Essex County's densest municipality (20,994/sq mi) + 3rd-most-populous. Irvington HS Blue Knights (est. 1926). +13.4% post-2010 growth. Most accessible inner-ring entry pricing. Median sale ~$385K.
If you're searching for homes for sale in Irvington Township, NJ, you're looking at the 3rd-most-populous and absolute densest municipality in Essex County. With 61,176 residents (2020), estimated at 61,838 in 2024 and 63,708 in 2026, Irvington ranks 24th of 565 New Jersey municipalities by population and 3rd of 22 in Essex County — behind only Newark and East Orange.
Compact land area of 2.92 square miles produces 20,993.8 residents per square mile — the highest population density in all of Essex County, and among the highest in New Jersey. Irvington has seen strong demographic recovery this past census cycle: +7,250 (+13.4%) growth from 2010 to 2020, reversing a -11.2% decline from 2000. The township is currently growing at approximately 1.49% annually.
Irvington's history is unusual. The community was originally part of Clinton Township, an area that also included portions of present-day Maplewood and Newark. Before the mid-1800s, the area was known as Camptown. After Stephen Foster wrote his famous song "Camptown Races" in 1850, residents worried about being linked to the song's themes and voted to rename their community Irvingtown — honoring the famous American writer Washington Irving. Irvington was officially incorporated as an independent municipality on March 27, 1874.
The township operates under the Faulkner Act mayor-council form of government with a Township Council legislative body. Mayor Tony Vauss currently serves with a term ending June 30, 2026; Business Administrator Musa A. Malik; Municipal Clerk Shawna Supel. Irvington borders Newark, Maplewood, and Hillside Township to the south (Union County) — placing it directly at the southern boundary of Essex County.
Irvington Public Schools serves PreK-12 students across 12 schools, headquartered at 1 University Place. The district enrolls 8,020 students at a 15.1:1 ratio, classified DFG A and a Former Abbott district under Superintendent April Vauss. Irvington High School (Blue Knights) at 1253 Clinton Avenue serves as the district's lone secondary school — established 1926, 1,913 students (2024-25), 15.1:1 ratio under Principal Darnel Mangan, Navy Blue and White colors, newspaper "Knightline." The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools through July 2027. Super Essex Conference and North Jersey Super Football Conference for athletics.
Irvington real estate trades at the most accessible entry pricing in the inner-ring Essex market — median sale around $385,000. The market is anchored by exceptional transit access to NYC via NJ Transit bus service through Newark Penn Station, one of the deepest multi-family investment inventories in the county, the strongest demographic growth (+13.4%) of any major Essex municipality this census cycle, and direct border access to Maplewood and Newark. ZIP is 07111; area codes 862 and 973; elevation 128 ft. Buyers should be aware: Irvington's 2020 equalized property tax rate was 4.890% — the 9th-highest in New Jersey — well above the Essex County average of 2.824% and the statewide average of 2.279%. Verify current tax obligation with The Prodigy Team before contract.
Irvington offers the most accessible entry point into inner-ring Essex County, period. Median sale pricing around $385,000 sits below every other Essex municipality except a small handful, while the township delivers direct NJ Transit bus access to Newark Penn Station (with onward rail service to NYC Penn Station and Hoboken), borders to Maplewood and Newark, and one of the deepest 2-family, 3-family, and small multi-family inventories in the county — much of it priced at investor-friendly cap rates.
The +13.4% population growth from 2010 to 2020 reverses a long demographic decline through the 1990s and 2000s, and the current 1.49% annual growth rate signals real investment momentum. Buyers should weigh this opportunity against the township's 9th-highest equalized property tax rate in New Jersey (4.890% in 2020), which significantly affects effective monthly carrying costs. For investors, Irvington's high density (20,993.8 per square mile — the absolute highest in Essex County) creates strong rental demand. For first-time owner-occupants, Irvington High School (Blue Knights, established 1926) anchors the civic identity of a township that has been continuously reinvesting in its school facilities for nearly a century.
20,993.8 residents per square mile — the absolute highest density in all of Essex County and among the highest in New Jersey. 61,176 residents (2020) packed into 2.92 square miles. 3rd of 22 Essex by population, behind only Newark and East Orange.
