a few sales, which is one reason it can differ from Zillow’s index.

The Census Bureau’s survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes, as estimated by owners, at $471,600 (2020–2024 average), compared with a Hudson County town median of $472,550.

Union City property taxes

Union City’s 2025 general tax rate was 1.848 per $100 of assessed value, and its effective tax rate was 1.859%, about the same as the Hudson County town median of 1.809% and lower than the statewide municipal median of 2.141%. That ranks it #9 lowest of 12 Hudson County municipalities by effective rate. The average residential tax bill was $9,383 on an average assessment of $507,747 across 6,784 residential properties.

Applied to the typical home value of $558,656, the effective rate implies roughly $10,385 a year ($865 a month) in property tax. The Division publishes the effective rate for comparing towns, not for computing a specific bill, so use it as a ballpark.

What it costs to own vs. rent

For a $558,656 home with 20% down ($111,731) and a 30-year fixed loan at 7.18%, Freddie Mac’s national average for the week of November 5, 2026, principal and interest come to about $3,028 a month. With estimated property tax that’s about $3,893, before insurance, any HOA fee and utilities. For comparison, the Census median gross rent in Union City is $1,537 and Zillow’s observed rent index (asking rents, Sept. 2026) is $2,343, up 4.8% in a year.

Run my numbers for Union CityRent vs buy here

Who lives in Union City

About 66,463 people live in Union City. 19.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied (county town median 32.1%), so renters are a large part of the market and rentals turn over often. 4.9% of housing units are single-family detached houses. The median resident age is 37.4, and 28.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Median household income is $64,310, lower than the county town median of $81,521.

The median home in Union City was built in 1961. Much of the housing predates 1978, so buyers should plan for older-home checks: lead-based paint disclosure, an oil-tank sweep if the house ever had oil heat, knob-and-tube or older electrical, galvanized plumbing, and a sewer-line scope. See the NJ inspection checklist.

Commuting from Union City

Workers in Union City average 33.1 minutes each way (those who don’t work from home), shorter than the Hudson County town median of 34.3 minutes. 36.8% commute by public transportation, a high share that usually signals strong train or bus service toward Manhattan or Newark. Check NJ Transit schedules from the nearest station or stop and 7.9% work from home.

See all NJ towns ranked by transit commuting.

Schools

I don’t republish unofficial school scores. For Union City, start with the New Jersey Department of Education’s School Performance Reports, then confirm the exact school assignment for any address with the district, since some NJ towns send students to regional or neighboring high schools. See how to research NJ schools.

Downtown, food and things to do

The best way to judge Union City’s restaurants, parks and weekend life is in person. Visit on a weeknight and a Saturday morning, check the town recreation calendar and walk the blocks you’d live on. My town scouting checklist shows what to look for.

My take for buyers, sellers and renters

• Renters: with 80.9% of homes renter-occupied, Union City has a deep rental market. Line up documents before touring. The move-in calculator shows the cash you’ll need.
• Buyers: taxes run above the county median, so budget on the tax bill, not just the price. Ask for the current bill on every listing.
• Sellers: values are up 39% in five years, so many owners have significant equity. See your number in the seller net sheet.

Nearby towns at a similar price