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Where the Heart Is
When people move here, they tend to stay. While there has been a large influx of new homeowners from New York City and other areas, once people arrive they put down roots and take full advantage of what their adopted town has to offer.
No matter what your particular tastes are, there is a town in the area that is right for you. The best way to get a feel for each one is to visit personally, of course, but you'll find information on this page to help give you a general sense of what's out there.
And if you already live here, you'll find even more reasons to love it!
Make sure to read my guides to activities and events in the area. I publish them four times a year, one for each season, and they are filled with ideas of how to get the most out of living here.
Locations Locations Locations
Towns in the area
The areas I work in are all unique in their own way. Here are some websites to look at for more information on particular towns.
Maplewood
Listed as ‘one of the best places to live’ by Money Magazine, Maplewood is only 20 miles from midtown Manhattan but has a charming, small town community feeling while also being sophisticated in its lifestyle. Diverse in its population, it’s a great place to live if you can’t afford the city. The downtown is pedestrian-friendly with several good restaurants and shops. There is a new visual arts center in town as well as several arts centers hosting on-going theatre and cultural programs. The neighborhoods are tranquil and tree lined, with a collection of Tudors, Victorians, and Colonials and over 30 active housing committees. There are lots of parks and the town abuts a 2000 acre nature preserve with lots of walking trails. There are several elementary schools, middle schools, and a high school with a reputation for academic excellence. A fantastic place to raise a family without the high costs of living in the City.
Milburn/Short Hills
The Millburn township is comprised of two personalities – Short Hills - the hilly residential area of classic 19th century architecture wound around old oak trees and small hills - and the Millburn area laid out in a smaller, more orderly manner with a mixture of old architectural styles. The beauty of the area, highly rated public high school, and prestigious shopping make this town one of the most distinctive suburbs in New Jersey. Short Hills is home to the upscale ‘Mall at Short Hills’ housing Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom’s, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. Milburn boasts a thriving downtown with distinctive shops and restaurants, as well as the renowned Paper Mill Theatre, which has been a leading professional theatre since the 1930’s. In Millburn/Short Hills you have both small town charm with big city sophistication.
Summit
One of the premier suburban communities in the state, Summit has a rich history beginning in 1819. Summit has retained much of its old town flavor in the midst of modern day development with architecture reflecting its history but services and shops that meet the demands of its modern day residents. The downtown has boomed in recent years and there are plenty of restaurants and small businesses. Many nearby residents find themselves foregoing the local malls to do their shopping in Summit’s downtown area. Summit is both diverse in its population as well as its real estate – there are both upscale luxury homes and more affordable single family and multi-resident dwellings.
South Orange
South Orange is Maplewood’s ‘sister city’, and also a 29 minute train ride from downtown Manhattan. South Orange is very similar to Maplewood and includes lots of cultural activities through out the year, for example, the Arts in the Park free outdoor concert series in the summer.
Chatham
The much sought after community of Chatham is a quiet, carefully developed community that offers many fine homes, townhouses, and garden apartments for its residents who commute to New York City. Chatham is a family community that takes pride in its green, forested feeling while being an easy commute to New York City’s metropolitan attractions. The surrounding towns offer plenty of shopping and cultural activities to complement the quaint small town feel of Chatham.
Madison
Madison is another diverse, small suburban community that is known for its strong educational, cultural, and historical background, all within easy commuter distance of New York City. Its broad tree lined streets reflect the history of this township with its downtown a thriving central business district that happens to also be on the State Register of Historic Places. Madison is home to Drew University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. It is also home to the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, and the Playwright’s Theatre of New Jersey. This affluent town includes both smaller, more affordable single family homes as well as large estates. | 
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