Population grew by 7,250 residents (+13.4%) from 2010 to 2020, reversing a -11.2% decline from 2000. Currently growing at approximately 1.49% annually. One of the strongest demographic rebounds of any major Essex County municipality.
Irvington High School (Blue Knights, Navy Blue and White) at 1253 Clinton Avenue was established in 1926 — the lone secondary school of the Irvington Public Schools. Principal Darnel Mangan, 1,913 students, newspaper "Knightline," Middle States accredited through July 2027.
Irvington's 2.92-square-mile urban footprint concentrates housing stock around three broad eras: late-19th-century Victorians, Foursquares, and brick rowhouses from the post-1874 township incorporation period; early-to-mid-20th-century Cape Cods, Center Hall Colonials, Tudors, ranches, and bi-levels; and a substantial base of 2-family, 3-family, and 4-family multi-family residences alongside walk-up apartments. The buyer pool reflects the range — first-time owner-occupants seeking the most accessible Essex pricing, NYC commuters using NJ Transit bus service to Newark Penn, and investors targeting the township's deep multi-family rental inventory at investor-friendly cap rates. Buyers must factor in Irvington's 4.890% equalized property tax rate (9th-highest in NJ in 2020) when calculating effective carrying costs.
Two-family, three-family, and four-family residences anchor the entry segment, alongside condos, brick rowhouses, walk-up apartments, and smaller Cape Cod and bungalow stock. First-time buyers, NYC commuters, and investors targeting Irvington's substantial multi-family rental market dominate this tier — the most accessible inner-ring Essex pricing on the market.
Single-family Center Hall Colonials, Victorians, Foursquares, Tudor Revivals, larger Cape Cods, splits, and bi-levels in established 1900s-1950s neighborhoods. Primary-residence demand driven by Blue Knights HS access, NJ Transit bus service to Newark Penn, and the city's strong post-2010 demographic rebound.
Larger Victorian, Queen Anne, and Tudor Revival heritage residences in Irvington's older established pockets, plus newer post-2000 custom-builds and substantially renovated multi-family conversions. Upper-tier buyers tend to be NYC professionals, selective investors, and established owner-occupants making long-term commitments.
Irvington's 2.92-square-mile footprint organizes around the Clinton Avenue civic spine, the Irvington Public Schools network of 12 schools citywide, and the township's southern border with Hillside in Union County. Newark Penn Station sits just minutes north via NJ Transit bus service.
At 1253 Clinton Avenue, the Blue Knights have occupied the same building since the school's 1926 founding. The structure features three main floors and a basement (each floor holding up to 23 classrooms), with a west wing added in the 1970s. 1,913 students 9-12, 15.1:1 ratio, Navy Blue and White colors, newspaper "Knightline." Principal Darnel Mangan. Middle States accredited through July 2027. Super Essex Conference and North Jersey Super Football Conference.
The Irvington Public Schools district is headquartered at 1 University Place. The district operates 12 schools serving PreK-12 throughout the township — 8,020 students total at a 15.1:1 ratio, DFG A (the lowest of eight District Factor Groups), Former Abbott district. Superintendent April Vauss; Business Administrator Reginald Lamptey.
Clinton Avenue and Springfield Avenue form the township's civic and commercial spines. Clinton Avenue hosts Irvington High School at its northern stretch. Springfield Avenue connects through to Maplewood to the west and Newark to the northeast — making the corridor a regional thoroughfare anchoring Irvington's small-business and restaurant economy.
Irvington is served by NJ Transit bus routes connecting to Newark Penn Station — where commuters transfer to Amtrak, NJ Transit rail (Northeast Corridor, Morris & Essex Line, North Jersey Coast Line, Raritan Valley Line), and PATH service. This provides direct access to NYC Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal, and the broader regional rail network without requiring a car.
Irvington borders Newark to the north and east and Maplewood to the west — both in Essex County — as well as Hillside Township to the south in Union County. This places Irvington at the geographic southern edge of Essex County, with multi-county access and three distinct neighborhood transitions across its short borders.
