New Jersey relocation guide
Moving to West Orange, NJ
About West Orange
West Orange is a large township of roughly 48,000 in western Essex County, best known as the home of Thomas Edison — his Glenmont estate and laboratories are preserved as the Thomas Edison National Historical Park (shown in the Commons photos below). The township wraps around the South Mountain Reservation and hosts the Turtle Back Zoo, Eagle Rock Reservation, and the South Mountain Recreation Complex. Llewellyn Park, one of America's first planned residential communities, sits on the mountain. Housing ranges from condos near the highway to historic mansions on the ridge.
Home prices in West Orange
Home prices in West Orange vary by neighborhood and property type.
Top places in West Orange
- Thomas Edison National Historical Park — Edison's Glenmont home and laboratories (shown in the Commons photos below).
- Turtle Back Zoo — Essex County's zoo in the South Mountain Recreation Complex.
- Eagle Rock Reservation — ridgeline park with Manhattan skyline views and the 9/11 memorial.
- South Mountain Reservation — Essex County's 2,000-acre reservation with trails and waterfalls.
- Llewellyn Park — historic gated residential park designed in the 1850s.
- Luna Stage — professional theater company.
- Main Street — the township's commercial corridor (shown in the Commons photo below).
- The former West Orange rail station site — (1909 view shown in the Commons photo below).
Commuting from West Orange
- No in-town rail station. The township operates a free commuter jitney to NJ Transit's Orange, South Orange, and Brick Church stations on the Morris & Essex Lines (roughly 25–45 minutes to NY Penn depending on station and train).
- NJ Transit buses (including the 71) connect the township to Newark and Port Authority.
- Approximate drive to Midtown Manhattan: 25–35 minutes without traffic.
Schools in West Orange
Public schools: West Orange Public Schools. For enrollment and performance data, see the state report card in Town links below. Confirm school assignment for any address directly with the district.
West Orange FAQs
- What is the housing market like in West Orange, NJ?
Home prices in West Orange vary by neighborhood and property type. - How is the commute from West Orange, NJ?
No in-town rail station. The township operates a free commuter jitney to NJ Transit's Orange, South Orange, and Brick Church stations on the Morris & Essex Lines (roughly 25–45 minutes to NY Penn depending on station and train). - Which school district serves West Orange, NJ?
West Orange is served by West Orange Public Schools. See the state report card in Town links, and confirm school assignment for a specific address with the district.
Town links
Schools
Transit
Official town resources. School report cards via the New Jersey Department of Education.