NJ Market Dashboard
Essex County
Prices are up 5.6% from a year ago, and with 3.9 months of supply it's a seller's market.
What this means for you ↓Last updated: September 2026
Mahesh Sangisetty · NJ REALTOR® · Boutique RealtyMarket data from the Redfin Data Center, September 2026. Forecast and rent from Zillow Research. Updated monthly.
Median sale price
$706K
The middle sale price: half of homes sold for more, half for less
Days on market
42 days
How long homes typically take to sell
Homes for sale
1,712
Homes still for sale at the end of the month
Sale vs. ask price
104.4%
104.4% means homes sold ~4.4% above asking on average
Market type
What's this?Based on months of supply
Seller's Market
3.9 months of supply = 1,712 homes for sale at month end ÷ 437 sold per month
If no new homes were listed, the homes for sale at month end would sell out in 3.9 months at the current pace.
- Under 4.0 months = seller's
- 4.0–6.0 = balanced
- Over 6.0 = buyer's
Zillow 12-month forecast
Projected home value change
+3.3%
Moderate growth expected over the next 12 months.
Based on Zillow data through August 2026. This is a forecast. It is not an observed return or a guarantee.
Market temperature
What's this?Compared with Essex County's own history
50 = typical for Essex in September
Typical, leaning warm
Each factor compares this county with its own history (Sep 2016–2019, 2023–2025). 50 = typical for this county at this time of year (the mid-line on each bar). Under 40 = cooler than usual, over 60 = hotter than usual. When the factors pull hard in opposite directions, a middling score means they're cancelling out, so it's labeled mixed signals. Affordability is shown for context and isn't part of the score.
Market trends
Median sale price trend
Essex County monthly median sale price, last 13 months
Days on market
- Teal = faster than the 13-month average
- Gray = slower
- Dashed line = average
Inventory levels
Homes for sale at month end vs. new listings each month
Sale vs. ask price
- Dashed line = list price (100%)
- Above it = homes sold over asking
See the monthly numbersSep 2025 to Sep 2026: median price, days on market, listings, and sale vs. ask price
Exact medians; headline values are rounded.
| Month | Median price | Days on market | Homes for sale | New listings | Sale vs. ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | $669,000 | 62 | 1,640 | 673 | 105.4% |
| Oct 2025 | $670,000 | 60 | 1,683 | 640 | 105.8% |
| Nov 2025 | $728,000 | 60 | 1,566 | 423 | 105.7% |
| Dec 2025 | $660,000 | 63 | 1,297 | 312 | 105.7% |
| Jan 2026 | $659,000 | 74 | 1,284 | 514 | 103.5% |
| Feb 2026 | $670,000 | 69 | 1,299 | 491 | 104.1% |
| Mar 2026 | $665,000 | 48 | 1,421 | 671 | 106.3% |
| Apr 2026 | $680,000 | 38 | 1,605 | 821 | 106.6% |
| May 2026 | $720,000 | 32 | 1,612 | 732 | 108.6% |
| Jun 2026 | $790,000 | 21 | 1,684 | 761 | 108.8% |
| Jul 2026 | $750,000 | 27 | 1,623 | 643 | 108.3% |
| Aug 2026 | $740,000 | 34 | 1,563 | 557 | 107.1% |
| Sep 2026 | $706,419 | 42 | 1,712 | 665 | 104.4% |
Town prices and rents
County average: $383/sqft. Tap or click a column header to re-sort. Town figures come from Redfin for Jul–Sep 2026 (rolling 3 months) and include towns with 10+ sales. Redfin reports towns by Census place, so some NJ townships don't have their own row, and a few rows cover only part of a township. Typical rent is Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Sep 2026 (asking rent across all home types); “–” means Zillow doesn't publish one for that town.
| Short Hills | $718 | – |
| Glen Ridge | $616 | – |
| Montclair | $589 | $3,114 |
| Caldwell | $428 | – |
| Nutley | $425 | $2,347 |
| West Caldwell | $424 | – |
| Roseland | $397 | – |
| East Orange | $257 | $1,994 |
| Newark | $228 | $2,111 |
What this means for you
What this month's numbers mean for buyers, sellers, and investors in Essex County.
For buyers
Competitive- →With 3.9 months of supply, this is a seller's market. I'd recommend getting pre-approved before you tour and being ready to move quickly on well-priced homes.
- →Homes are selling 32.3% faster than last year (median 42 days). Well-priced listings go quickly, so be ready to act.
- →Homes still sell above asking, at 104.4% of list price, so expect competition on move-in-ready, well-priced properties. On the most desirable listings, I'd budget for at least the asking price.
For sellers
Strong Demand- →Median prices are up 5.6% year-over-year. Sellers who price in line with recent comparable sales are getting the benefit of that trend.
- →Homes are selling at 104.4% of list price, above asking. In my experience, buyers bid over list when the price matches what similar homes just sold for, and rarely when it doesn't.
- →With demand this strong, a well-prepared home can draw multiple offers. I'd finish repairs and prep fully before you list.
- →Spring (March–May) typically brings peak buyer traffic in this county. It's better to list fully prepared than to rush to catch it.
For investors
Tight Margins- →With prices up 5.6% year-over-year, Essex County is still building equity for existing owners. For new purchases, entry-level and value-add properties give you the best cost basis.
- →Typical rent here is about $2,273/month (Zillow, Sep 2026, up 0.8% YoY). At the ~$706K median price, that's a gross yield of 3.9% and an estimated cap rate around 0.5% after property taxes and 30% of rent for other costs, before financing. That's the lowest estimated cap rate among the 12 counties I track.
- →Prices are high relative to rents here (~$706K median), so countywide numbers leave little margin after taxes and costs. Small multifamily or lower-priced towns within the county have better cap rate potential.
From the blog
Posts are snapshots of the data on the date shown. Redfin revises past months, so older posts keep the figures as first published. The dashboard above has the latest numbers.
Essex County Real Estate in 2026: Top Appreciation of the 12 Counties I Track
Essex County had the strongest price growth of the 12 NJ counties I track in January 2026, up 8.1% year over year, and homes still sold 3% above asking. What the data means for buyers and sellers.
Read →NJ Real Estate Market Report — September 2026
New Jersey is still a seller's market in 9 of 12 counties, but the summer heat is gone: nine counties ran hotter than their normal in July, and none did in September. Price growth stalled, inventory hit a 2026 high, and mortgage rates crossed 7%. Full 12-county breakdown.
Read →How to Sell Your NJ Home in 2026
The 2026 NJ market rewards sellers who price right, prepare the house, and move fast. Here's how to do each one, from pulling comps to clearing attorney review.
Read →Nearby counties
Hudson County
Balanced MarketMedian price · 50 days on market
Bergen County
Balanced MarketMedian price · 73 days on market
Passaic County
Seller's MarketMedian price · 33 days on market
Median prices from Redfin, September 2026. Sparklines show the monthly median price, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026. Each has its own scale, so read it for direction only.
Want this for your own home?
I can run a market analysis for your own property, or for the homes you're searching for, in Essex County.
15–20 minutes. No obligation.