"Havana on the Hudson River" is one of America's most densely populated cities
Union City thrives between hip Hoboken and retail-heavy West New York, taking the top spot as the most densely populated city in America for populations exceeding 50,000. Historically it was considered “The Embroidery Capital of the World” – a title reinforced by Manhattan’s Garment District sitting right across the Hudson River, connected by the Lincoln Tunnel. But it’s not a city that wants to over-develop. Mayor Brian Stack is on a mission to preserve the tightknit feel of a largely multi-generational community. It’s not uncommon to see his picture hanging up in the windows of homes all across Union City.
“He makes his phone number public. It’s a level of accessibility I’ve never seen from a mayor in a city of this size,” says Richard Truocchio, a Realtor with Compass New Jersey. “The streets are crystal clear of garbage because he employs teams to clean up, every single day. We had an issue with a skunk recently, quoted at hundreds of dollars for a removal – he took care of it for free, as a complimentary service.”
Union City’s profile has also been boosted by the mayor’s efforts to pour state grant funding into local schools. That’s all gone hand in hand with a reduction in crime. “For some time, Union City was thought of as dangerous place,” says Truocchio. “But in the past 10 years, that’s changed. Even more so since the pandemic.” Today, over 64,000 people live in Union City, which has one of the biggest Cuban populations outside of Miami. The median age is 36. Some manufacturing still exists, and the local economy is strongly supported by retail businesses and essential services like auto shops, especially along Bergenline Avenue. “To the south, right on the water, is Weehawken, which is where doctors and attorneys live. Union City is jumbled in above that, and the commute is amazing – you can bus to Midtown in about 15 minutes,” says Tamayo Oppenheimer, a Realtor with Silver & Oak Realty.
Union City is often referred to as "Havana on the Hudson River" due to it's Cuban influence.
Pictures of Mayor Brian Stack appear in the windows of many Union City establishments.
Union City restaurants offer ethnic cuisine to its largely South American and Cuban residents.
Berganline Ave runs through Union City and features retail and essential businesses.
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Historic low-rise condo buildings give Union City an intimate feel
A familiar refrain from Realtors is that the city’s housing market appeals for its balanced mix of location, value and price. “You can get more for your money in Union City. A really nice, big condo will be better priced here than it would down the hill in Hoboken,” says Jill Biggs, a broker at Coldwell Banker. In other words, it’s every bit as close to Manhattan as many other trendy places nearby, but its market hasn’t been disrupted by projects like luxury high rises, thanks to the insistence of the mayor.
Instead, it’s more common to see condos in historic low-rise buildings. In the select times that the city has built taller condo developments, it has connected them to local textile heritage, by naming them The Thread or Tailor House. Given the density of Union City, homebuyers can also expect to see stretches of connected rowhouses and assorted multi-family properties.
“The area farther inland is still emerging. There are many old multi-family buildings,” says Biggs. “As you get closer to the cliff, townhouses and single-family homes are more spread out.” Other realtors say homebuyers can navigate the city by splitting it into the inland north side and the south side that approaches the Hudson. “The northern part is older, more densely packed in,” says Truocchio. “The southern portion has more expensive houses, bigger lots, nicer homes.” Union City’s median home price is $460,000. The national median is $416,700. Condos sell between $250,000 and $900,000, while single-owner homes range between $450,000 and $1 million. Realtors say it’s unusual for a home or condo to sell above $1 million here.
Low-rise historic buildings turned into condominiums are common in Union City.
High-rise condos in Union City are often named after its textile heritage, such as The Thread.
Stretches of connected row houses line Ellsworth Park in Union City.
Larger single family homes are found on the southern side of Union City.
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Rooftop sports at Union City High
Union City School District receives an overall B from Niche, but an A-minus in the teachers category. Nearly 13,000 students are in attendance across 14 schools. Union City High receives a B-minus overall, but an A for its clubs and activities category. The school has an impressive rooftop athletic field.
