Mendham combines small-town charm with modern suburban living
The Mendham Borough is an established suburb whose tree-lined streets boast award-winning schools, a vibrant downtown center and a mix of residential homes set back from main roads. “The quality of life here is great,” says Diane Tolley, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker who has been selling homes for over 20 years. “Mendham has a highly rated school system, small-town charm and historic buildings combined with a great location that makes commuting easy.” The borough is anchored by the Mendham Historic District, which runs along Route 24 and boasts a collection of historic buildings and local shops. Also known as “Main Street,” the highway provides residents with easy access to community gathering spots and nearby city centers.
Housing styles include Colonial Revivals and newer custom builds
Mendham contains a variety of housing styles, reflecting the borough’s continued growth and development over time. Along Main Street, homebuyers in the Mendham Historic District can find four-bedroom colonial revivals built in the early 1900s with original hardwood floors and quarter-acre lots for $700,000 to $800,000. Further from the center of town, those looking for more space can find custom-built homes on sprawling estates with up to 17 acres of land. Homebuyers in this area can find French Chateaus with bay windows, private driveways and spiral staircases for $2.5 million to $6.7 million, with the price increasing with the size of the home. In the northern corner of town, five-bedroom Center Hall Colonials feature open floorplans and private lake access, with prices starting at around $800,000. The southern edge of Mendham is home to plenty of properties that vary in size from 4,000 to 10,000 square feet and sell for between $1,220,000 and $5,250,000.
Award-winning schools in the Mendham Township School District
Children attend the Mendham Township School District, which earned a B from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1. Younger kids attend Mendham Township Elementary School and Mendham Township Middle School, with both schools being recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for their academic performances and earning an A-minus from Niche. Teens attend West Morris Mendham High School, which earned an A-plus and is an International Baccalaureate World School offering students several college preparatory courses.
Outdoor recreation throughout the seasons
Residents gather at green spaces like Borough Park, which features three baseball diamonds, two basketball courts, four tennis courts and a playground for kids to explore. "The parks are always full of people enjoying themselves,” says Tolley. In the northern portion of the community, James Andrews Memorial County Park is a popular spot for hiking or biking along a system of shaded gravel trails. When it snows, the trails are used for winter activities like cross-country skiing. Locals can also join the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club, a private club featuring an 18-hole golf course and courts for tennis or pickleball.
Head to Main Street for shopping and dining
Residents frequent a collection of markets, restaurants and shops along Main Street, which runs through the heart of the community below Borough Park. Local favorites on this strip include cafés like Simple Coffee and supermarkets like Kings Food Markets, one of several grocery stores serving the area. Local favorites for dining include Piattino, an Italian restaurant known for its stone-fired pizzas, and The Black Horse Tavern and Pub, an old-fashioned inn serving American comfort foods. For entertainment, the ArtLab Gallery is an arts venue showcasing work from local New Jersey artists.
New York City can be accessed through multiple transportation options
Residents are minutes from major thoroughfares like Highway 287, Route 46 and Route 24, which runs through the center of the borough and is colloquially known as “Main Street.” Locals are also about 38 miles from New York City and can commute to the Big Apple using the nearby Morristown Train Station.
Borough Park hosts multiple annual events
Residents gather in Borough Park for annual events like Mendham Fest, a fall festival featuring live music, local vendors and crafts. The park is also home to the city’s Summer Concert Series, which invites locals to relax in the park’s green spaces while enjoying performances by local bands.
The Historic District is preserved under the NRHP
The borough is centered around the Mendham Historic District, which runs along Main Street and is known for its sprawling estates and bustling downtown. The district contains historic buildings from the borough’s development in the 18th century, which continue to be preserved today under the National Register of Historic Places. Significant buildings include the Phoenix House, a federal-style home built in the early 1800s, and The Black Horse Tavern and Pub, which dates back to 1742 and is the oldest operating restaurant in New Jersey.
