$355,137Average Value$265Average Price per Sq Ft46Homes For Sale
Sussex has small-town charm, rural surroundings and nearby essentials
Located in a county of the same name, Sussex is one of New Jersey’s twenty-one “doughnut hole” boroughs — and not because its borders form almost a perfect octagon, though that can’t hurt. It’s earned the title because it’s an independent borough located completely within Wantage Township, forming a distinct stamp of denser single-family homes surrounded by Wantage’s forests and farmland. “It’s quaint, it’s rural, but you’re still super close to Route 23 so you can still commute to larger suburban areas for work and everything else,” says Valerie Broderick, a broker salesperson at Weichert Realtors Hamburg who has been selling homes in the area for 12 years. “You’re 15 minutes from skiing, golfing, water parks, hiking the Appalachian Trail, wineries, restaurants, so you’re not totally backwoods. You still have that small-town feeling, but access to every modern convenience you could need.”
Tree-lined streets and neatly kept homes define Sussex’s welcoming neighborhoods, where every block feels like home.
The Early American Tavern in Sussex welcomes you with rustic charm, hearty meals, and a warm sense of community.
1/2
Restaurants and groceries in Sussex, more shopping 15 minutes away
Sussex has a small, walkable downtown full of local businesses, from barber shops to antique stores and boutiques. Sussex Coffee Company provides that all-important caffeine fix at the start of the day, and there are a few local restaurants. Locals claim that Lorenzo’s Pizzeria & Restaurant has the best pizza in the county, and Bobo’s Kitchen offers quick Chinese classics. Early American Tavern is a go-to for dinner and drinks thanks to its cozy, laid-back atmosphere helped along by the building’s history; it was built in 1843 and was once an inn, and still carries a lot of beautiful historic features. ShopRite and ACME Markets offer essentials.
Driving a few miles outside of town offers access to more restaurants, including The Green Olive, which is about a mile away, and the upscale Restaurant Latour, which is about 7 miles away, and which Broderick says offers white-glove service. Other shopping requires residents to drive out of town. “A Walmart, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Old Navy, are still within 20 minutes,” Broderick says. “Your Lowe’s or Home Depot are still in that same 15 to 20 minutes, but so are the farms and corn mazes and Skylands Ballpark, farm and horse shows, farmers markets.”
Beloved local restaurants like Lorenzo's Pizzeria, serve up hearty meals and hometown hospitality, making every gathering feel special.
Everyday essentials are just around the corner in Sussex, where friendly stores make errands effortless and easy.
1/2
Historical homes with unique detailing
Most homes in Sussex are colonials and Victorians, and they’re often on the older side. “The town is really, really old — like, horse and buggy old. Some of the houses are from the 1800s or early 1900s,” Broderick says. “And some of the really old Victorians that have been redone have five or six bedrooms with butler’s pantries and the back butler’s stairway that would go from the master bedroom to the kitchen. Some of them have walkup attics with full doors on them — no pull-down stairs or needing a stepladder.” Even when they’re updated, a lot of these historical homes maintain original details like carved wood banisters or crown molding. Fixer-uppers start as low as $250,000, but most homes start in the $300,000 range. Small new constructions can sell for $475,000 and large, updated homes usually max out at about $550,000.
Handsome homes and wide, quiet streets make Sussex a place where families can truly settle in and thrive.
Architectural gems like this historic Victorian home give Sussex its storybook charm and timeless character.
1/2
Small community parks and Clove Acres Lake
T.J. Dunn Community Park offers a little playground, and there are a couple of Little League baseball fields at the edge of the borough. Clove Acres Lake was the center of a rehabilitation project in 2015, and although swimming still isn’t allowed in the lake, it’s now a popular spot for kayaking and fishing. Crystal Springs Golf Club is just one of three golf clubs that are about 7 miles away.
Embrace the unparalleled charm of Cloves Acres Lake Park, perfectly designed to enrich your family’s life and anchor you to an exceptional community.
Embrace the unparalleled charm of T.J. Dunn Community Park, perfectly designed to enrich your family’s life and anchor you to an exceptional community.
1/2
Students attend the same public schools or a nearby private option
Niche gives the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District a C. Children attend C.E. Lawrence School, which has a B-minus, from pre-kindergarten through second grade. They then attend Wantage School from third through fifth grade before moving on to Sussex Middle School, both of which earn C-pluses. Once they hit high school, they attend High Point Regional High School, which is the only school in the High Point Regional District. It has a B-plus and a student-to-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. Alternatively, Sussex Christian School, a private school that teaches pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, is located right in Sussex. The little school has only about 165 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of 11-to-1, but it doesn’t have a rating on Niche or GreatSchools.
Choose a home in a district renowned for its outstanding schools like
Sussex Christian School offering convenient accessibility and deeply-rooted community ties.
Sussex Middle School has been a longstanding educational institution in this neighborhood.
