A bygone summer retreat in the early 20th century, Lake Hiawatha is now home to year-round residents and maintains a residential, small-town feel. Contrary to its name, however, the area’s namesake lake has largely dried up. As a community within the vast Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, there’s a nearby reservoir, the Rockaway River, and other manmade lakes in the area. “It used to be seasonal living with bungalows and small homes, but the majority are being sold to builders because the value has gone up. Homes are getting bigger with new constructions, mainly colonials, over $1 million,” says Jennifer Pickett, a real estate agent with Compass who has sold several homes in the area. “There are also a lot of multi-generational families in the area, maybe 75 percent,” she adds.
The Rockaway river feeds into Lake Hiawatha's namesake lake.
You can find large colonial homes on Boonton Reservoir in Lake Hiawatha.
1/2
Colonial and ranch-style homes with new construction
Buyers will encounter very limited stock in the area, and when a house does go up for sale, it typically gets snagged within a couple weeks. The market primarily consists of renovated midcentury properties, including split-level homes, quaint Cape Cods, colonial-style residences, and an impressive range of ranch-style properties. The median price is around $500,000 for a single-family home, but can go for $750,000 and up for newer, larger properties. One-bedroom condos go as low as $205,000. Averaging around 1,5000 square-feet, home sizes tend to be a bit smaller than the national average. “Houses are also a little bit closer together, but more affordable than neighboring Lake Parsippany,” Pickett says.
Most homes in Lake Hiawatha are colonial style with vinyl siding.
Ranch homes, large and small, can be found throughout Lake Hiawatha.
1/2
A-rated schools with extracurricular activities
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District has highly-rated schools that attract many families. Elementary school students can attend Northvail Elementary School and Central Middle School, which both receive an A rating on Niche. Parsippany Hills High School, an A-plus-rated school that's ranked number six in the county, has a great range of athletic, academic, and extracurricular activities and programming.
Northvail School is one of the options for elementary students in Lake Hiawatha.
Students of Parsippany High School get to enjoy the extensive sporting fields.
1/2
Popular swim club and recreation areas
Lake Hiawatha Swim Club has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a wading pool for young swimmers, diving boards and a waterslide. Residents also play volleyball and tennis with neighbors and enjoy live music, bonfires and movie nights. Next to the swim club is Lake Hiawatha Park, which has a large play area for kids and a small gazebo. At Volunteers Park, locals enjoy picnics in the grass, while some head to the skate park and athletic fields. For nature-immersion, residents head to nearby Lake Parsippany: “The township is all connected, and Lake Parsippany, which is only a five-to-10 minute drive away, has canoeing and swimming,” says Pickett.
Take a swim at the Lake Hiawatha Swim Club.
Veterans Memorial Park lies just south of the Boonton Reservoir in Lake Hiawatha.
1/2
Walkable streets and specialty dining
“People buy here because things are walkable. There’s a stretch of stores with specialty foods, including Indian and Asian cuisines,” says Pickett. Residents stroll along sidewalks past mom-and-pop restaurants, dentist offices and small businesses like a comic book store, hair parlors and nail salons. Lake Hiawatha, like the entire township, has many Indian restaurants, including the Bollywood Grill and Vaishnav thali. Like any true Jersey community, there's at least one bagel shop within reach. Residents stop into Howard’s Bagel for their well-loved Taylor ham, egg and cheeses. Lake Hiawatha Dairy serves up homemade seasonal ice cream with fun flavors.
Residents of Lake Hiawatha can walk to the local shops downtown,
Outstanding Afghan and Mediterranean food can be found at Kabab Paradise in Lake Hiawatha.
1/2
Major interstates and a bus to Manhattan
Residents can access several major highways, including NJ-495, US-46 and I-80, to get to NYC, the Jersey Shore or the Pennsylvania mountains. At the Beverwyck Park and Ride, locals can park their car and easily hop on a bus to Manhattan. “A lot of people take a bus to the city, which is about 45 minutes,” says Pickett. Interstate 80 and Interstate 287 converge in the middle of the township, while Route 10 and Route 46 are accessible from the interstates.
