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The City of Orange, commonly known simply as Orange, is a township in Essex County, New Jersey. With a population of 34,447 at the 2020 census, it is a dense, established urban community situated near Newark and the neighboring communities collectively known as the Oranges. Orange's identity has long been tied to rail transportation. The Morris and Essex Railroad arrived in the town in 1836, one of the earliest rail lines in the region, and the line later became part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Today that corridor survives as NJ Transit's Morris & Essex route, with an Orange station that continues to provide commuter rail service, linking the township to Newark, Hoboken, and the broader transit network into New York City. This long rail heritage is woven into the community's history and its present-day character. Public education is provided by the Orange Public Schools, a comprehensive community district headquartered in the township that serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of the state's former Abbott districts, reflecting its urban character and its role serving a dense, diverse population. Residentially, Orange is a compact, established township with a mix of older housing stock typical of Essex County's urban communities, much of it built during the town's nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century growth. Its location near Newark, the region's highways, and NJ Transit rail makes it a connected home base within the northern New Jersey metropolitan area, where the township's walkable streets and transit access support an urban, car-optional lifestyle for many residents.

Population 34,447

County Essex County

Active Listings 133

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Orange in?

The City of Orange, commonly known simply as Orange, is a township in Essex County, New Jersey. It is a dense, established urban community near Newark and the neighboring Oranges.

What is the history of Orange's railroad?

The Morris and Essex Railroad arrived in Orange in 1836, and the line later became part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Today it survives as NJ Transit's Morris & Essex route.

What school district serves Orange?

Orange is served by the Orange Public Schools, a comprehensive community public school district headquartered in the city that provides education for students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across the township.

Does Orange have an NJ Transit station?

Yes. Orange has an NJ Transit rail station on the Morris & Essex line, providing rail service to Newark, Hoboken, and New York City through connecting trains and the broader regional transit network.

City Guide

About City Of Orange

Real Estate & Housing

Orange's housing reflects its history as a dense, established Essex County township. The stock consists primarily of older single-family and multi-family homes, many dating to the community's nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century growth around the railroad, along with apartment buildings and newer infill. The township's urban, walkable layout and transit access are defining market features, offering a connected residential environment near Newark. Orange's housing serves a diverse, working- and middle-class population within the northern New Jersey metropolitan area.

Neighborhoods

Lifestyle in City Of Orange

Orange offers an urban, transit-connected lifestyle within Essex County, New Jersey. The township's dense, established streets and older housing stock give it the character of a long-settled urban community, while its NJ Transit rail station provides direct access to Newark, Hoboken, and the broader network into New York City. Daily life is shaped by the township's proximity to Newark and the neighboring Oranges, with their employment, shopping, and services close at hand. Orange suits residents seeking an urban setting with strong commuter rail access at the heart of northern New Jersey.

Schools & Education

Orange is served by the Orange Public Schools, a comprehensive community public school district headquartered in the township. The district serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade and is one of New Jersey's former Abbott districts, reflecting its urban character and its commitment to serving a dense, diverse student population. The Orange Board of Education oversees the district's schools, which provide a full span of public education for township families.

Getting Around

Orange is anchored by its NJ Transit rail station on the Morris & Essex line, providing commuter service to Newark, Hoboken, and connections into New York City. The township's rail heritage dates to 1836, when the Morris and Essex Railroad arrived, and that corridor continues to define the community's transit access today. Orange's location near Newark and the region's highways, along with bus service and the broader NJ Transit network, makes it a well-connected urban township within northern New Jersey.