Linden is a mid-sized, steadily growing city with strong income levels (~$90 K) but higher living costs (especially housing and transportation). It’s a diverse, family-oriented community, with most people owning stable jobs (many in white-collar roles) and staying put long-term. The housing market is heating up, with prices rising ~8% annually.
📊 Population & Demographics
- ≈ 45,000 residents, with projected growth around 6% by 2025 (from ~43,900 in 2020 to ~46,560)
- Diverse community: ~38% White, ~28% Black, ~15% Hispanic/“other race”, ~15% of mixed race, ~4% Asian .
🏠 Housing & Cost of Living
- Median home value around $422K, with homes selling for a median of $542.5K in June 2025 (an 8.4% increase year-over-year); average price: $387/sq ft
- Cost of living is 15–21% higher than the national average: housing up ~54%, rent ~44%, transportation ~8–15%, utilities ~6%
💼 Economics & Employment
- Median household income roughly $90,000 annually
- White-collar workforce comprises ~75%, blue-collar ~25% .
- Unemployment is around 5.5% in 2025
👨👩👧 Family & Residency
- ~15,290 households, average size 2 people; ~72% are family households, ~33% include children
- Around 85% of residents remain in the same home year-over-year; population is roughly 50/50 gender split, with a median age of 39
Industrial Roots, Residential Heart:
Linden has a long-standing reputation as a blue-collar industrial hub, home to refineries and manufacturing giants like Infineum and the Bayway Refinery, while also offering a tight-knit suburban feel for families.
Hollywood in Linden:
Portions of The Sopranos, A Bronx Tale, and other productions have filmed in Linden — thanks to its gritty urban charm and proximity to NYC.
Diverse and Proud:
Linden is one of the most diverse cities in Union County — with vibrant Polish, Haitian, Hispanic, African American, and Portuguese communities. Over 40% of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Gateway to the Skies:
Home to Linden Airport, which serves small aircraft and helicopters — it’s also used for filming and training. You’re just 15 minutes from Newark Airport and 30 minutes from Manhattan.
Linden Loves Culture:
Linden hosts a variety of cultural festivals, Caribbean parades, and Polish heritage events, plus live music at Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade in the summer.
Real Estate Comeback:
Once overlooked, Linden is seeing a housing and development boom, especially in the train station transit village area, with new apartments, shops, and improved infrastructure.
NYC in a Snap:
You can reach Penn Station in Manhattan in about 38 minutes via NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line, making it a favorite for commuters seeking affordability with access to the city.
Sports Legacy:
Linden High School’s athletic programs — especially in basketball and track — have produced NCAA athletes and are a major source of community pride.
Transformation in Progress:
Linden is actively reinventing its image — focusing on green space development, public housing modernization, smart city initiatives, and economic revitalization of the Tremley Point and West Linden corridors.
Fun Trivia:
The world’s first mass-market liquid soap, Softsoap, was manufactured by Minnetonka Corp. in Linden in the 1980s!