Real Estate in Essex County, NJ
Millburn, Maplewood, and one of New Jersey's most beloved town clusters.
Why buyers and sellers choose Essex.
Essex County houses some of New Jersey's most iconic suburbs — Millburn / Short Hills, Maplewood, South Orange — all served by the Midtown Direct rail line. Substantial homes, top-tier schools, walkable downtowns, and a creative, professional community feel. Our Union office serves the southern Essex County markets.
Our Union office serves Essex County clients across every transaction type — from first-time buyers and growing families to seasoned investors, luxury sellers, and landlords. We understand the streets, the schools, the pricing patterns, and the inventory rhythms of this market, and we coordinate with our broader CENTURY 21 Preferred network — across Union County, Middlesex County, and Somerset County — when a deal touches more than one community.
Essex County homes for sale
Essex County anchors the top of the North Jersey suburban market. Luxury and estate inventory ($2M to $10M+) sits in Millburn/Short Hills (June 2026 median $2.537M, +36.2% YoY, 32 sales), where large center-hall colonials, historic Tudors, and updated new-construction homes dominate. Upper family homes ($1M to $2M) run through Maplewood (June 2026 median $1.225M, +11.4% YoY, 24 sales), South Orange, Montclair, Verona, Livingston, and Glen Ridge, mostly larger Victorians, expanded colonials, and character homes on generous lots. Mid-market family homes ($600K to $1M) sit in West Orange, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, and Nutley. Entry-level Essex ($400K to $600K) runs through Belleville, East Orange, Irvington, and parts of Orange. The county's townhouse and condo segment closed 95 sales at a $560K median in June 2026 (+41.8% YoY price), including luxury condo stock in Maplewood ($1.26M TH median, up 241.8% YoY on a small sample).
Essex County June 2026 market snapshot
Essex County posted the highest median price and the tightest list-to-sale ratio in North Jersey in June 2026. Single-family closings hit 361 sales (down 2.7% YoY, essentially flat), with a median sale price of $961,000 up a striking +9.8% year-over-year. Homes averaged just 23 days on market and sold at a remarkable 112.2% of list price, meaning most Essex listings are pulling significantly over-asking offers. Months of supply held at 2.3, deep seller's market territory. The townhouse and condo segment posted an even more dramatic year-over-year jump: +37.7% sales, +41.8% price to a $560K median, at 104.3% of list.
Essex leads the region on median price, running ahead of Bergen ($946K) and well ahead of Union ($750K), driven by the Millburn/Short Hills luxury pull and the intense schools-plus-commute demand in Maplewood, South Orange, and Montclair. The 112.2% list-to-sale ratio is the highest in our coverage. Buyer playbook: come with an aggressive pre-approval, understand that "asking price" is often a floor not a ceiling, and be prepared to escalate 8 to 12% above list on the right home. Seller playbook: price to sold comps, not to old wishes; prep the home to photograph beautifully; and be ready for multiple-offer scenarios that reward a strong listing agent.
When you're ready to talk through a sale, a search, or just the current state of the Essex County market, our team is the right place to start.
Explore the rest of our market.
What makes Essex County distinctive.
- →Short Hills (Millburn) — one of the most prestigious zip codes in NJ
- →Maplewood's arts community and walkable downtown
- →top-ranked Millburn and Maplewood school districts
- →Midtown Direct commute
- →The Mall at Short Hills
Questions about Essex County.
What's the median home price in Essex County?
Per June 2026 GSMLS data, the median Essex County single-family sale price is $961,000, up a striking 9.8% year-over-year on 361 closings. Homes averaged just 23 days on market and sold at 112.2% of list price, the highest list-to-sale ratio in the region. The townhouse and condo median came in at $560,000 across 95 sales (+41.8% YoY). Prices vary widely by town: Belleville and East Orange start in the $400Ks, mid-market West Orange, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, and Nutley run $600K to $1M, upper family markets like Maplewood ($1.225M), Montclair, and South Orange hit $1M to $2M, and luxury markets like Millburn/Short Hills ($2.537M), Livingston, and Verona regularly transact $1.5M to $10M+. Request a free home valuation for accurate pricing on your specific Essex County address.
Which Essex County towns are most desirable?
The most-searched Essex County towns break into four profiles. The luxury anchor of Millburn/Short Hills holds one of NJ's most prestigious zip codes, top-ranked schools, and The Mall at Short Hills. The arts-and-family corridor of Maplewood, South Orange, and Montclair draws creative-professional buyers with walkable downtowns and Midtown Direct rail. The upper family belt of Livingston, Verona, and Glen Ridge attracts move-up buyers wanting larger lots and strong schools. And the mid-market family belt of West Orange, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, and Nutley offers value pricing and solid schools without the luxury premium.
Do I need an Essex County realtor?
Any NJ-licensed agent can technically transact in Essex County, but Essex is running the tightest market in the region at 112.2% of list. That means sellers are consistently pulling 8 to 12% over asking, and buyers who write the "asking price" offer are losing. Pricing a Short Hills estate is a completely different exercise than pricing a Maplewood colonial or a West Orange split. A local Essex County realtor who works your specific submarket daily knows which listings will pull multiple offers, how to structure a winning bid, and how to time a listing to the 23-day market pace. In this market, expertise is the difference between a clean win and losing the house.
What towns in Essex County does CENTURY 21 Preferred Realty serve?
We actively serve Maplewood, Millburn (including Short Hills), and the western Essex County suburbs. Our Union office is the primary point of contact for Essex County clients.
What is Essex County real estate known for?
Essex County is known for Short Hills (Millburn) — one of the most prestigious zip codes in NJ, Maplewood's arts community and walkable downtown, top-ranked Millburn and Maplewood school districts, Midtown Direct commute, and The Mall at Short Hills. The market combines lifestyle, location, and long-term value.
How do I sell my home in Essex County?
Start with a free home valuation. We will prepare a custom comparative market analysis based on actual recent sales in your specific Essex County town and neighborhood, then walk you through pricing strategy, marketing, and timing.
Are home prices appreciating in Essex County?
Appreciation varies significantly by town and neighborhood within Essex County. For specific data on your home or a target market, request a free home valuation and our agents will provide current sold-price trends and forecasts for that exact area.
Buying or selling in Essex County?
Call our Union office at (973) 838-3600 or send us a quick note. We'll set up time to walk through your goals, the market, and what comes next — no obligation.
Get My Home's Value