Transit-oriented development and community events outside of Newark
East Orange has always been defined by its relationship to larger metropolises, from its time as part of Newark to the 20th-century construction of Interstate 280, a roadway that funnels commuters in and out of New York City. Through decades of industrial-era growth, suburbanization, and later years of economic and population decline, East Orange is a city that has weathered big changes thanks to its connections. Hundreds of millions of dollars of investment are ushering in a new era of transit-oriented development in East Orange, cementing its identity at the intersection of a practical, convenient New York City bedroom community and a vibrant pocket of citywide events, upgraded public parks dedicated to local celebrities and regionally affordable real estate that stands on its own even as the skyline continues to shift.
East Orange is home to music legends Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick.
East Orange has always been defined by its relationship to larger nearby metropolises.
A new era of major transit-oriented development is well underway in East Orange.
East Orange's recently upgraded Watsessing Park is a great place for a pick-up ball game.
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East Orange hospitals, NYC commuting and development at The Crossroads of New Jersey
Throughout Essex County, companies in the healthcare sector are major employers. Within East Orange, that industry is represented by CareWell Health Medical Center and the East Orange Community Health Center. Former service members and their families can receive care at East Orange VA Medical Center. Outside of its own hospitals, commercial districts and industrial sites, East Orange’s most valuable economic resource is its proximity to the New York metro area.
East Orange is known as, “The Crossroads of New Jersey,” and a bird’s-eye view of its major highways reveals why. Interstate 280 and the Garden State Parkway overlap within the city, a major east-west and north-south artery respectively. “East Orange is a great commuter town. There's two train stops, the East Orange and Brick Church train stops,” says Nancy Chu, a Realtor with Keller Williams who has specialized in northern New Jersey for 18 years. “We’re west of New York City, so there's traffic everywhere, all the time. That’s not unique to East Orange. Driving on the Garden State Parkway, it's like, ‘Ugh, why does this even exist!’” Commuters braving I-280 and New Jersey Turnpike traffic have a roughly 16-mile drive to Manhattan, with Newark, Hoboken and Union City on the way. Both NJ Transit’s Gladstone Branch and Morristown Line service the city’s two train stations, offering service to Penn Station in less than 30 minutes. NJ Transit buses also offer local service and more extended routes to the same major metropolitan areas. Newark Liberty International Airport is around 12 miles away.
As a designated Transit Village and New Jersey Opportunity Zone, East Orange has increasingly attracted mixed-use developers through built-in tax incentives and its advantageous commuter highway-crossed position. High-shine, contemporary developments like The Crossings at Brick Church Station are bringing mixed-rate apartment units, first floor retailers and pedestrian-oriented infrastructure and gathering spaces to the blocks near its namesake train station. Even the nearby ShopRite is getting an update, slated to be a major anchor for the complex. Rounding out its transit-oriented development is the transit center itself; in 2024, East Orange won more than $83 million in grants for modernization and much-needed accessibility upgrades to Brick Church Station.
Prewar single-family homes and higher-density developments
Closely packed, tree-lined blocks make up much of East Orange, full of single-family homes that sit atop small lawns or settle directly along the sidewalk. Prewar styles from tower-cornered Queen Annes to simpler National homes and Foursquares are common, as are rowhouses and other attached styles. Renovation levels are also varied; fixer-uppers and recently updated homes stand down the block from each other. High-rise condo and apartment complexes often congregate within a few blocks of commuter highways and train stations, from ones built in the midcentury to ones built in the last couple of decades. The median single-family home price in East Orange is $454,000, only slightly higher than the National Association of Realtors reported national median of $418,700. “It’s still relatively affordable compared to other parts of New York and New Jersey, but that’s almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. It used to be more affordable, but it’s not going to be in the future. The median price point has grown more than many other towns,” Chu says.
Closely packed, tree-lined blocks make up much of East Orange's beautiful residential areas.
East Orange has prewar styles homes from tower-cornered Queen Annes to simpler Nationals.
The vibrant residential streets of East Orange, NJ beckon and burst with urban charm.
High-rise apartment complexes are concentrated around East Orange's commuter infrastructure.
