Norman Rockwell vibes, just 20 miles west of New York City
At the turn of the 19th century, Maplewood was conceived by Edward Balch as a place to settle a leafy suburb flecked with culture. The lush rolling area was only 20 miles west of New York City, and right next door to the South Mountain Reservation nature preserve. Throughout the years, Maplewood has retained its reputation as a haven to former city dwellers. Residents enjoy the sense of community, highly rated schools and the direct train line into Midtown Manhattan. “Maplewood is a suburban melting pot and, generally speaking, a very accepting town with a charming downtown village," says Mark Slade, team lead of The Mark Slade Team with Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct Realty.
Tree lined streets are a trademark of Maplewood.
South Mountain Reservation is a 2,000 acre public park.
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Maplewood's abundance of colonial homes
Colonial styles figure prominently in Maplewood, with most built between the 1920s and 1930s, when the neighborhood boomed. There are some investment properties around, but most move-in ready homes begin at $500,000 and can rise into the high $800,000s. Homebuyers should keep in mind how much amenities play a part in home prices here – it’s not just number of bedrooms, although there are plenty of massive five-bedroom colonials. “The same home that’s $750,000 to $800,000 in Maplewood may be $600,000 in nearby Roseland,” says Realtor Daniel Buschbaum with Berkshire Hathaway. “That direct train line to Manhattan makes a difference.” Maplewood's residential streets are lined with sidewalks under shady trees, leading to manicured front lawns. These roads make for ideal block party conditions, which are a common weekend sight in the spring and fall. Homebuyers can also find condominiums like The Top, a high-rise luxury complex with views of the Manhattan skyline. Condos start around $230,000, but some luxury units can range from around $500,000 to $750,000.
Colonial homes are the primary style of home in Maplewood.
Quaint Dutch Colonial homes can be found on most streets in Maplewood.
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Ultimate Frisbee at Columbia High
Kids can attend the South Orange-Maplewood School District, including Columbia High School, where Ultimate Frisbee was invented by students in 1968. A plaque commemorating the students hangs in the parking lot. Another claim to fame for the high school is that actor and filmmaker Zach Braff is an alum. Kids also attend Clinton Elementary School and South Orange Middle Schools. All schools in the pipeline earn an A-minus rating from Niche.
Maplewood NJ is the birthplace of Ultimate Frisbee.
Clinton Elementary serves the students of Maplewood.
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South Mountain Reservation
Memorial Park is downtown, next to the commuter rail and middle school. There are tennis courts, ball fields, picnic areas and a playground. Connected to the park is Maplewood Country Club, which includes a golf course, pool and several dining rooms. The Maplewood Community Pool is another popular summer destination for cooling off. Kids can participate in the annual summer swim league or spend their days riding the waterslide. “Maplewood has a good number of parks, many of which you can walk to," Slade says. "It's a great way to meet people when you first move to Maplewood." For an immersion in nature, South Mountain Reservation offers over 2,000 acres to explore, and features a zoo, a dog park and walking trails.
South Mountain Reservation, adjacent to Maplewood, NJ, shows the vast and dense forested area.
Stop and relax within Memorial Park in Maplewood.
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Shopping and dining on Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood Avenue is where homebuyers will see some of that much-talked-about community feeling. This downtown village radiates Rockwellian small-town charm – except blended with that melting pot vibe that Slade speaks of. With no strip malls, Maplewood Avenue is the place to go for coffee, a night out and errands. "The only national chain we have is Starbucks, which took a while to come," Slade says. The cosmopolitan lifestyle is enhanced by how businesses are interspersed: after a vinyasa flow at Baker Street Yoga, it’s just a walk around the corner for a Thai lunch at Wild Ginger. Dinner options feel hip but still maintain hours that are family-friendly, like Arturo's, a woodfired pizza place that opens promptly at 5 p.m. Nightlife aims for creativity, too, like Coda Kitchen & Bar, which features a list of cocktails and comfort foods like fried pickles, short rib grilled cheese and jambalaya. "Since I've lived in Maplewood, the quality of restaurants has been outstanding," Slade says. "Maplewood is an incredible place to get a meal."
Maplewood Ave is a bustling place for residents on the go.
Luna Stella, on Highland Place in Maplewood's downtown, is a New American restaurant with exceptional reviews.
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Maplewoodstock in Memorial Park
Events are plentiful, and tend to focus on the arts, like Maplewoodstock, the annual two-day music and art festival that occurs every July in Memorial Park. Summer brings out the block party spirit, with the Maplewood Village Summer Streets series: pedestrians take over the stretch between Baker Street and Inwood Place on Maplewood Avenue, setting out blankets and enjoying diversions like trivia night. There’s also a yearly downtown Art Walk and Music Fest in October, which is a good time to check out the wares of local merchants and artisans.
The Maplewood Mayfest Street Fair in NJ is bustling with excitement and fun.
The live music at Maplewood Mayfest street fair adds to the lively atmosphere.
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Commuting on I-78
Even catching the train off Maplewood Avenue feels like an artistic experience: the underground passage leading to the station features murals and mosaics painted by local artists and organizations. Interstate 78 is near Maplewood’s southern border, for those who wish to drive for their commute. Otherwise, the neighborhood is known for its pedestrian-friendly downtown, as well as commercial thoroughfares like Springfield Avenue, also known as Route 124, which is trafficked by buses.
Nancy is the team lead of Nancy Chu Homes at Keller Williams NJ Metro Group (Essex County’s #1 brokerage office) and has been a real estate professional since 2005. A consistent top producer in Northern NJ, she is skillful in a wide range of deal-making - from 1-bedroom condominiums to luxury homes to investment properties. While based in Essex County, she is intrepid by nature and has developed a regionally based business by selling in Essex, Bergen, Union, Morris, and Passaic Counties and beyond…in Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Somerset, too. “My primary goal is to explore the towns of Northern NJ, and to hone my expertise in all these areas. I think that real estate, like the rest of the world, is becoming more global, and so I feel that I must expand my approach both my worldview and my areas of business. My job is to listen closely to my client’s need, and because I have a wide knowledge base of the area, I have a better chance of helping them find the neighborhood they want to be in faster. There is nothing more satisfying than putting a family in the perfect home.” Nancy, who is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, cultivated a love for real estate when she helped her parents find their perfect home in Tennessee at age 16, and has not been able to stop following the real estate market since, owning a number of co-ops and condos in New York City, seven homes in Essex County as a serial renovator, leading to her present home in Livingston, and recently building a vacation getaway in Lavallette NJ.
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.
