Real Estate Investing in Hillside, New Jersey (07205)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Union County • Population: 22,179 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 07205 (Hillside, NJ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Hillside, NJ (07205)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $521,735
Avg Monthly Rent $2,400
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $89,804
% Renters 30.1%

Market Analysis: 07205 Hillside

Investors eyeing 07205 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $522K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 07205 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $522K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 07205's metrics run below Union County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A solid renter share of 30% in 07205 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Hillside's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 07205. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Hillside:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,400/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 07205

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$130,601/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $415,463 $2,220 3.8% +10.2% $207,732
3BR $511,432 $2,780 3.9% +9.9% $170,477
4BR $552,041 $3,160 4.1% +9.1% $138,010
5BR $653,004 +9.0% $130,601

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$555K$475K$395K$315K$235K$156KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,143$2,983$2,824$2,664$2,505$2,345Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 07205 Compare?

Metric 07205 Hillside New Jersey
Home Value $521,735 $521,735 $559,826
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% 8.4%
Avg Rent $2,400 $2,400 -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 07205? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 07205 (Hillside, NJ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Union County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Corner Property Management is a property management company serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $521,735
Monthly Rent $2,400
Price-to-Rent 18.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
6.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 07205

Population: 22,179

💰 Median Household Income
$89,804
This area
$89,804
State
$113,906
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.1%
This area
30.1%
State
28.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-9.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.2%
This area
29.2%
State
25.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.6 years
This area
36.6 years
State
22.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
State
9.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 48.4%
Other/Mixed 27.5%
Hispanic/Latino 26.4%
White 22.7%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 07205

A+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
11.2:1 Avg Class Size
$26,029 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Hurden Looker School

📚 02 – 06 School
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ola Edwards Community School

📚 02 – 06 School
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Abram P. Morris Early Childhood Center

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
664 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Deanna G. Taylor Academy

📚 02 – 06 School
👥
191 Students
👨‍🏫
8.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Hillside High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
927 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student
A Very Good

Hillside Innovation Academy

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
101 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Battle Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 2600 KILLIAN PLACE, UNION
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,601 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Berkeley Terrace Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 787 GROVE STREET, IRVINGTON
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$28,458 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Connecticut Farms Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 875 STUYVESANT AVENUE, UNION
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,601 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Franklin Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 1500 LINDY TERRACE, UNION
👥
465 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,601 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Grove Street Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 602 GROVE STREET, IRVINGTON
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$28,458 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 2,002 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Union
113 students · 0.9 mi
C
Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok
52 students · 1.2 mi
B
Kean University
13,352 students · 1.3 mi
C+
Healthcare Training Institute
103 students · 2.1 mi
B
Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Leyma
47 students · 2.1 mi
C
Lincoln Technical Institute-Union
1,648 students · 2.5 mi
C+
Seton Hall University
9,494 students · 3.3 mi
D
New Community Career & Technical Institute
18 students · 3.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,002 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Hillside, NJ?

Hillside, NJ median home values land near $522K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $2,400/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the typical renter like in Hillside, NJ?

Hillside, NJ offers a reliable renter base at the $2,400/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is NJ a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Hillside, NJ is tenant-protective. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Is house hacking profitable in Hillside, NJ?

House hacking works a challenging in Hillside, NJ. Rents of $2,400/mo against $522K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What strategy should investors use in Hillside, NJ?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Hillside, NJ best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $522K price point.

You know 07205 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 07205 ranks in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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