Located just 12 miles west of New York City, Montclair was originally settled as a “country town” with convenient access to the city. Today, the town is still recognized for its proximity to Manhattan and its “urban meets suburban” feel. With its diverse choice of restaurants (Peruvian to Ethiopian; ramen noodle house to vegetarian food trucks), eclectic art scene (an indie movie house + its own film festival), over 150 acres of parks and 6 pedestrian friendly shopping areas, it’s no surprise that Montclair has often been referred to as “Mini Manhattan” or even “Park Slope West.”
An abundance of commuting options make living in Montclair an attractive choice for residents working in or close to NYC. Six train stations serve the community with both NYC-Penn Station and Hoboken as direct destinations (ideal for downtown, midtown and uptown work locations). Decamp Bus lines is the private bus carrier with frequent buses running back and forth to Manhattan daily. Close proximity to the Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, Routes 80, 280 and 78 also allow Montclair residents to get anywhere they need to in a short time.
Montclair’s magnet school system is nationally known and considered a model for other districts across the country. Parents select from 7 elementary or 3 middle schools that focus on subjects from global studies to science and technology to the arts. Additionally, the town is home to several private and parochial schools as well as its own university, Montclair State.
Travel + Leisure once dubbed Montclair “one of the coolest suburbs to visit.” Come and see why. When you do, try some of my favorite places and things to do:
- The farmer’s market at Walnut Street Station (Saturdays from April through October)
- Raymond’s for a perfect omelet
- Applegate Farms for homemade ice cream (try Graham Cracker Station)
- Summer movies on Church Street (lawn chairs are a must)
- Summer concerts in Brookdale park (picnic baskets encouraged)
- Bicycling around Edgemont Park
Visit these additional resources to learn more about Montclair:
Montclair Public School Info
https://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/
Montclair Town Info