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Orange, officially the City of Orange Township, is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, situated in the inner-ring suburbs west of Newark. It sits at the heart of "The Oranges," the cluster of similarly named municipalities — Orange, East Orange, West Orange, and South Orange — that grew out of a single colonial settlement. Its population was 34,447 in the 2020 census, and the township functions as a dense, transit-connected urban community within the New York metropolitan area. Orange's history is among the oldest in the region. The settlement traces its origins to families from Connecticut's New Haven Colony who arrived in 1666, part of the wave that founded Newark and its surrounding towns. As the area grew, East Orange and West Orange separated from Orange in 1863, and South Orange followed in 1869, leaving the original municipality as the urban core of the group. The township later adopted the formal name "City of Orange Township." Today Orange is defined by its transit access and its urban-suburban character. The township's NJ Transit station on the Morris & Essex Lines offers direct rail service to New York Penn Station, while Interstate 280 cuts through the community and connects to the Garden State Parkway and the wider northern New Jersey highway network. Newark and its airport, universities, and employment centers lie immediately adjacent. The township is home to the Orange Board of Education, which operates the public schools, and its recreation division runs youth sports and aquatics programs centered on facilities such as Monte Irvin Orange Park, named for the Baseball Hall of Famer who grew up in Orange. For households seeking an established Essex County community with genuine urban amenities, strong rail access to Manhattan, and a comparatively approachable housing market, Orange occupies a distinct position among its better-known neighbors.

Population 34,447

County Essex

Active Listings 71

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Orange, New Jersey in?

Orange, officially the City of Orange Township, is in Essex County, New Jersey, immediately west of Newark. It is one of 'The Oranges,' along with East Orange, West Orange, and South Orange.

How do you get from Orange to New York City?

Orange's NJ Transit station on the Morris & Essex Lines provides direct train service to New York Penn Station and Hoboken. Interstate 280 also runs through the township, and Newark Penn Station and the airport are just minutes away.

What school district serves Orange?

What is 'The Oranges'?

'The Oranges' refers to the four neighboring Essex County municipalities of Orange, East Orange, West Orange, and South Orange, which grew out of a single colonial settlement. East and West Orange separated in 1863 and South Orange in 1869.

Who is Monte Irvin Orange Park named for?

Monte Irvin Orange Park is named for Baseball Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, who grew up in Orange and attended Orange High School before his career in the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball.

City Guide

About Orange

Real Estate & Housing

Orange's housing stock reflects its history as one of New Jersey's older urban centers. The township is characterized by historic multi-family homes — many dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries — alongside older single-family houses and apartment buildings. Queen Anne and Victorian-era architecture is common near the downtown and rail corridor. Compared with neighboring West Orange and South Orange, Orange generally offers more attainable pricing, and the dense, walkable street grid gives the township an urban feel within a suburban county.

Neighborhoods

Orange is a compact township organized around its downtown and NJ Transit station. The central business district along Main Street holds the township's civic and commercial core, while residential streets of historic homes radiate outward. Monte Irvin Orange Park and the surrounding blocks form a neighborhood anchor, and the township's boundaries interlock with East Orange, West Orange, and South Orange. Because the four "Oranges" are so closely woven together, many residents share amenities, parks, and commercial districts across municipal lines.

Lifestyle in Orange

Life in Orange is urban and community-oriented, with the convenience of being minutes from Newark and a direct train to Manhattan. The township's recreation division runs youth sports, basketball, tennis, and aquatics programs that anchor neighborhood life, and community events draw residents throughout the year. Dining and shopping span the Main Street corridor and the surrounding towns, with West Orange's South Mountain Reservation and its trails and zoo nearby. The lifestyle is practical and transit-friendly, suited to commuters and multigenerational families.

Schools & Education

Orange is served by the Orange Board of Education, which operates public schools from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, including Orange High School. The district is one of New Jersey's Abbott districts, a designation tied to the state's school-funding reforms for urban communities, and it maintains a relatively low student-to-teacher ratio. Nearby Seton Hall University in South Orange and Rutgers-Newark provide higher-education access, while private and parochial options are available across the Oranges and Essex County.

Getting Around

Orange offers direct rail access to Manhattan via its NJ Transit station on the Morris & Essex Lines, with trains running to New York Penn Station and Hoboken. Interstate 280 runs through the township, connecting to the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, and Route 21, while Newark Penn Station and Newark Liberty International Airport are only minutes away. Local and express bus service supplements the rail network. The compact street grid and short distance to Newark make the township one of Essex County's more transit-accessible communities.

Parks & Recreation

Monte Irvin Orange Park, named for the Baseball Hall of Famer who grew up in Orange, anchors local recreation with athletic fields, walking paths, and a playground. The township's Division of Recreation runs youth sports, basketball, tennis, and Orange Aquatics programs across its facilities. Nearby, West Orange's South Mountain Reservation offers more than 2,000 acres of hiking trails, the Turtle Back Zoo, and scenic overlooks, while Branch Brook Park in Newark provides additional regional green space.

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