$872,202Average Value$347Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Lower property taxes in a suburb 30 miles from Manhattan
Flanked by a large nature preserve to the north, but with major thoroughfares running through it, Fairfield is a small northern New Jersey township just 30 miles from Manhattan. Lifestyles lean towards the quintessentially suburban, with local realtors noting that Fairfield’s excellent public school pipeline is a major draw for homebuyers. But there are more unique factors that attract residents, too. “Fairfield has a little bit of industry in town, hence low property taxes,” says Lauren Orsini, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway who has friends living in the neighborhood. “It’s a place that has no problem selling homes at all, because people seek it out.” Plus, the neighborhood is filled with restaurants, and is a short drive from a commuter rail station, which is surrounded by more shopping destinations.
The property taxes in Fairfield are lower than many communities just 30 miles from New York City
Just 30 miles from New York the taxes remain on the lower end for like townships.
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Modern colonial homes, starting at $650,000
Fairfield housing is more modern compared to nearby neighborhoods. Instead of homes from the 1930s to 1950s, for example, one is more likely to see homes from the 1980s. In particular, the properties tend to be large multi-story colonials. But there’s another distinction in Fairfield: residential construction hasn’t stopped. “You typically won’t see this in a suburb like Fairfield, that’s been so built up already,” says Orsini. “But they’ve found a way to make it work, and people enjoy the extra space this neighborhood affords them. The lots tend to be larger here, in fact, and the residential roads are winding, almost countrylike. Parts of Fairfield used to be farmland.” Prices can start at $650,000 and extend up to $800,000.
Landscaped family home in Fairfield.
Fairfield has many neighborhoods with moderately priced colonial style houses.
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Strong sports teams at West Essex High
Schools are at the top of the list when it comes to buying in Fairfield. “People like that it’s connected to the West Essex school system, in particular the high school, which has a good sports program,” says Realtor Daniel Buschbaum with Berkshire Hathaway. Students can start off at Stevenson School, which covers kindergarten through 3rd grade, and earns a B-minus rating from Niche. They then go on to Churchill School, which earns a B, until they graduate 6th grade. West Essex Middle students enjoy a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The school earns an A-minus. Among the most recent athletic accomplishments for West Essex High is the football team advancing to state finals in 2023. The school receives an A rating.
West Essex High School is the home of the Knights.
West Essex High School supports a wide variety of both boys and girls competitive athletics.
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Walking trails at the Fairfield Recreation Complex
The Fairfield Recreation Complex is a popular community gathering space with sports fields and walking trails. Many neighbors meet up to let their kids romp around the playground or participate in youth sports. At a corner of the park is the Fairfield Free Public Library, which has youth and adult programs, like knitting, arts and crafts and book clubs. Residents who like to hike and fish can immerse themselves in the Great Piece Meadows, a nature preserve on the north side that spans over 1,000 acres. Spend the day hiking or fishing on the preserve. For golf enthusiasts there are two country clubs nearby: Mountain Ridge and Green Brook. Members of Mountain Ridge can play on an 18-hole championship course, while Green Brook offers tennis courts and a pool, in addition to the links.
Walking paths go throughout the Fairfield recreation complex.
Friends meet up for a afternoon walk at the Fairfield recreation area.
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Cozy food options, like Calandra's Bakery
Despite the suburban and mobile lifestyle in Fairfield, a lot of the dining scene has a tightknit, downhome feel. “One of my favorite restaurants here is Jose Tejas, it just has a fun vibe and you’ll often see a line out the door,” says Orsini. “Calandra’s Bakery is another popular spot. They have stuff coming out of the oven every hour on the hour. People love their hot bread.” Pubs, taverns, bagel shops, diners, taphouses and steakhouses fill out the roster. Similar things can be said about the local entertainment options – the rock climbing gym and mini golf course feel inviting to regulars. But bordering to the east is Wayne Towne Center, a traditional shopping mall surrounded by big-box grocers like Costco and chain restaurants like Shake Shack. There’s also a Target before approaching the mall. “Ease of shopping and dining is definitely a big draw to Fairfield,” says Orsini. “Plus, at Willowbrook Mall there’s a park and ride, so daily routines feel integrated.”
Calandra's is one of the many casual spots to grab breakfast or lunch.
If Italian food is on your mind there are an array of spots in Fairfield for lunch or dinner.
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A pair of thoroughfares makes for easy driving
The Wayne Route 23 Transit Center offers a commuter train right in the heart of retail amenities next door to Fairfield. Drivers, though, always have immediate access to a pair of key thoroughfares: both Interstate 80 and Route 46 ride east-west across the neighborhood. There are no bus lines that run through Fairfield, and residential streets have a quiet, winding character.
Route 80 is one of the highways that cuts through Fairfield that runs to New York
Fairfield's portion of Route 46 takes commuters to New York or out to western New Jersey.
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The Passaic River and environmental issues
One important feature to keep in mind is that Fairfield is wrapped by the Passaic River, which can flood at times. “As a homebuyer in Fairfield, I think asking if your home is in a flood zone, because it’s not just about the home itself, either, but that some of the roads can close, too,” says Buschbaum. But local efforts have been made to mitigate this as much as possible. “Fairfield is a bit of a lower lying town, but the Army Corps of Engineers have done a lot of work to prevent the river from spilling over,” says Orsini.
The Passaic River runs through the Fairfield area.
Nature makes it's presence known in Fairfield by the Passaic River.
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Written By
Paul Spencer
Photography Contributed By
Brendan Rogers
Video By
Victoria Sharpe
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Ann Marie Burke,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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