"Irvington is the most accessible inner-ring Essex County market for buyers seeking value — entry pricing below every other meaningful municipality, the highest population density in Essex County by a wide margin, and one of the deepest multi-family investment inventories anywhere in the NJ-NYC metro. The +13.4% population growth from 2010 to 2020 reverses two decades of decline, and the Blue Knights HS — founded in 1926 and named for the township's Washington Irving heritage — anchors a school district undergoing genuine reinvestment. Buyers must run the tax math: Irvington's 4.890% equalized rate (9th-highest in NJ in 2020) materially affects monthly carrying costs, but the underlying pricing leaves real room for it."
Buyers shopping Irvington typically cross-shop against neighboring inner-ring municipalities: Newark (direct neighbor, NJ's largest city, Branch Brook Park, Newark Liberty Airport), Maplewood Township (direct neighbor, DFG I, Cougars HS), East Orange ("Crossroads of NJ," Jaguars HS), South Orange Village (Seton Hall, DFG I), and Orange (1806 anchor of "the Oranges," Tornadoes HS).
| Town | Median Sale | Population | Land Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvington Township ★ | $385,000 | 61,176 | 2.92 mi² |
| Newark | $485,000 | 311,549 | 24.14 mi² |
| East Orange | $435,000 | 69,612 | 3.93 mi² |
| Maplewood Township | $925,000 | 25,684 | 3.88 mi² |
| South Orange Village | $1,025,000 | 18,484 | 2.85 mi² |
★ Subject town. Sources: U.S. Census 2020, Essex County government, NJ Department of Education, and World Population Review. Irvington Township population 61,176 (2020), est. 61,838 (2024), 63,708 (2026 World Population Review); +7,250 (+13.4%) from 53,926 in 2010, which itself reflected a -6,769 (-11.2%) decline from 60,695 in 2000; ranks 24th of 565 in NJ + 3rd of 22 in Essex County. Land area 2.92 sq mi (2.92 land + 0.0039 water = 0.07%); 338th of 565 in NJ + 16th of 22 in Essex. Density 20,993.8/sq mi — the highest in Essex County. Elevation 128 ft. ZIP 07111. Area codes 862/973. Originally part of Clinton Township (which included parts of Maplewood and Newark). Originally called Camptown; renamed Irvingtown in 1850 after residents worried about being linked to Stephen Foster's "Camptown Races." Named after Washington Irving. Officially incorporated as an independent municipality March 27, 1874. Mayor Tony Vauss (term ends June 30, 2026). Government: Faulkner Act mayor-council form, Township Council body. 2020 equalized property tax rate 4.890% — 9th-highest in NJ; compares to 2.824% Essex County average and 2.279% statewide average. Schools: Irvington Public Schools (PreK-12, 12 schools at 1 University Place, 8,020 students 2019-20, 15.1:1, DFG A, Former Abbott district, Superintendent April Vauss). Irvington High School (Blue Knights, 1253 Clinton Avenue, established 1926, 1,913 students 2024-25, 15.1:1 ratio, Navy Blue and White colors, newspaper "Knightline," Super Essex Conference and North Jersey Super Football Conference, Principal Darnel Mangan, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accredited through July 2027). Pricing varies by neighborhood and product type — larger historic Victorians and renovated multi-family conversions can reach $475K-$650K+. Property tax obligation should be calculated and verified before contract; Irvington's effective tax rate materially affects carrying costs.
From Camptown to Irvingtown — A Renaming Driven by a Stephen Foster Song. Before the mid-1800s, the community was known as Camptown — part of a larger area called Clinton Township that also included portions of present-day Maplewood and Newark. When Stephen Foster wrote his famous song "Camptown Races" in 1850, residents of the town worried about being linked to the song's themes. They voted to rename their community Irvingtown after the famous American writer Washington Irving. Irvington was officially incorporated as an independent municipality on March 27, 1874. The Township of Irvington designation came later through the same federal revenue-sharing reclassification that reshaped many Essex County municipalities.
