West Orange, located in the center of Essex County along the Watchung Mountains, is a 300-year-old residential community with a diverse population representing many ethnicities, interests, and income and education levels. Its most famous resident is Thomas Edison, who developed a research laboratory at Menlo Park more than 100 years ago. His laboratories are now a museum and part of the National Park Service.

West Orange’s most famous neighborhood would undoubtedly be Llewellyn Park. Created as the first residential park in the U.S., Llewellyn Park spans over 400 acres of trees, streams, pathways, and, of course, homes. A team of security guards protects the gated community. Within the park you will find homes with varied price ranges similar to the rest of West Orange.

While roughly 1/5 of the land in West Orange is made up of parks, playgrounds, golf courses, and land reservations, New York City is less than 15 miles away. Manhattan and outlying areas can be accessed from Interstate 280, which links West Orange to the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, the Holland Tunnel and Interstate 80. Express Bus Service and nearby train stations in Orange and South Orange make commuting convenient. Click here for NJ Transit. The Gregory, Valley, and St. Cloud sections of West Orange also have a jitney/shuttle service that takes commuting residents to the train stations. Click here for jitney schedules.

Even with its proximity to New York City, West Orange retains its own identity with shopping centers, Turtle Back Zoo, South Mountain Ice Skating Arena and the Edison National Historic Site, to name a few. From Eagle Rock Reservation, one can experience amazing views of the New York City Skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

West Orange provides close urban proximity without the urban clamor. With such a wide range of housing prices, the town offers many choices for either a first time homebuyer, or someone looking for a larger, more expensive home.