Westfield Real Estate: Make Your Home in a Welcoming, Historic Main Street Community
Whether it’s the many locally owned upscale boutiques and shops, thriving arts community, excellent schools, or rich history of this historic and picturesque town, Westfield offers today’s real estate buyers plenty of value and an abundance of desirable amenities.
Newcomers to Westfield join a roster of many distinguished residents past and present, among them poet Langston Hughes, cartoonist Charles Addams, anesthesiologist Dr. Virginia Apgar, activist and actor Paul Robeson, novelist Zora Neale Huston, and Department of Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff.
An outstanding site of historical Colonial beauty – yet with every modern convenience – Westfield is bordered by six other municipalities: Mountainside to the north, Springfield Township to the northeast, Garwood and Cranford to the east, Clark to the southeast, and Scotch Plains to the west and southwest. Plus, the town is minutes from the majestic Watchung Reservation with its preserved lands and recreation areas.
Take a private neighborhood tour, or receive detailed neighborhood market information. Contact our local expert for all you need to know about Westfield and the Real Estate opportunities that exist.
Contact Jennifer“People are very friendly here. No snootiness at all,” says Gene Prial. A retired management consultant, Gene and his wife Doris have been Westfield real estate owners for more than 40 years. “We have individually owned shops and mall stores without the tacky mall atmosphere,” he adds.
Carefree Commuting to New York City; Outstanding Education and Medical Facilities
Convenient transit options including non-stop train and bus access to Newark Penn Station and connecting services to New York City make Westfield an ideal home for commuters. In fact, New York is just 24 miles away to the northeast. Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, PATH and Suburban Transit all offer easy travel, including the Port Authority and the theater district, to and from the downtown station.
Linden Municipal Airport is seven miles southeast, and for major trips, Newark Liberty International Airport is an easy 12 miles to the northeast. Interstate 78 is just 15 minutes away. Beach lovers take the Garden State Parkway for about 90 minutes to New Jersey’s famous beaches and seaside attractions, and revelers find the bright lights of Atlantic City’s casinos about three hours’ drive down the Parkway.
A town of about 31,000, reflecting a population increase of nearly 2 per cent since 2010, Westfield offers a classic small town lifestyle: friendly tree-lined streets with single family colonial and Victorian homes, and a New England-style village green. A few homes date to the 1800s and most range from the 1900s to present day. Besides authentic Colonial and Victorian construction, tasteful split-level, Cape Cod, and ranch-style homes add to Westfield’s charm. Home prices average in the $700,000s with larger, more highly upgraded homes ranging upwards to just over $2 million.
Home buyers with school-age children are attracted to Westfield’s excellent school system, ranked 58th of the 558 New Jersey school districts, with six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.
Besides its highly regarded school system, Westfield residents rest easy, with the internationally acclaimed Children’s Specialized Hospital providing outpatient services, physician services, pediatric long-term care, and neuro-rehabilitation care minutes away in Mountainside.
Eco-Friendly and Surrounded with Opportunities to Hike, Ride, and Golf
Outdoor lovers are right at home in the town’s nine parks, and the beautiful Watchung Mountains and Watchung Reservation are just minutes away. Equestrians ride the trails at the Reservation, and hikers view the entire reservation in just one 10-mile trek. The preserve is home to many flora and fauna, including the Painted Turtle, the Northern Cardinal, the Red-Tailed Hawk and White-Tailed Deer. Nearby Nomahegan and Ponderosa parks provide more outdoor enjoyment.
In keeping with its enviable outdoor recreation, Westfield is an eco-friendly community and proudly participates in the Sustainable Jersey certification initiative to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental equity in town.
Golfers always find tee times at Echo Lake Country Club, with nine other courses in neighboring Kenilworth, Springfield, Union, Roselle, and Clark. And in case of inclement weather, the Golf Cave high-definition golf course in nearby Clark brings the game indoors. For the kids, soccer is king as nearly 3,000 families gather every Memorial Day weekend to participate in the Westfield Memorial Soccer Cup.
Folks from six to 90 enjoy the Westfield Community Center’s education and recreation programs, and many Westfielders cool off on a hot summer’s day at the pristine Community Pool in the Memorial Park Complex. The sun also provides power for the solar energy panels of the Westfield Memorial Library, where patrons enjoy its huge collection of books and films, along with other literary-related activities. The broad variety of exercise and other programs featured at the Robert and Virginia Bauer Branch of the YMCA ensure community members have fun while they stay in shape.
Jazz Festival, Colonial and Revolutionary History, and Thriving Gallery Scene Keep Westfield Jumping
There’s always something to do in Westfield, with its own symphony orchestra, dance groups, and more than 50 clubs and organizations. Four theater companies bring actors of all ages to the local stage, and the annual summer Sweet Sounds Downtown Jazz Festival presents renowned regional and national musicians performing swinging jazz and bebop. Various seasonal festivals enhance local shoppers’ experiences with bargains galore.
History lovers frequent the Westfield Museum at the Reeve History and Cultural Resource Center. Those attracted to Revolutionary-era American history find plenty to catch their interest at the Miller Cory House, a nationally recognized “living museum.” On Sundays, visitors are introduced to colonial skills as trained artisans re-create the everyday lives of a 19th century farm family.
Fans of the TV comedy-drama “Ed” will remember the classic marquee of the Rialto Theater in the show’s opening, and much of the series was filmed in town. The Rialto offers old-time theater experience with the latest in motion pictures and comfort. Gallery aficionados will enjoys exhibitions presented by the Evalyn Dunn Gallery and the Juxtapose Gallery.
Local Shops and a Major Mall, Plus Top-Rated French Seafood
With a vibrant downtown filled with locally owned shops and more 100 stores – including a Lord & Taylor – within its borders, Westfield is a shopper’s paradise. Just seven miles north, The Mall at Short Hills, features another 150 upscale specialty stores and restaurants, anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Discriminating palates enjoy a wide variety of cuisines, including Zagat-rated restaurants. Foodies will dig in to Chez Catherine’s daily fresh-caught seafood, The Mojave Grille’s braised pork and pulled chicken enchiladas, the grilled octopus salad at the Limani Seafood Grille, and the eggplant pancake and Gorgonzola steak at Theresa’s Restaurant.
Come Home to Welcoming Westfield
Homebuyers searching real estate listings for sale find Westfield to be an appealing blend of historic America, small-town charm, and modern life. The surrounding beauty of the Watchung Mountains showcase some of New Jersey’s finest natural allure and serenity, while upscale shops and restaurants offer an abundant variety to please locals and their guests.
Close enough to commute for work or play in New York City, as well as international travel, but far enough away to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle, Westfield’s picture-perfect setting makes this Union County town a popular place to call home.