Essex County's Densest Municipality, 3rd-Most-Populous. Irvington packs 61,176 residents (2020) into just 2.92 square miles — yielding a density of 20,993.8 per square mile, the highest in Essex County and among the highest in New Jersey. The township ranks 3rd of 22 in Essex by population (behind only Newark and East Orange) and 24th of 565 in New Jersey. After a -11.2% population decline from 2000 to 2010, Irvington grew +13.4% from 2010 to 2020 — one of the strongest demographic rebounds in the inner-ring market. Population continues growing at approximately 1.49% annually.
Irvington High School Blue Knights — Est. 1926, the Civic Anchor. Irvington High School at 1253 Clinton Avenue traces back to 1926 — the lone secondary school of the Irvington Public Schools district since its founding. The building features three main floors and a basement, with a west wing added in the 1970s. 1,913 students 9-12, 15.1:1 ratio, Principal Darnel Mangan, Navy Blue and White colors, newspaper "Knightline," Middle States accredited through July 2027. The Blue Knights compete in the Super Essex Conference (general) and North Jersey Super Football Conference (football). The district as a whole — 12 schools, 8,020 students, DFG A, Former Abbott — is headquartered at 1 University Place under Superintendent April Vauss.
The Property Tax Math Buyers Need to Run. Irvington's 2020 equalized property tax rate was 4.890% — the 9th-highest in New Jersey, well above the Essex County average of 2.824% and the New Jersey statewide average of 2.279%. For a $385,000 median sale, this translates to roughly $18,800 in annual property tax — meaningfully affecting effective monthly carrying costs. Buyers comparing Irvington to Newark, East Orange, or Maplewood must factor this differential into the full ownership math. The Prodigy Team can model effective monthly carry across cross-shopped municipalities before contract. Mayor Tony Vauss, term ends June 30, 2026. ZIP 07111. Area codes 862/973. Elevation 128 ft.
Median sale pricing in Irvington runs around $385,000, with variation by neighborhood and product type. Two-family, three-family, and multi-family inventory plus smaller condos and brick rowhouses trade in the $225K-$385K entry tier. Single-family Center Hall Colonials, Foursquares, Tudors, and renovated Victorians occupy a $375K-$525K family tier. Larger historic Victorians and renovated multi-family conversions can reach $475K-$650K+. Irvington consistently offers the most accessible entry pricing in inner-ring Essex County, though buyers should factor the township's 4.890% equalized property tax rate (9th-highest in NJ) into effective carrying costs.
Irvington students attend the Irvington Public Schools, headquartered at 1 University Place. The district operates 12 schools serving PreK-12 — 8,020 students at a 15.1:1 ratio, DFG A and Former Abbott district, under Superintendent April Vauss. Irvington High School (Blue Knights) at 1253 Clinton Avenue is the comprehensive 9-12 high school established in 1926. 1,913 students 9-12, 15.1:1 ratio, Navy Blue and White colors, Principal Darnel Mangan, Middle States accredited through July 2027.
Irvington was originally called Camptown, part of a larger area known as Clinton Township. After Stephen Foster wrote his famous song "Camptown Races" in 1850, residents worried about being linked to the song's themes and voted to rename their community Irvingtown — honoring the famous American writer Washington Irving. Irvington was officially incorporated as an independent municipality on March 27, 1874.
Irvington's 2020 equalized property tax rate was 4.890% — the 9th-highest in New Jersey. This is well above the Essex County average of 2.824% and the New Jersey statewide average of 2.279%. The differential meaningfully affects effective monthly carrying costs. Buyers cross-shopping Irvington against Newark, East Orange, Maplewood, or other inner-ring municipalities should run the full ownership math (purchase price + property tax + insurance + maintenance) before deciding. The Prodigy Team can model this for any specific property.
The Prodigy Team covers Irvington's full inventory — historic Victorians and Foursquares from the post-1874 township-incorporation period, mid-century Cape Cods and Center Hall Colonials, the township's substantial 2-family and multi-family investment stock, and newer post-2000 custom-builds and renovated conversions. Cinematic 4K aerial drone marketing, NY/NJ broker representation, full property tax modeling for buyers cross-shopping against Newark and East Orange, and 20+ years of Monmouth Coast and Manhattan/Brooklyn relocation experience.
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