Like Montclair, West Orange is situated on the eastern edge of the Watchung Mountains. Its 12-mile radius includes 2 scenic ridges and 2 valleys. From many homes on the hills, all across the price spectrum, the view of Manhattan is stupendous. Aside from views, West Orange has parks, golf courses, and shopping. And, no, West Orange does not have Midtown Direct train service! But it does have among the most reliable and plentiful town jitney service to Midtown Direct stations in neighboring South Orange and Orange. It's also a quick ride to PATH trains in Harrison, NJ, where parking is plentiful and you can hop on a train to the City every few minutes. 

On its website, West Orange is described as "a 300-year-old multi-faceted, politically active, suburban community whose residents reflect a wide variety of income, ethnic backgrounds, education, and interests."  

Some 44,000 people now call West Orange home. Sandwiched between Montclair and South Orange, West Orange is an attractive alternative to the higher home prices in those towns. Recently, in an article on the town in the New York Times Real Estate section, I called it "the best kept secret" in Essex County. 

I say that for several reasons:  

--Nobody can quite believe its size -- really huge, with real open spaces!! 

--Home prices are often a less relentlessly expensive and, in the current economic downturn, homes here have great affordability For a 3-bedroom cape cod or small colonial, prices start in the $300,000's. Rising taxes have been a problem, though, that local government is grappling with, though a current local tax hike freeze. A town-wide home revaluation, upcoming, may result in some adjustments for individual homeowners. 

About one-fifth of the town is open space - including portions of the county's beautiful South Mountain and Eagle Rock Reservations, county and town parks, playgrounds, private and public golf courses, and undeveloped acreage. The lush Reservations include excellent hiking trails and bridle paths, as well as a lookout area at the top of Eagle Rock Reservation, where on a clear day you can see the Statue of Liberty. 

Because of its size, West Orange does not have the intimate town feel of a Glen Ridge or South Orange. Aside from some mom-and-pop shops and neighborhood restaurants and diners in "old West Orange," near the Edison National Historic Site, most shopping in the town is more suburban in design, including Essex Green Mall on Prospect Ave., which includes a Macy's, a multiplex cinema, Petco, and Panera Bread Company.
(Recent attempts to redevelop "old West Orange" with a condo and townhouse development called "Edison Village," are, sadly, on hold.) 

West Orange has several distinct and delightful neighborhoods with more charming Tudor homes than any other town in the area, as well as stately colonials and a plentiful inventory of split-levels, ranches and capes. Several new housing developments have risen over the past decade, from The Grande and The Paddock to the new, still-being-built Bel Air. And, for downsizers and young people looking for their first home purchase, West Orange offers more upscale condo opportunities than any other town in Essex County. Among the well-regarded condo communities are The Pointe, Eagle Ridge, The Highlands, Crystal Woods, and Crown View at Smith Manor. The new Bel Air townhouse development is almost sold out, while Vizcaya, a pricey combination of one-floor and multi-floor units, is also selling well. 

The town is also home to beautiful 400-acre Llewellyn Park, the first private, gated residential park in the US, created in 1853 and home to Glenmont, Thomas Edison's mansion, now a national landmark. Homes in the park, ranging in price from about $500,000 to several million, with many situated on at least 2 acres. 

A little more on commuting from West Orange. Parts of the popular Gregory Section are close enough to Orange's Highland Station and South Orange's Mountain Station to walk to the train or take local jitney service there. Bus service from the town is an effective means of commuting to Manhattan or Newark. A convenient Park & Ride on Northfield Ave with covered parking, offers an efficient 45-50 min commute to NYC. Because the town in bisected in several places by Rt. 280, some residents prefer driving to Manhattan, taking Rt. 280 East to the Lincoln or Holland Tunnels. And then, there's the PATH. It's just a breeze to drive there, park, and catch the train there: http://www.panynj.gov/path/stations.html 

West Orange's public school system, always well regarded, was named one of the best districts in the US by Newsweek just a few years ago. The district's primary schools in the St. Cloud, Redwood, Mt. Pleasant and Gregory sections rank highest by reading scores. The high school is distinghished by a large number advanced placement courses. The architecturally audacious new Liberty Middle School was build mid-decade.  

I've always enjoyed showing homes in West Orange. It's interesting geography, mix of homes and diverse population are a great package to attract newcomers. Let me help you get to know West Orange, NJ better.