The Lake Hiawatha neighborhood is right near the junction of Routes 80 and 287.
Lake Hiawatha residents take advantage of the Beverwyck Park and Ride to get to the city.
1/2
Things to know
“Lake Hiawatha has a lot of flood areas, but it really depends on the section,” says Pickett. Also, despite the name, there is no longer a large namesake lake in the neighborhood, but several others can be found within the boundaries of the township.
Written By
Amber Snider
Video By
Hunter Severtson
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Molinari,
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.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
On average, homes in Lake Hiawatha, NJ sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Lake Hiawatha, NJ over the last 12 months is $508,762, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Expected to be impressed! Totally renovated with ellagant finishes and modern artisan craftsmanship. Everything was done with high-end finishes, no corners cut. Beautiful white cabinets kitchen open up to dining room with all new stainless steel appliances. 3 good size bedrooms upstairs, Living room, dining room and kitchen. Lower level, one bedroom, home office and family room. Water heater
Why rent when you can own this affordable and move-in ready home? Bright and sunny one-level condo offering spacious living with tile flooring throughout and two private entrances. This well-maintained home features three generous sized bedrooms, an updated main bath, a dining room perfect for entertaining or create a home office. The eat-in kitchen has new cabinets and pantry closet. A laundry
Welcome to this beautifully updated home in the heart of Lake Hiawatha! This charming residence offers 5 spacious bedrooms and 2 modern bathrooms, featuring a bright open-concept living and dining area perfect for entertaining. The renovated kitchen boasts granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and ample cabinetry. Enjoy the outdoors in the oversized backyard, ideal for gatherings or
This top floor condo in a charming pre-war building is ready for it's next owner. This generously sized 4-bedroom unit boasts original hardwood floors, detailed woodwork, original pocket doors, and nearly 10ft ceilings throughout. Large windows provide abundant sunshine throughout the home. Desirable layout with separation between the bedrooms and the main living area. Large eat-in kitchen with
Brian McNamaraHERITAGE HOUSE SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
Welcome to this stunning home with custom craftsmanship throughout, and embrace the ultimate lifestyle with an impressive 630 sq ft family room connected to the backyard through a patio door to a full-size hot tub and gazebo for endless entertainment. The gourmet kitchen has been reimagined, boasting all stainless-steel appliances and a fresh, contemporary aesthetic. This 3,525 sq ft house is
Welcome home to this charming 4 bed, 3 bath home perfect for entertaining. Expanded Large living room and primary suite. Enjoy indoor and outdoor living with pool house, in-ground pool, deck, patio, hot tub, BBQ area and more! Updated kitchen compliments a sunken living room with high ceilings and large stone fireplace. A full bath, dining room, family room and sun room round out the first floor.
Breathtaking scenery and beautiful landscaping is the hallmark of Knoll Gardens, an impressive collection of 1108 rental homes located in the quaint Morris County town of Lake Hiawatha.Units at Knoll Gardens offer one and two-bedroom apartments that range from 730 to 1120 square feet. Each spacious home includes air conditioning, a dishwasher, ample closet space, and a balcony in select
Second floor One bedroom in desirable Lincoln Gardens. Great location with easy access to Route 46, 80, 280 and 287. New appliances in kitchen, the spacious bedroom has a huge walk in closet for storage. Laundry facilities in basement of building. Parking for two cars but No Pets. Limited to Two person occupancy. Tenant insurance is required.
WOW! This stunning home awaits someone to cherish it like their own. It features an ultimate chef's kitchen equipped with Bosch, Fisher & Paykel stainless steel appliances, complemented by custom cabinetry and elegant granite countertops. The inviting living room boasts hardwood floors and abundant natural light. Enjoy the cozy ambiance of the oversized wood-burning brick fireplace in both the
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
