Chester blends rural atmosphere with small-town amenities
Chester is a rural township in the southwestern corner of Morris County. The borough of Chester is in the heart of the township, with shopping centers, locally owned businesses along Main Street and homes set closer together on sidewalk-free streets. The rest of the township is full of tall trees that give residents a sense of privacy, and family farms offer fresh produce. “We have rolling farmlands, some of which are historic and some of which are still active farms to this day – and it’s all just a hop away from the city,” says Maura Young, Realtor with Weichert Realtors and longtime resident of the area. The area has highly rated schools close to home, and the public green spaces range from town parks to historic gardens planted in the 1900s. While people may settle in Chester for the privacy and small-town atmosphere, there are direct routes to major cities, like trains to Newark and New York City. Chester keeps residents tucked away in beautiful nature with amenities a short drive away.
Trees and farms surround Colonial Revivals and New Traditionals
True to its history as farmland, the area exudes pastoral beauty and features homes surrounded by dense patches of trees. Homes closer to the village of Chester might land in the $400,000 to $600,000 range, and most Colonial Revivals and farmhouse-style homes sell for around $600,000 to $1 million. Due to their size and extensive lots, Sprawling New Traditionals with at least four bedrooms have sold for about $1 million to $4 million. Any property that sells for less than $200,000 likely needs repairs. Regardless of where people live in the township, the homes have plenty of breathing room between them, so neighbors don’t feel on top of each other.
Getting to Newark and beyond by car or train
U.S. Route 206 runs through Chester, connecting to nearby Interstates 78. Anyone who prefers to drive can travel 50 miles to reach New York City. Gladstone is the nearest train station, offering nearly 2-hour train rides to Newark Penn Station, where people can change trains to continue to Penn Station in New York. Commuters can also take the train to reach the Newark Liberty International Airport. The village of Chester has an urgent care, but Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital is about 11 miles away by car.
Top rated schools across two districts
The area is a part of the Chester School District, rated A by Niche. Dickerson School offers prekindergarten through second-grade classes and earns a B-plus. The A-rated Bragg School has third through fifth grade and feeds into Black River Middle School, which gets an A-minus. Chester is in the A-rated West Morris Regional High School District, and the nearest option is West Morris Central High, which also earns an A. In 2025, the district received a nearly $87,000 grant for recreation improvements.
Walking through public parks and the Willowwood Arboretum
Chester has options for every type of resident when it comes to getting outdoors. “There are so many options for getting out and having fun – from fishing, to hiking and even birdwatching,” says Young. Out of all the local parks, Black River Park features scenic hiking trails that stretch through the area’s rural landscape. The Cooper Gristmill is near the park and one of the state's last water-powered flour mills. People can tour the mill when it opens on Fridays and Sundays. “With all the rolling hills, forests and pretty landscapes, even just a drive around can be a great way to appreciate the classically rural beauty of the area.” The Willowwood Arboretum offers free admission to stroll along trails extending past the historic Tubbs House and gardens planted by the Tubbs brothers around 1910. The public Flanders Valley Golf Course offers tee times to play all 18 holes.
Main Street restaurants and big box stores in nearby shopping centers
The Streets of Chester shopping center has stores like Green's Natural Foods and Ann Taylor, while Chester Springs Mall across the street features a ShopRite and more big box retailers. Alstede Farms and Stony Hills Farm Market provide fresh produce and seasonal flowers. "We love being able to rely on local farms for our fresh fruits and veggies, so farmers markets are always a hit here,” says Young. Having access to major brands is convenient, but some people want to support small businesses like those along Main Street. Fresco Mexican has indoor and outdoor seating options, while PH Tavern & Steakhouse serves lunch and dinner in the historic Publick House Hotel. Taylor’s Ice Cream Parlor serves almost 50 flavors of homemade ice cream, from soft serve to sundaes, and the shop is two doors down from Chester Crafts, Collectibles & Antiques.
