Halloween often brings Westfield, New Jersey, to mind. With the popular AddamsFest, a town-wide celebration of local son and creator of the Addams Family, Charles Addams, fall is an incredibly fun time of year to enjoy all that Westfield has to offer. In addition to highly-rated K-12 public schools, a plethora of downtown shops, beautiful homes, and excellent food, Westfield residents enjoy a convenient commute to New York City and an expansive park system. 

Located in Union County, NJ, and only 16 miles south of Manhattan, Westfield is 6 square miles and has just under 30,000 residents. Recent real estate data shows that Westfield is one of the top destinations in New Jersey for New York City buyers, and it has been dubbed one of the best places to live in the Garden State. 

If you are thinking of moving to the northern New Jersey suburbs, family-friendly Westfield is certainly worth a look with its abundance of amenities and year-round activities. 

Here are 5 reasons to move to Westfield, New Jersey:

1. Westfield has excellent public schools

With an overall A+ rating on niche.com, Westfield has a highly-rated school district. The town scores an A+ in the Niche categories of Academics, Teachers, Clubs & Activities, College Prep and Health & Safety. Overall, Westfield ranks 7 out of 378 in the category of Districts with the Best Teachers in New Jersey. Greatschools.org similarly rates the Westfield K-12 public schools as Above Average, including Westfield Senior High School, which scores an enviable 8 out of 10. 

2. The commute to New York City from Westfield is improving

Westfield residents commuting to New York City by train transfer at Newark Penn Station during peak commuting times. During off-peak hours, there had been direct train service, or a one-seat ride, to New York Penn Station via the Raritan Valley line, although the pandemic impacted this service. On November 4, seven of the eight off-peak one-seat train rides will be restored, and the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition continues to push for the restoration of peak one-seat ride service from Westfield. 

3. There are beautiful parks in Westfield, NJ

There is no better time to enjoy the fall foliage and no better place than Westfield. With 9 parks that span 211 acres, the town offers outdoor recreational activities year-round. Mindowaskin Park is a 12.6-acre park that is a short distance from downtown. It’s a lovely place to walk and take in the beauty of the large pond. During AddamsFest, there is a popular replica Addams house right on the banks of the pond.  

Another must-see, Tamaques Park is an expansive, 106-acre park with recreational facilities galore. There are picnic areas, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, and pickleball courts. The park also has 6 playing fields, two playgrounds, and a pond. Joggers are often seen on the jogging path which is 0.8 of a mile. Memorial Park, also worth mentioning, is home to Westfield Memorial Pool and Aquatic Complex and doubles as a pool facility and park. 

4. Westfield, NJ, is home to Classic Thyme Cooking School

Do you love to cook? If so, Westfield has a unique space, the Classic Thyme Cooking School, which is an event venue and cooking school. The building is fashioned after a rustic Tuscan cottage, and the school has been a Westfield destination for over two decades. Whether you are looking to organize a private event, children’s birthday party, enroll your children in cooking summer camp or hone your own cooking skills, there is something for everyone at Classic Thyme. The venue also has COVID-19 protocols in place

5. Strollable downtown Westfield has wonderful shops and restaurants

Downtown Westfield bustles with activity and exudes a rich heritage. With 450+ shops and restaurants, the downtown is strollable and delightful on a fall day and has extensive, socially-distanced outdoor dining. In addition to numerous public events offered throughout the year, the Town of Westfield is home to the New Jersey Festival Orchestra, a fully professional regional symphony orchestra. In August, the Westfield Public Arts Commission unveiled its inaugural exhibit, Art Takes Flight—30 fiberglass butterflies affixed to poles, trees and pedestals throughout town.   

If Westfield, NJ, sounds like a place you’d like to call home, I would love to show you around. Contact Victoria Carter at (973) 220-3050, or email victoria@victoriacarter.com.