A waterfront history with historic importance and a desire to rehabilitate its image
Perth Amboy peeks into Raritan Bay, which separates New Jersey from New York state. It’s a modest city of 55,000 residents with a waterfront downtown that sprawls west toward more suburban terrain. The median age is 36, and leading industries include transportation, retail, health care, manufacturing and education. Rutgers University—New Brunswick and Robert Wood Johnson University hospital are top employers. Rutgers, as many locals note, has been a driver of growth in general, especially when it comes to housing. “They’ve already been revitalizing Downtown Newark,” says Thomas Mosera, a Realtor with Premium One Realty, speaking of the larger city that Perth Amboy spurs off from. “We’re seeing a trend of older homes being taken down and replaced, but it’s not necessarily keeping a historic look. It’s very contemporary.” One of the latest redevelopment debates in this “City by the Bay” occurred in August 2024, when City Council tabled a $200 million project that would bring 600 apartments to the waterfront. Residents said they preferred the city to focus on townhouses, condominiums and low-rise buildings. The completion date of the Saint Demetrios Housing for Active Adults is slated for 2024 or 2025. This luxury condo development has been in the works since 2021 and features a bold and modern Spanish design. But creating a cohesive vision citywide continues to be top of mind. In spring 2024, construction began on the Gateway project near the Route 35 Victory Bridge – a key entrance to the city left to blight but now being reimagined as a mixed-use space with a public park attached.
Perth Amboy District provides an assortment of shopping choices.
The Armory is situated on the Raritan Bay in Perth Amboy.
Raritan Bay Medical Center is one of the larger hospitals in the area in Perth Amboy, NJ.
Perth Amboy's picturesque maritime district is home to recreational boaters.
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Modern condos co-exist with century-old colonials
There’s history to the buildings around Perth Amboy. During the Revolutionary War, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin’s son stayed at the Proprietary House, which still stands on Kearny Avenue. But the police station on High Street was set for demolition in 2024. The building originally served as a main office for one of the most industrious chemical manufacturers in the world.
“You’ll see houses in the area that are 125 years old,” says Mosera. The median price for a home is $405,000. That’s slightly less than the national median of $418,700. Homebuyers will see colonial-influenced homes placed close together, with only a sidewalk out front. But there are also Cape Cods and ranch-style homes with classic suburban lawns and neat decorative landscaping. In contrast, condominiums near the waterfront were built or remodeled in the early 2000s, showcasing the more contemporary aesthetic popping up around the city.
Perth Amboy's neighborhoods have a variety of home styles including Colonials.
Perth Amboy's Proprietary House was completed in 1764 in Perth Amboy, NJ.
The condo's on High Street are in Perth Amboy's Waterfront Area.
Perth Amboy is a very diverse and welcoming neighborhood in Perth Amboy, NJ.
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Perth Amboy High sparks local pride with a football rivalry
Students can begin at Edwin Patten Elementary, which covers kindergarten through fourth grade. It has a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio and earns a C rating overall, but Niche also gives it a B in the teachers category. McGinnis Middle receives a C-minus rating but a B-minus in the teachers category. Perth Amboy High is known for its football rivalry with Carteret High, with the annual showdown game held every Thanksgiving. The school receives a C-minus. Rutgers University—New Brunswick provides the community with a higher education option. It’s the oldest campus in the university’s network and has nearly 44,000 students.
Perth Amboy High receives a C-minus in Perth Amboy, NJ.
Perth Amboy High School is well known for their football rivalry with Carteret High.
Students can go to Edwin Patten Elementary, which covers kindergarten through the 4th grade.
McGinnis Middle receives a C-minus rating but a B-minus in the teachers category.
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Latin American cuisine defines the dining scene
The city experienced an immigration boom during its industrial era and that cultural influence continues in the dining scene. Dominican food is one of the city’s specialties. Paila & Lena dishes out Dominican fried rice, mofongo and steak in a bright colorful setting. Smoked cuisine gets a nod, especially at BBQ Luso. This popular takeout venue focuses on charcoal-broiled barbecue with rice or fries. “The Portuguese take on barbecue is big in this area,” says Sagrario Javier, a Realtor with EXP Realty. For a taste of Peru, residents can go to Se Salio El Pollo for dishes like calamari or whole roast chicken. The walkable downtown scene is filled with more cosmopolitan options, including Cuban, Salvadoran and Mexican restaurants. While small markets dot the landscape, most residents find it convenient to get groceries at the Shop Rite in Convery Plaza.
The cuts of meat cooked up at BBQ Luso are quite fresh and sizable in Perth Amboy, NJ.
Perth Amboy has a beautiful supermarket with a large variety of fresh foods.
Se Salio El Pollo's decorative wall sign says great food served here in Perth Amboy, NJ.
Se Salio El Pollo is famous for its delicious Peruvian food in Perth Amboy, NJ.
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Strolls along the bay, plus a skate park further inland
The Sadowski Parkway Waterfront Park makes it easy to enjoy the city’s location on the bay. There are walkways to stroll, benches to sit on and recreational facilities like a playground and volleyball court. Bayview Park, next to the Harborside Marina, presents a more manicured experience with lawns and trees. For a slightly more urban experience toward the inland west side, Washington Park includes a skate park. It’s just a few blocks from the HMH Raritan Bay Medical Center. But residents can also make use of nearby nature to expand their horizons. “Rahway is nice for its nature preserve along the river,” says Rosmena DeSa, a Realtor with Re/Max New Millennium. “People like to go there for walks or picnics.”
Washington Park's children's playground are is quite active all year round in Perth Amboy, NJ.
The Outerbridge Crossing from Perth Amboy leads drivers to the Verrazano Bridge and to Brooklyn.
Perth Amboy's maritime district offers scenic walking paths.
Bayview Park, next to the Harborside Marina is a very serene place to spend leisure time.
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The downtown train station is a key amenity
The train station in Downtown Perth Amboy is a boon for commuters. Riders can also use it to cross the bay into South Amboy. Key north-south corridors include U.S. Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway, which run parallel to each other. Drivers can reach Manhattan in about 90 minutes, and the most common way to get there is by merging onto Interstate 95 on the west end. Or, it’s possible to take the 116 bus with NJ Transit: It goes directly to New York City.
Crime up in 2023 from 2022
Data provided to the FBI shows that from 2022 to 2023, violent crime increased 16% and property crime increased 11%.
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