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Upgrading amenities and community events at East Orange parks
Negro National League and Negro American League teams used to face off at The Oval, the name of the baseball diamond and grandstands at East Orange’s Oval Park. Renovations to the park couple with the city’s wider development boom, giving casual athletes and local leagues access to a new multi-purpose turf field, a new playground and rain gardens crafted by East Orange students. After a dedication ceremony in 2024, players can now shoot some hoops at the Naughty by Nature Basketball Court, named after the hip-hop group that grew up blocks away from the park. Athletic courts also serve Elmwood Park, but its pool is the main attraction in the warmer months. Larger destination parks like lake-centered Branch Brook Park sprawl in neighboring municipalities.
Outside of youth league games and practices, the city’s parks are also hubs for cultural events and holiday celebrations. Rowley Park hosts a Juneteenth celebration each year, soundtracked by DJs and drawing residents for an afternoon enjoying vendor booths, dancing and family-friendly activities. Costume-clad families get their candy fix and explore a haunted house at Elmwood Park’s annual Haunted Carnival Spooktacular & Trunk or Treat. City Hall Plaza also hosts events, including the popular MACFest, where artists and audiences dance, sing and enjoy food truck favorites at the city’s music, art and culture festival.
Oval Park's basketball court is dedicated to East Orange's very own Naughty By Nature.
Soccer lovers in East Orange will love Branch Brook Park's high quality turf playing fields.
Only the most dedicated East Orange locals are at Elmwood Park's outdoor gym all year-round.
Practicing free throws at Rowley Park in East Orange is a great way to warm up for a game.
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Shopping and dining on Central Avenue and Main Street
In its heyday, Central Avenue was known as the, “Fifth Avenue of New Jersey,” but its current place in a New Jersey Opportunity Zone is helping to drive business revitalization through halved sales tax rates. Chu remarks that the city’s food culture is especially vibrant, something that is made obvious by the diverse cuisines and flag-colored signs that adorn local restaurants, concentrated on Central Avenue and Main Street. Between national fast food chains, diners can enjoy authentic Caribbean favorites at Limin’s Cafe Caribe. Away from the main drag, Natural Start is a favorite takeout spot for soul food and smoothies. Specialty supermarkets and national names like Walgreens, Family Dollar and ShopRite supply essentials. The city’s houses of worship are equally as diverse as its food scene, including multiple masjids and churches of different denominations, including Holy Spirit & Our Lady Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church, which holds services in English and Haitian Creole.
Central Ave and Main St in East Orange hosts a concentration of multicultural cuisines.
Diners in East Orange can enjoy authentic Caribbean favorites at Limin’s Cafe Caribe.
Natural Start is a local favorite takeout spot for soul food and smoothies in East Orange.
The Holy Spirit & Our Lady Help of Christians Church is a historic landmark in East Orange.
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Performing arts and budget shortfalls at East Orange schools
East Orange School District earns a C overall from Niche. The district’s two magnet middle/high schools earn higher scores, including the B-rated Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts. The school connects young artists to celebrities that have given back to East Orange’s arts scene, including performing for singer Dionne Warwick at a street renaming in 2024. Budgeting issues and a large layoff of educators rocked the district and local families in 2024, resulting in the New Jersey Department of Education starting to investigate the district’s adherence to transparency and deficit notification protocols. A handful of small, private religious schools are scattered throughout the city, including B-plus-rated Madrasatu Ahlis Sunnah which offers Quran-based education from prekindergarten through 12th grade.
The Dionne Warwick Institute in East Orange, NJ, is named after the famous American singer.
East Orange's Madrasatu Ahlis Sunnah has Quran-based learning for students up to 12th grade.
East Orange's Cicely L. Tyson School promotes equity and inclusion among students.
East Orange STEM Academy High School is a specialized academy high school in East Orange.
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Crime data and weather patterns in East Orange
The crime data reported by the East Orange Police Department to the FBI has limited full-year data available prior to 2023, the most recent year of recorded data. Data for 2020 is the nearest year for year-over-year comparison, and during that time, 1,055 violent crimes and 816 property crimes were reported. In 2023, violent crime slightly increased to 1,159 and property crime reports also increased to 1,359.
East Orange experiences four temperate seasons that peak in hot summers with rain and freezing winters with snow.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
