New Jersey relocation guide
Moving to South Orange, NJ
—Median listing price
EssexArea
NYC commuteCommute profile
About South Orange
South Orange is a village of roughly 18,000 in central Essex County, known for its gaslit streets, historic Village Center, and Seton Hall University. The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) anchors a lively downtown of restaurants, cafés, and shops around Sloan Street and South Orange Avenue. The village shares the South Orange–Maplewood school district and borders the South Mountain Reservation. With direct Midtown rail service and a true village feel, it is a top pick for NYC commuters.
Home prices in South Orange
Home prices in South Orange vary by neighborhood and property type.
Top places in South Orange
- South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) — theater, cinema, and concert venue downtown.
- Seton Hall University — private Catholic university; Presidents Hall (completed 1867) shown in the Commons photo below.
- South Orange Village Center — Sloan Street and South Orange Avenue dining and shopping.
- Meadowland Park and Cameron Field — village park and athletic complex.
- Flood's Hill — sledding hill and summer concert spot in the South Mountain Reservation.
- Founders Park — neighborhood green.
- The Old Stone House — historic stone house on South Orange Avenue (shown in the Commons photo below).
- Gaslit streets — the village's historic gas lamps, e.g., on Vose Avenue (shown in the Commons photo below).
Commuting from South Orange
- NJ Transit Morris & Essex Lines; South Orange station in the village center (shown in the Commons photo below), with service to NY Penn Station of roughly 30–45 minutes depending on train and stopping pattern (per NJ Transit Morris & Essex timetable, effective May 31, 2026; read September 24, 2026).
- Approximate drive to Midtown Manhattan: 25–35 minutes without traffic.
South Orange FAQs
- What is the housing market like in South Orange, NJ?
Home prices in South Orange vary by neighborhood and property type. - How is the commute from South Orange, NJ?
NJ Transit Morris & Essex Lines; South Orange station in the village center (shown in the Commons photo below), with service to NY Penn Station of roughly 30–45 minutes depending on train and stopping pattern (per NJ Transit Morris & Essex timetable, effective May 31, 2026; read September 24, 2026).
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the New Jersey Department of Education.