Livingston is the quintessential northern New Jersey suburb. On a pleasant day, residents can be seen traversing Livingston Avenue, browsing the small boutiques, businesses, and restaurants along the tree-lined street. The town’s friendly atmosphere and highly-ranked schools make it a great place to raise a family.

Named for William Livingston, the first governor of post-colonial New Jersey, this tight-knit community has approximately 30,000 residents and a median home price of $587,000. Livingston has a certain vivacity to it with a patchwork of farms interspersed with quiet, residential neighborhoods.

If you’re thinking about a move to northern New Jersey, here are 5 reasons to move to Livingston, NJ:

Livingston is a commuter haven for New York City

The township’s central location is perfect for families always on the move. Often referred to as the “Gateway Region,” Livingston connects residents to several major roads including Interstate 280, Route 10, Route 24 and I-78. For working residents, the township provides a jitney service between the Livingston Mall and the South Orange train station so that commuters can hop on the Midtown Direct line to New York City. Other options for commuting include taking a short 10-15 minute drive to Harrison and boarding the PATH into Lower Manhattan or catching the Community Coach USA Route 77 bus from Livingston Center to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Livingston has some of the best schools in New Jersey

According to Niche.com, Livingston ranks #5 in the category of Best School Districts in New Jersey. The quality of the school district goes back decades when the Department of Education awarded the high school its Blue Ribbon award in 1988. With students scoring above average on state assessments in reading and mathematics, it is no surprise that Livingston High School students receive a 10/10 for college readiness by greatschools.org. Plus, students can participate in over 30 Advanced Placement (AP) courses and 20 different varsity sports. Niche.com also rates the school district as one of the safest in New Jersey, ranking #7 out of 383 school districts.

Livingston provides a high quality of life

Livingston offers a myriad of activities for adults and children alike. If you’re searching for ways to spend your leisure time or have an active lifestyle, the township excels in developing quality, community-based programs. The Livingston Public Library hosts themed book clubs for children, teenagers, and adults (Cookbook Club and XTreme Readers Book Club) and arranges lectures, concerts, and movies for locals to further their love of learning. The town is also known for its Senior, Youth and Leisure Services (SYLS), which offers activities from Mah Jong to Pilates. The SYLS houses multiple community facilities including two community pools, tennis and basketball courts, and playground areas.

Livingston offers unique, family-friendly attractions

Ranking #23 for “New Jersey’s Best Towns for Families 2017,” Livingston charms residents with its diverse forms of entertainment. Locals can view the tracks of a dinosaur at the Walter Kiddie Dinosaur Park, a 16-acre paleontological site. Riker Hill Art Park allows visitors to peruse an outdoor sculpture garden that serves a dual function as an attraction and studio space for working artists. The town also contains popular shopping destinations like the World Market and the Livingston Mall, which consists of over 100 specialty stores and four anchor stores.

Livingston has outdoor spaces with many recreational options

Livingston remains committed to preserving open, outdoor spaces for its residents. Families frequently gather in the spacious Memorial Park Oval to participate in community events like the Summer Concert Series. The Oval contains sports fields, shuffleboard, a running path, and tennis courts. In the colder winter months, Littell’s Pond, a favorite fishing spot, transforms into an ice skating rink. Prospect Park, a 29-acre piece of preserved land, also holds many hiking and biking trails for residents to use year-round.

Interested in learning more about the Township of Livingston, New Jersey? I would love to assist you. Contact Victoria Carter at (973) 220-3050 or email victoria@victoriacarter.com.