Why Maplewood, NJ?
Maplewood is 3.88 square miles of deliberate diversity, world-class dining, and Midtown Direct express trains to Penn Station in 37 minutes. The township is one of the most racially integrated suburbs in America — 51% White, 30% Black, 8.5% Hispanic — a community that chose integration by design in the 1960s and thrived because of it. Columbia High School students invented Ultimate Frisbee here in 1968. William Lowell invented the wooden golf tee at Maplewood Golf Club in 1921. Theodore Roosevelt spent summers as a child visiting his uncle Cornelius's 100-acre estate The Hickories. Restaurant Lorena's is one of the finest French restaurants in New Jersey. Memorial Park was designed by Olmsted Brothers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A large population of Broadway actors and technicians live here — 32 formed the Midtown Direct Rep theater company in 2010. Permanently rainbow-colored crosswalks were unveiled in 2018 for LGBTQ pride, reflecting the township's large and visible gay community. Zach Braff filmed Garden State at Columbia High School. SZA grew up here. MKBHD (Marques Brownlee) makes videos from here. At $750K with homes selling in just 15 days, Maplewood is one of the hottest and most culturally electric markets in Essex County.
Maplewood Real Estate Market in 2026
Maplewood homes sell in 15 days at a $750K median — the fastest-moving market in Essex County. Midtown Direct express service, the Springfield Avenue dining scene, and Columbia High School drive relentless demand from NYC transplants seeking diversity and culture without Montclair prices. The housing stock includes stunning Tudors, colonials, Victorians, and Arts and Crafts bungalows from the 1900s through 1940s. Prices range from $450K condos near Springfield Avenue to $1.5M+ estates in the South Mountain section. College Hill and the Village command the highest premiums for walkability and architectural character.
Best Neighborhoods in Maplewood
7 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and price range
Maplewood Village / Station Area
$650,000 to $1,000,000The walkable commercial and social heart of the township. Maplewood Station provides Midtown Direct express service. Springfield Avenue and Maplewood Avenue are lined with over 20 independent restaurants, boutiques, and galleries — no chains. Restaurant Lorena's, Osteria LK, St. James's Gate, and the permanently rainbow-colored crosswalks define the character. Victorian single-family homes, rowhouses, and condos. Won NJ Monthly's Downtown Showdown in 2015.
College Hill
$750,000 to $1,200,000The most architecturally significant residential section with beautiful Tudors, colonials, and Arts and Crafts homes on tree-lined streets. Proximity to parks, schools, and the Village. Named for the elevated topography and the academic character of its residents. One of the most sought-after sections for families who want walkability to both the train and elementary schools.
South Mountain
$700,000 to $1,200,000Western section bordering the 2,112-acre South Mountain Reservation. Larger lots with Tudor and colonial architecture on quiet streets. South Mountain Elementary School anchors the neighborhood. Access to hiking trails, Hemlock Falls, Turtle Back Zoo, and the Treetop Adventure Course from your backyard. The premium for nature access within a Midtown Direct community.
Wyoming / Upper Wyoming
$600,000 to $900,000Quiet residential streets with a suburban feel while remaining close to downtown amenities. Near Maplewood Country Club. Tree-lined blocks with colonials, capes, and split-levels. More space and quieter streets than the Village, at a lower price point. Tuscan Elementary School serves much of this section.
Hilton
$500,000 to $750,000The most diverse section of an already diverse township. Formerly called Middleville — Seth Boyden, the inventor who built the first steam engines for the Morris and Essex Railroad, settled here in 1855. Hilton received its own post office in 1880. Affordable entry into the Columbia High School district. Seth Boyden Elementary Demonstration School anchors the community. Strong neighborhood identity and community pride.
Jefferson
$550,000 to $850,000Established residential section with a mix of colonials, Tudors, and mid-century homes. Jefferson Elementary School (grades 3 through 5) serves the area. Originally known as Jefferson Village — one of the earliest named districts when the area was still part of Newark Township in 1802. Near DeHart Park and Milo S. Borden Park for recreation.
Valley View
$475,000 to $650,000Eastern section offering the most affordable entry into Maplewood. Proximity to the Springfield Avenue commercial corridor and NJ Transit bus routes to Newark. A mix of housing types including smaller colonials, capes, and multi-family properties. The gateway to Maplewood for buyers priced out of the Village and South Mountain.
Commuting from Maplewood to NYC
Source: NJ Transit schedules, June 2026. Peak hour commute times.
Walkability and Livability in Maplewood
How easy is it to live car-free or car-light in Maplewood?
Maplewood Schools and Ratings
The South Orange-Maplewood School District serves 7,353 students across 11 schools with a 12.8 to 1 student-teacher ratio. Elementary schools in Maplewood include Seth Boyden Elementary Demonstration School, Clinton Elementary, Jefferson Elementary (grades 3 through 5), Marshall Elementary (grades K through 2), South Mountain Elementary, and Tuscan Elementary. Montrose Early Childhood Center serves Pre-K. Maplewood Middle School (827 students, grades 6 through 8) and South Orange Middle School serve the combined district. Columbia High School (1,967 students, grades 9 through 12) is shared with South Orange — the school where Ultimate Frisbee was invented in 1968 and where Zach Braff filmed Garden State. Strong arts programs, AP offerings, and one of the most diverse student bodies in suburban New Jersey. The district is rated A-minus on Niche.
