July 2026 in Essex County kept the story readers of these reports have come to expect. Essex County's Midtown Direct belt continues to draw commuter demand, keeping the eastern half of the county competitive on price and pace. The single family median came in at $875,000, - 0.1% year over year, on 401 closings and a 26-day median time to sale. Active inventory stands at 633 units, roughly 2.3 months of supply, a clear seller's market on that measure alone.
Year to date, the single family median is running at $817,000, + 4.1% versus the same seven-month stretch of 2025. New listings through July total 3,116 (+ 2.2%), and closings total 1,842 (- 3.9%). The pace has been steady rather than dramatic, which is exactly the profile most Essex County sellers should want heading into the fall listing cycle.
The numbers below come from the New Jersey REALTORS Local Market Update for closings recorded during July 2026. We include Essex County context and, where useful, a look at the townhouse-condo segment for the same period.
The headline numbers
$875,000
401
26
111.9%
What the July data actually means
Single Family homes in Essex County sold at 111.9% of list price in July, on a median of 26 days from list to contract. The July 2025 comp was 110.6% at 28 days, so pace and pricing are almost flat year over year even as the underlying median moved - 0.1%. That combination, stable pace with a rising median, is the profile of a market where buyer demand is expanding to meet whatever comes online rather than pulling back.
Inventory tells the same story. There are 633 active single family listings on the market, - 9.3% versus a year ago, and months of supply sits at 2.3. For context, the six-month threshold is where analysts usually mark the line between seller and buyer conditions; Essex County is a clear seller's market on that reading.
The year-to-date picture
Through the first seven months of 2026, Essex County has recorded 1,842 single family closings, - 3.9% versus the same stretch of 2025. That is the more useful number for anyone modeling a listing decision or a purchase; monthly closings are noisy at this sample size, but seven-month totals smooth the local sample and match the pattern most agents in Essex County have been calling since spring.
The YTD median of $817,000 (+ 4.1%) sits above the trailing twelve-month trend and confirms that July was not a one-off print. New listings through July totaled 3,116, + 2.2% versus the prior year, which explains why inventory has compressed even as demand kept absorbing what came online.
The single family data table
| Single Family Metric | July 2025 | July 2026 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Listings | 413 | 448 | + 8.5% |
| Closed Sales | 384 | 401 | + 4.4% |
| Days on Market | 28 | 26 | – 7.1% |
| Median Sales Price | $875,500 | $875,000 | – 0.1% |
| % of List Price Received | 110.6% | 111.9% | + 1.2% |
| Active Inventory | 698 | 633 | – 9.3% |
| Months of Supply | 2.5 | 2.3 | – 8.0% |
Source: New Jersey REALTORS Local Market Update, July 2026, Essex County. Median prices do not account for sale concessions or downpayment assistance.
The townhouse-condo view
The townhouse-condo segment in Essex County posted 83 closings in July (- 6.7% YoY) at a $505,000 median (+ 26.3%). The segment is sizable enough that the July median is a meaningful read on where the market is trading. For context, the year-to-date townhouse-condo median is $460,000 (+ 16.5%) on 468 closings (- 1.7%).
| Townhouse-Condo Metric | July 2025 | July 2026 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Listings | 104 | 109 | + 4.8% |
| Closed Sales | 89 | 83 | – 6.7% |
| Days on Market | 31 | 46 | + 48.4% |
| Median Sales Price | $400,000 | $505,000 | + 26.3% |
| % of List Price Received | 104.3% | 102.1% | – 2.1% |
| Active Inventory | 172 | 175 | + 1.7% |
| Months of Supply | 2.4 | 2.5 | + 4.2% |
What it means for buyers
If you are shopping Essex County this fall, the July numbers give you a clear read on the operating environment. 2.3 months of supply means you are still competing; 633 active listings is your working set at any given moment; and a 26-day median tells you that the well-priced homes clear in about two weeks. Neighborhoods worth watching closely include Montclair, Maplewood, South Orange, and West Orange, each with its own price band and pace within the Essex County market.
Practical moves that are working in this market:
- Get fully underwritten pre-approval, not just a prequalification letter. Sellers in Essex County are seeing multiple offers on well-priced listings, and a fully approved buyer wins the tie.
- Tour within 48 to 72 hours of a listing going active. A 26-day median means the offer deadline on strong listings often lands the following weekend.
- Do not throw out the YTD context. One month of comps is a small sample; the seven-month + 4.1% YTD median move is a better guide to what you can expect over a 90-day search window.
- Ask your agent for the specific micro-market data. Essex County splits by neighborhood, price band, and school district. County or town-wide numbers are the starting point, not the finish line.
What it means for sellers
The July data is a good backdrop for a fall listing in Essex County. Median eased - 0.1% year over year, pace held at 26 days, and homes cleared at 111.9% of list. That is the profile of a market that still rewards accurate pricing and clean presentation.
What matters most right now:
- Price against the most recent three to five comps, not last year's peaks. Essex County buyers are informed; a listing priced 2 to 3 percent above the last strong comp usually sits, then discounts.
- Photography, staging, and pre-listing prep are baseline. With 633 active single family listings competing for attention, your online listing is your first showing.
- Time your list date to the summer-to-fall transition. Historically, August through October brings a second listing wave; selling into current supply is stronger than competing with the fall surge.
- Get a comp-driven valuation before you commit to a number. A local agent walking your block is better data than any automated valuation tool.
The bottom line
Essex County in July 2026 continued the pattern the market has traced all year: steady demand, disciplined pricing, and a working set of active inventory that keeps buyers competing. The county-level data underscores what local agents have been seeing in individual neighborhoods, and the year-to-date context confirms that July was not a one-month outlier.
If you are considering a move in the next 90 days, the fall window is the moment to prepare, price, and list. If you are buying, sharpen your criteria and your financing, and be ready to move within the week on the right listing.
Median $875K. 26 days on market. 111.9% of list received. 2.3 months of supply. That is what a healthy seller market looks like heading into fall.
Curious what your Essex County home is actually worth this month?
Get a free, no-obligation home valuation from a local CENTURY 21 Preferred agent, based on the same July 2026 data you just read.
