Watsessing has enjoyed quite the turnaround. Thirty years ago, the community on the south end of Bloomfield Township, New Jersey, was home to a shuttered lamp factory that had been contaminated by the production of uranium during World War II. Home prices languished behind the rest of the township, but that eventually attracted young homebuyers. New restaurants and bars followed, and the lamp factory was demolished, the land cleaned up and apartments built on top. Watsessing became a hot market, says Nancy Chu, owner of Nancy Chu Homes at Keller Williams NJ Metro Group. “It was traditionally undervalued, so it makes sense it has caught up with the rest of town. It’s Watsessing’s turn.” Straddling two train stations, a walkable commercial district and a park designed by one of architecture’s most famous families, Watsessing has become a trendy pocket of northern New Jersey.
Watsessing, once a former industrial section of Bloomfield Township, is enjoying a well deserved renaissance.
The Watsessing Ave Train Station is one of two train stations that serve the area.
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Trendy businesses come to Bloomfield Avenue
Three streets converge with Bloomfield Avenue near the north end of Watsessing, creating a dense collection of shopfronts and restaurants. Watsessing has become a hip spot for new eateries in the past decade. “It’s a super Gen Z-friendly location,” Chu says. “A lot of younger people are moving in there.” Today, Peruvian cuisine, craft beer and ramen bowls can all be found along Watsessing’s streets. There’s another commercial cluster along Bloomfield Avenue on the south side of Watsessing, where locals can get groceries from Aldi.
Bloomfield Avenue near the north end of Watsessing, creating a dense collection of shopfronts and restaurants.
A newly created shopping plaza in Watsessing brings name brand stores to Bloomfield Ave.
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Lower home prices compared to Bloomfield
Housing is mostly single-family properties, and homes are usually within a 10-minute walk of Watsessing Park or some of the community’s shops and restaurants. Nineteenth- and early 20th-century homes are packed together on small lots that are full of well-kept gardens and shrubs. Watsessing’s median price of $485,000 is higher than the national median, but it’s about $100,000 less than the median price for all of Bloomfield. Flood zones cover swaths of the community near Watsessing Park, so some homebuyers may need flood insurance.
Nineteenth and early 20th-century homes in Watsessing are packed together on small lots that are full of well-kept gardens and shrubs.
The median price for homes in Watsessing, such as this American Foursquare, is $485,000.
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Rail connections to New York, Newark airport
There are a pair of NJ Transit stations: Bloomfield Station on the north end and Watsessing Avenue Station on the south side. Trains departing those stations reach Manhattan’s Penn Station in roughly 30 minutes, while the train ride to Newark Liberty International Airport takes about an hour. Commuters can also use nearby Interstate 280 or New Jersey Route 3 to get to Hoboken, Jersey City and Manhattan. The drive to the first two takes up to an hour, with the drive into New York City lasting up to 90 minutes.
125 years of Watsessing Park
Watsessing Park has been a longtime anchor of this part of Bloomfield; the park was designed in 1899 by the sons of renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Cricket fields, a butterfly garden and one of Essex County’s three dog parks are a few of the attractions covering the 70-acre park. Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum offers hands-on exhibits and indoor play areas just south of the park.
Watsessing Park has a newly renovated playground.
Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum offers hands-on exhibits and indoor play areas just south of Watsessing Park.
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Business courses offered at Bloomfield School District
Kids in Watsessing can attend Bloomfield School District, graded B-plus by Niche. The district’s math department oversees business courses that high schoolers can take to learn personal finance, sports marketing and social media strategies for businesses.
Bloomfield High School gained recognition for having a successful athletic program.
Bloomfield Middle School gets an overall grade of B- from Niche.
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Crime in Bloomfield Township
Data from the state of New Jersey shows reports of crime in Bloomfield Township increased in 2023. However, property-crime and violent-crime rates in Bloomfield are generally lower than national averages, according to the latest FBI data.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
Photography Contributed By
James Leynse
Video By
Francisco de la Vera
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Watsessing by the Numbers
8,436
Population
31
Average Days on Market
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)$541,000
Median Single Family Price$607,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft$308
Months Of Supply2
Demographics and Finance
Median Household Income$71K
Higher than National Average$71K
% Owners31%
Lower than National Average63%
College Graduates47%
Higher than National Average34%
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Watsessing, NJ
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Ridgewood Avenue School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
#2 Linden Avenue Elementary School
A-
Niche
#3 Watsessing Elementary School
B
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#4 Johnnie L. Cochran Junior Academy Elementary School
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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.
