East Orange is a bit of a trip. If you’re looking up an East Orange New Jersey zip code, you’re likely trying to figure out if you should move here, invest in a multi-family property, or maybe you're just wondering why your GPS is acting funky near the Parkway. Most people assume East Orange is just one big monolith. It isn't. It’s a city of five wards, distinct neighborhoods, and two primary zip codes that tell very different stories about where you are.
The city primarily breathes through 07017 and 07018.
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You’ve got the 07017 area covering the northern and eastern stretches, nudging up against Bloomfield and Newark. Then there’s 07018, which handles the southern and western bits, bordering Orange and South Orange. There is also a tiny sliver of 07019, but that’s mostly for P.O. boxes and specific administrative use. Honestly, if you’re looking at a house, it’s going to be one of the first two.
The 07017 vs. 07018 Divide
It’s not just numbers on an envelope.
The 07017 zip code is where you find a lot of the residential "depth" of the city. We’re talking about the Presidential Section. This is where the streets are named after presidents—Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt—and the houses actually have yards. Big ones. You'll see massive Victorians that look like they belong in a movie, sitting right next to well-kept colonials. People often forget that East Orange was once the "Garden City." It was the wealthy suburb of Newark a century ago.
In 07018, the vibe shifts toward the urban core and the transit hubs. This is where the East Orange and Brick Church train stations live. If you’re a commuter working in Manhattan, this is your zone. It’s denser. You’ve got more high-rise apartments and "The Hub," which is the city's attempt at revitalizing the retail corridor. It’s louder, faster, and definitely more "city" than 07017.
Some folks get confused because the borders of East Orange are jagged. You could be walking down a street in 07018 and suddenly realize you’ve crossed into the City of Orange or even South Orange. The property taxes change, the police cruisers look different, but the houses look exactly the same.
Why the Post Office Matters More Than You Think
Logistics in Essex County can be a headache.
When you’re dealing with an East Orange New Jersey zip code, you have to be careful about your address. Because "Orange," "West Orange," "East Orange," and "South Orange" all share similar names and borders, mail goes missing constantly.
- 07017: Mainly the Ampere and Presidential sections.
- 07018: The Main Street corridor and the southern neighborhoods near the Garden State Parkway.
- 07050: This is Orange (the neighbor). Don't mix them up.
- 07079: This is South Orange. If you put this on an East Orange address, your package is gone forever.
The Ampere section in 07017 is named after André-Marie Ampère, the physicist. It used to be a massive industrial powerhouse. Today, it’s a mix of industrial bones and residential grit. It’s an area that’s seeing a ton of "fix-and-flip" activity. If you’re an investor, you’ve probably spent more time in 07017 than you’d like to admit.
The Real Estate Reality Check
Let’s be real for a second. East Orange has a reputation.
For years, it was the place people "got out of." But the 2020s changed the math. When Brooklyn became unaffordable, people moved to Jersey City. When Jersey City got too expensive, they moved to Newark. Now? They’re looking at East Orange.
The 07018 zip code is currently the epicenter of a massive luxury apartment boom. Look at the area around the Brick Church station. There are projects like "The Crossings" and other multi-million dollar developments popping up where empty lots used to sit. The city is betting big on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).
The logic is simple: You can be at New York Penn Station in about 25 to 30 minutes.
But there’s a catch. Taxes.
East Orange has some of the highest property tax rates in Essex County. If you buy a house in 07017 for $450,000, don’t be surprised if your tax bill is north of $15,000. It’s a bitter pill. You’re paying for the convenience of the train and the potential of the neighborhood, but the city services are still catching up to the "luxury" branding the developers are pushing.
Schools, Parks, and the Local Layout
If you’re moving here with kids, you’re looking at the East Orange School District. It’s a "SDA District," meaning it gets significant state funding. CIC (Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts) is the crown jewel here. It’s a magnet school that actually draws talent from all over. It sits right in the heart of 07018.
For green space, you’ve got Watsessing Park.
Interestingly, Watsessing Park is split between East Orange (07017) and Bloomfield. It was designed by the Olmsted Brothers—the same guys who did Central Park. It’s a massive, winding park with a river, tracks, and some of the best cherry blossoms in the spring that nobody talks about because they’re all at Branch Brook Park in Newark.
Then there’s Elmwood Park in the southern part of the city. It’s a local favorite for basketball and community events. If you live in 07018, this is likely your "backyard."
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What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that East Orange is "dangerous" across the board.
Is there crime? Yeah. It’s an urban center in North Jersey. But it’s incredibly block-by-block. You can have a stunning, quiet street in the 07017 zip code where neighbors have known each other for forty years, and then two blocks over, things get a little more "active."
The "Presidential Section" is legit. It’s quiet. People take pride in their lawns. It feels like a suburb.
The "Dodds" neighborhood is another one. It’s tucked away and has a very different energy than the high-rises near the train station. If you’re just looking at a map of an East Orange New Jersey zip code, you miss all this nuance. You miss the Caribbean bakeries on Central Ave that have the best beef patties in the state. You miss the history of the manufacturers that used to call this place home.
The Commuter's Secret
Most people use the Brick Church station. It’s the "main" one.
But if you live in 07017, you might actually be closer to the East Orange station or even the Watsessing Avenue station in Bloomfield. Pro tip: The Watsessing station is often cleaner and feels a bit safer late at night compared to the main East Orange hubs, even though it’s technically just across the border.
Also, the Garden State Parkway cuts right through the middle of the city.
Exits 145 and 147 are your lifelines. Exit 145 is the notorious one—it connects the Parkway to I-280. It is a nightmare at 5:00 PM. If you live in 07018, you will spend a significant portion of your life sitting at that interchange. It’s the price you pay for being central to everything.
The Future of the Zip Codes
Where is this going?
The city is trying to rebrand as "The New East Orange."
In the 07018 zip code, you’re going to see more glass and steel. More "luxury" rentals with rooftop lounges and gyms. The goal is to attract the young professional crowd that is priced out of Montclair and South Orange.
In 07017, the focus is on homeownership. The city has various programs to help residents buy those big old Victorians and fix them up. There’s a real push to keep the residential character of the northern part of the city intact while the southern part goes vertical.
If you’re looking at data, the median home price in East Orange has skyrocketed over the last five years. We’re seeing a shift from a majority-renter population to a more diverse mix, though it remains a deeply proud, historically Black city. That cultural heritage is woven into every street corner, from the murals to the names of the community centers.
Actionable Steps for Navigating East Orange
If you're serious about the area, don't just rely on a Zillow search for a zip code.
- Drive the Wards: Spend a Saturday morning in the First Ward (07017) and then head down to the Fifth Ward (07018). The difference in density and housing style is massive.
- Check the Tax Map: Before you fall in love with a house, go to the New Jersey Property Tax Database. Look at what the neighbor is paying. East Orange assessments can be wild.
- Test the Train: If you're a commuter, actually take the Midtown Direct from Brick Church. See if the walk from the apartment you’re eyeing feels okay to you at 7:00 PM.
- Eat Local: Go to Main Street or Central Ave. Hit up a local spot like Southern Comfort or one of the many West Indian eateries. If you don't like the energy of the commercial strips, you won't like living in the city.
- Verify the School Zone: Just because a house has an East Orange address doesn't mean it's in the school zone you think it is. The borders with Newark and Orange are porous. Always check the specific district boundary map.
East Orange is a city in transition. It’s got 100-year-old problems and 2026 ambitions. Whether you end up in 07017 or 07018, you’re stepping into a place that is finally starting to recognize its own value. It's gritty, it's beautiful, and it's definitely not just a number on a piece of mail.