Gina Chirico

Thinking of moving to the West Essex area of Essex County, New Jersey but not really sure what or where West Essex is?  West Essex is located at the far northwestern region of Essex County, bordering both Morris and Passaic Counties.  West Essex is comprised of eight amazing towns, each with a little bit of their own style, character and history. West Essex offers the perfect combination of living and working environments for both singles and families. 
                                       
Among the Communities of West Essex are Caldwell, West Caldwell, Roseland, Essex Fells, North Caldwell, Fairfield, Verona and Cedar Grove.  All eight of these West Essex Communities share a history together having all been part of the Horseneck Tract over 300 years ago (as were portions of Livingston, West Orange and Upper Montclair).   All the West Essex Communities, including Livingston, West Orange and Montclair have been voted in the Top 20 Best Places to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.

The Borough Caldwell is a full-service community with small-town charm. Housing styles and sizes range from early Victorians to fully-modern condos to an array of multi-family homes. Caldwell boasts an abundance of local stores and shops on Bloomfield Avenue that reflect the upscale mood of the community, a movie theater, restaurants, as well the Caldwell Community Center complete with gymnasium, pool and fitness center which has a little of something for every age group.  Caldwell is also home to the 7th largest park in the Essex County Parks system…Grover Cleveland Park.  This 42-acre park boasts a tennis courts, baseball fields, a playground and a pond perfect for families to enjoy fishing or ice skating.  Caldwell, New Jersey was voted #7 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.   Search for Caldwell, NJ homes.

The Township of West Caldwell, shares the Caldwell name but maintains its own unique character. A town of predominantly single-family homes and approximately 11,500 residents, its streets are filled with colonial, split-level, ranch and Cape homes. Shoprite and Kings are amongst West Caldwell’s four shopping areas.   West Caldwell, New Jersey was voted #6 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search for West Caldwell, NJ homes for sale.

Presently Caldwell and West Caldwell share a public school system consisting of four grammar schools, Grover Cleveland Middle School and James Caldwell High School in West Caldwell.  Caldwell and West Caldwell have a combined population of approximately 18,000 and are located within 25 miles or so from New York City.  

The Borough of Essex Fells, the smallest community in Essex County, is almost entirely residential with a variety of well-designed and spaciously located homes and estates.  Essex Fells has approximately 2,100 residents and covers approximately 1.5 square miles.   Although maintaining its own grammar school for kindergarten through sixth grade, Essex Fells is part of the West Essex Regional School District, along with Roseland, North  Caldwell and Fairfield for Middle School and High School.  Essex Fells, New Jersey was voted #2 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search for homes for sale in Essex Fells.

The Township of Fairfield (my hometown) is among the least densely populated towns in Essex County.  Housing styles for its approximate 7,000 residents range from cape and bi-level styles to colonials and townhouses. A town with a large commercial and industrial base, including the Essex  County Airport and Target, Fairfield provides plenty of opportunities for employment and is conveniently located near Routes 46 and 80 for the New York commuter.   Like Essex Fells, Fairfield maintains its own grammar schools, but is one of the four sending districts of the West Essex Regional Schools.  Fairfield, New Jersey was voted #17 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search homes for sale in Fairfield, NJ.

The Borough of North Caldwell situated at the highest point of land in Essex County is comprised of mainly single family homes and townhome complexes for its 5,800 residents.  The tree-lined streets of North Caldwell boast an array of large estates and well-maintained homes.  Although maintaining its own grammar school, North Caldwell is part of the West Essex Regional School District, serving the sending districts of Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland.  North Caldwell , New Jersey was voted #5 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search homes for sale in North Caldwell, NJ.  Although separate from Caldwell and West Caldwell, all three towns share the same zip code (07006).     Search for all homes in New Jersey zip code 07006.

The Borough of Roseland, originally known as the “Centerville Section” of Livingston is a well blended residential and executive area of West Essex.  With an estimated population of 5,300, Roseland covers 3.6 square miles.   The Roseland School District serves students from kindergarten through sixth grades.  Students in grades seventh through twelfth attend the West Essex Regional School District.  Communities served by the West Essex Regional School District are Roseland, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Essex Fells.  Roseland, New Jersey was voted #3 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search homes for sale in Roseland, NJ.

The Township of Cedar Grove described by the Star Ledger newspaper as “Beautiful Suburbia” is located just between the first and second chain of the Watchung Mountains.  Although Cedar Grove is primarily a residential community with a great mix of colonial, ranch and split level homes, with a small number of townhomes and condos. The North End of Cedar Grove consists of mostly homes. A notable part of the north end of town is the Park Ridge Estates, which contains million dollar homes. The central portion of the town contains Cedar  Grove’s business district, including  the Essex County Hospital Center, Mills Reservation and the Cedar Grove Reservoir.  The South End of Cedar Grove heading towards Verona is where you can find a mixture of houses and businesses like Burger King, the Pilgrim Diner and the movie theater.  Cedar Grove maintains its own public school system.  Cedar Grove, New Jersey  was voted #4 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search homes for sale in Cedar Grove, NJ. 

The Township of Verona is primarily as an upscale residential community. Due to its  natural beauty and proximity to New York, Verona has appeal as an affordable residential community with a mix of single-family homes, town-houses and garden apartments. One of the most favorable features of Verona is Verona Park, which is part of the Essex County Park system. In addition to this 54 acre park being a favorite location for wedding pictures, it offers boating, fishing, tennis courts and playgrounds.  Verona students attend the Verona school system.  Verona, New Jersey was voted #1 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search homes for sale in Verona, NJ.

There are some who consider Livingston, West Orange and the Upper Montclair section of Montclair to be part of West Essex.  They are connected to West Essex not only because they border the West Essex Communitiesbut small portions of all three towns were once a part of the Horseneck Tract which is now known as West Essex.   Their connection to West Essex is duly noted and recognized.  Livingston, New Jersey’s local newspaper is, after all, called the West Essex Tribune.  Livingston, New Jersey was voted #14 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Montclair, New Jersey was voted #15 Best Place to Live in Essex County by New Jersey Monthly in 2008 and West Orange, New Jersey was voted #16 Best Place to Live in Essex County New Jersey Monthly in 2008.  Search homes for sale in Livingston NJ, West Orange NJ and Upper Montclair NJ. 

See current West Essex Real Estate Market Reports and Stats for the West Essex Communities.

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