The North Hudson Campus of Hudson County Community College is also located here. The seven-story modernist building opened in 2011, and conveniently sits next to the Bergenline Avenue light rail station.
Union City High School is a Public School in Union City, NJ.
Union Hill Middle School aims to support children in achieving a successful future.
Union City High School values equity, excellence, and empathy in shaping society.
Hudson County Community College
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Jitney buses are a way of life
Outside of Union City and a few other dense Hudson County locales, people may not have heard of Jitney buses – small passenger vehicles with a dozen or two dozen seats – but here, they are a way of life. “They cruise the main avenues, up and down, all day long. You’re bound to catch one every two minutes,” says Truocchio. “They’re critical to Union City, but they’re not in many other places. People will pay a dollar and get to the park that way.” NJ Transit buses are also available, and many will use these to cross Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan. It’s a 4-mile trek to Times Square.
Given the density of Union City, walking is also a popular mode of transportation. “At all hours of the day or night, you’ll see someone out walking,” says Truocchio. But this also encourages neighbors to reach out and connect. “A lot of properties have stoops. I’ll sit on mine, and most people passing by say hi.”
The train station on Bergenline Avenue is the only completely underground station in the local light rail network.
Ellsworth Park is a block of manicured beauty
One of the most popular parks is on the city’s far southwest end. “Washington Park, which divides Union City and Jersey City Heights, is super nice,” Biggs says. “It has great views of Manhattan, and Union City has put a lot of money into it.” Shaded and paved pathways take visitors past ballfields, athletic courts and a playground.
But if residents are willing to venture out a bit, past neighboring West New York, they’re met with more space to roam. “Braddock Park is expansive, the lake alone is 16 acres,” says Truocchio. It’s often considered one of the most beautiful parks in Hudson County, because it’s perched above rocky palisades and preserves many natural features across 167 acres.
For a small, cozy, backyard experience, Ellsworth Park on 24th Street is a single manicured block with playground equipment and plantings.
Washington Park in Union City has multiple equipment for kids need.
Come for basketball game with friends in Washington Park in Union City, NJ.
Located in the center of Union City, Ellsworth Park is surrounded by row homes.
Ellsworth Park in Union City features a large playground area with structures for all ages.
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South American and Cuban cuisine keeps the dining scene alive
South American and Cuban cuisine is a central part of the city’s dining scene. Many small eateries can be found along Bergenline Avenue, like Noches de Colombia and El Artesano. But this area is filled with many other retail options. “Bergenline is very walkable, it runs through the entirety of Union City, and almost everything is in Spanish,” says Truocchio. “There are stores on top of stores, selling everything from clothing to beauty services. And then you stray two blocks away and see the revitalized aspects of Union City with coffee shops and restaurants.”
Park Avenue is another reliable commercial corridor, whether it’s being used for groceries at Lidl or picking up on-the-go items like coffee, crepes and bubble tea. Residents can also bounce next door to West New York, where development along the waterfront has brought in chain stores. Local flavor is on tap, too. “There’s an upscale Cuban restaurant with a bar called Son Cubano, and it’s popular for salsa dancing on Friday,” says Sonia DaSilva, a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty and a member of the local dancing community.
Nochos de Columbia in Union City is a very popular eatery that offers authentic Cuban cuisine.
Many shops on Bergenline Ave in Union City offer South American and Cuban pastries.
The dining scene in Union City
Son Cubano offers waterfront dining and is a short ride from Union City.
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Auto theft is a leading property crime
Union City experiences humid summers, but in July, the hottest month, temperatures have an average high of 86 degrees. January usually receives the most snow, with about 6 inches on average.
Over 1,000 criminal offenses were reported in 2022. According to police data, most of those were larceny, clocking in at 950 cases. Assaults totaled 160 reports. The highest property crime was auto thefts, with over 80 cases. The overall crime rate was 1,875 per 100,000 people.
Written By
Paul Spencer
Photography Contributed By
Suzi Schirm
Video By
Chris Norton
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Matthew Perasso,
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GreatSchools:
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