---
title: Union, New Jersey
description: 'Union, a town within 16 miles of both Newark and New York, shares an essential trait with its larger neighbors: diversity. A majority-minority community, Union…'
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published: '2018-08-29T13:45:03.000Z'
modified: '2024-01-24T04:10:10.000Z'
tags:
  - Best Places to Live
  - Best Places to Live 2018
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![Union, New Jersey](https://img.money.com/2018/08/best-places-to-live-2018-43-union-new-jersey.jpg)

Union, a town within 16 miles of both Newark and New York, shares an essential trait with its larger neighbors: diversity. A majority-minority community, Union counts among its tongues Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and French Creole.

The cultural mix manifests in the town’s [lineup of holiday activities](https://www.uniontownship.com/514/Holiday-Events) which include a performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a Kwanzaa celebration, and a discounted dinner at Gusta Rosso, an Italian restaurant. Holiday wreaths festoon the streetlights on the town’s main thoroughfare, where visitors can grab a bite or shop for gifts.

Year-round local advantages include ultra-low crime risk, high graduation rates, and home prices that, despite Union's proximity to New York, are right around the national median.

A nearby [library](https://www.uniontownship.com/379/Union-Public-Library) puts on frequent events for kids and teens, including a series called “Boredom Busters.” [Kean University](https://www.kean.edu/), the third-largest public university in New Jersey, offers scores of undergraduate and graduate programs, though it is perhaps best known for an excellent teaching program. — *Max Zahn*

<!-- omitted unsupported block: interactive -->

[**Find homes in Union, New Jersey on**](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Union_NJ/?cid=dsp_moneyBPL18_cons_Time_Money_rankings_textlink_srp)

![](https://img.money.com/2017/08/realtorlogofinal.png?w=300)

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