1/2
The New Jersey State Fair is a few towns away
Sussex is a quiet town year-round, but the annual New Jersey State Fair is held about 9 miles away. Broderick says that the state fair started as the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show — a fair her own grandmother used to go to when she was little. It eventually shifted into the state fair, but it kept much of the trappings of the Sussex fair. “They still have the barrel racing and the equestrian events and the horse jumping, cattle shows and tractor pulls — a lot of real rural things,” Broderick says. “But you also have the demolition derby and all the carnival rides.”
Home to the iconic New Jersey State Fairgrounds, Sussex blends small-town charm with vibrant celebrations that bring the community to life year-round.
Horses and horse farms are common in the rural region of Sussex.
1/2
Driving to Newton for medical care and traveling to NY
State Route 23 runs right through the heart of Sussex, connecting to other towns and serving as the biggest road nearby. Although it covers less than a square mile, the borough has five churches. At about 15 miles away, Newton Medical Center is the closest hospital. The 67-mile drive to New York City takes about an hour and 30 minutes, and there’s no nearby train station to take commuters into the city. Between its lack of public transportation and the 20-minute drive to local malls, Sussex is completely car-dependent. But residents like it this way. “You have your modern amenities, but you have that peace and quiet when you get home and you can still get to anything you want,” Broderick says. “You can pet a cow on the side of the road, or you can go into Manhattan and see a musical or a concert.
Occasional tropical storms bring wind and rain
Tropical storms, leftover from hurricanes that hit further down the coast, sometimes pass over New Jersey, including Sussex. First Street, a climate risk data organization, says that the little borough has a minor risk of flooding and a moderate risk of high winds.
Photography Contributed By
Elma Kukaj
Video By
Alex Finneran
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Peter Ingrasselino,
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 Sussex, NJ sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Sussex, NJ over the last 12 months is $420,000, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
TURN-KEY WITH MAJOR UPGRADES! Welcome to 6 Maple Drive in desirable Vernon, NJ an impressive 4-bedroom, 3-bath home loaded with *brand new big-ticket improvements* including a *NEW ROOF, NEW SEPTIC SYSTEM (to be installed), NEW CENTRAL AIR, NEW FURNACE with ABOVE-GROUND OIL TANK, and NEW ELECTRIC WATER HEATER* providing peace of mind for years to come. Step inside to a * STUNNING, comPLETELY
Welcome to 13 Cliffside Ter, Vernon, NJ! This beautifully remodeled 3-bedroom, 1-bath home blends modern updates with cozy charm. Step inside to an inviting open layout featuring brand-new flooring, recessed lighting, and a fully renovated kitchen with sleek quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and contemporary finishes. The refreshed bathroom offers stylish tilework and quality
Every aspect of this home is brand new. The house boasts a prominent master wing that provides a luxurious retreat. The oversized bedroom is a haven of comfort, complete with a spacious walk-in closet. The en-suite bathroom is designed for relaxation, featuring a double sink, a soaking tub, and a private stall in an oversized bathroom space. The open-concept kitchen is a chef's dream, equipped
Step back in time with this beautifully preserved Colonial, originally built in 1780, where historical charm blends seamlessly with modern-day conveniences. Nestled on Libertyville Road in Wantage, this distinctive residence offers a detached guest house, a heated in-ground pool, and sweeping pastoral views. A rare highlight of the property is its legal-sized pickleball court, perfect for
"Welcome to your beautifully maintained and move-in ready townhome, nestled in a vibrant 55+ community and offering 2,235 sq. ft.of living space.This 2-brm, 4-bath gem features exceptional space, a nice designed layout, and a very large fin basement & perfect for relaxing or entertaining.The open loft space, complete with scenic views, offers incredible versatility. It includes 2 closets one of
Located in the residential neighborhood of Sussex, NJ, Alpine Village Apartments offers beautiful and spacious, one and two bedroom apartments for rent featuring oversized rooms, great closet space and semi-private entrances. Excellent maintenance, customer service, and attention to detail make Alpine Village Apartments one of Sussex Counties most desirable places to call home. Call or stop by
Neat, Clean, Pristine Split Level Home. Features include but not limited to Hardwood Floors on the Main Level, Newer Kitchen, SS Appliances, Laundry/1/2 Bath Combo and a Fenced in Yard with a Covered Patio. As you enter the spacious foyer you will feel right at home. There is a large gathering room on the ground floor. Lots of room to spread out. Upstairs is a kitchen, living room, three bedrooms
The apartments at Boulder Hills at Wantage invites those who desire the best rural luxury apartments in Sussex County. Conveniently located on Rt 23 in Wantage, Boulder Hills boasts a expansive rural lifestyle, while enjoying close proximity to the major metropolitan area. Each secured access building showcases 2 bedroom / 2 bathroom apartments featuring the following luxury amenities: •
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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.