Source: NCES CCD 2023 to 2024, NJDOE NJSLA 2024 to 2025
Tuscan Elementary School
Delia Bolden Elementary School
Maplewood Middle School
Clinton Elementary School
Seth Boyden Elementary Demonstration School
Columbia High School
Maplewood vs Neighboring Towns: Cost Comparison
| City | Median Price | Tax Rate | Annual Tax | NYC Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maplewood | $750,000 | 2.67% | $15,678 | 37 min |
| South Orange | $725,000 | 2.78% | $17,234 | 35 min |
| Montclair | $850,000 | 2.89% | $16,234 | 42 min |
| West Orange | $525,000 | 2.56% | $12,456 | 40 min |
Where to Eat in Maplewood
Maplewood Village (Maplewood Ave and Springfield Ave)
Restaurant Lorena's (French fine dining, chef Humberto Campos, opened 2005 — lump crab crepe in beurre blanc is the signature, one of the finest French restaurants in NJ), Osteria LK (Italian, chef James De Sisto, wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta, no-reservation BYO), Artie's (wood-fired pizza and bakery, Fred Shandler, merged with The Bread Stand), St. James's Gate Publick House (Irish, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, 20-ounce Guinness drafts), Luna Stella (New American, ahi tuna tartare, craft cocktails), Wild Ginger (Pan-Asian, Thai curries, Vietnamese summer rolls, Indian roti), Mt. Fuji (Japanese, 47 specialty rolls including the Crazy Dynamite Roll), Cornbread Soul (farm-to-soul, co-founded by Adenah Bayoh, fried chicken and turkey wings), Perla Oyster Bar (seafood raw bar rivaling NYC). The scene is organic and independent — no chains.
Springfield Avenue Corridor
MaMa's Southern Style BBQ II (pitmaster Chris Finnick since 2007, opened 1997, ribs and fried catfish), Maplewood Diner (classic American), and a growing corridor of diverse cuisines. Springfield Avenue connects to downtown arts galleries and the Burgdorff Center.
Parks and Recreation in Maplewood
Memorial Park
25-acre park designed in the 1920s by the Olmsted Brothers firm (the same landscape architects who designed Central Park's extensions). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sports fields, playground, picnic areas, and the Municipal Pool Club with four man-made pools. The summer hub of the township.
South Mountain Reservation
2,112-acre Essex County nature reserve spanning Maplewood, Millburn, and West Orange. Hiking trails, Hemlock Falls waterfall, Turtle Back Zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, Codey Arena (ice skating), and panoramic views. The East Branch of the Rahway River travels through the township.
DeHart Park
Neighborhood park in the Jefferson section with sports fields and recreation facilities.
Maplecrest Park
Community park with playground and green space.
Milo S. Borden Park
Neighborhood recreation area with sports fields and community gathering space.
New Development and Growth in Maplewood
Springfield Avenue Arts Revival
Ongoing transformation of Springfield Avenue into a dining and arts destination. New restaurants like Osteria LK and Cornbread Soul join established anchors like Restaurant Lorena's. Art galleries, boutiques, and creative businesses fill the corridor.
Rainbow Crosswalks and LGBTQ Identity
In 2018, Maplewood unveiled permanently rainbow-colored crosswalks as a visible commitment to LGBTQ inclusion. The township is home to one of the largest gay communities in suburban New Jersey.
South Essex Fire Department
In July 2022, Maplewood and South Orange merged their fire departments into the South Essex Fire Department — a model for municipal service consolidation in Essex County.
History of Maplewood, NJ
First European settlers arrived in 1675 — English, Dutch, and French Puritans. In 1838, John Shedden built a railroad station on the Morris and Essex line and named it Maplewood after the maple trees lining the streets. The township was originally formed as South Orange Township on April 1, 1861, and renamed Maplewood on November 7, 1922.
Seth Boyden, one of America's most prolific inventors, settled in the Hilton section (then called Middleville) in 1855. He built the first steam engines for the Morris and Essex Railroad and innovated agricultural products. Seth Boyden Elementary School is named in his honor.
Columbia High School students invented Ultimate Frisbee in 1968 — the sport is now played in over 80 countries with millions of participants worldwide. Columbia is recognized as the birthplace of the sport.
William Lowell invented the wooden golf tee at Maplewood Golf Club in 1921 — one of those small inventions that changed an entire sport. Before Lowell's tee, golfers used sand mounds.
Memorial Park was designed in the 1920s by the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — one of the few municipal parks in Essex County with this designation.
Maplewood became nationally recognized for its commitment to residential racial integration in the 1960s and 1970s. The township is 51% White, 30% Black, 8.5% Hispanic — one of the most genuinely integrated suburbs in America.
Theodore Roosevelt spent summers as a child visiting his uncle Cornelius V.S. Roosevelt's 100-acre estate The Hickories in Maplewood. The estate was one of the largest properties in the area.
Safety in Maplewood
Maplewood is a safe community with crime rates below state averages. The walkable Village center and active community create natural surveillance. The South Essex Fire Department (formed 2022 from the Maplewood and South Orange merger) provides fire and emergency services.
Notable Residents
Annual Events and Festivals
Frequently Asked Questions About Maplewood, NJ
What is the median home price in Maplewood, NJ?
The median home price is $750,000 as of 2026, with 6.2% year-over-year appreciation. Average $360/sqft, selling in 15 days.
How long is the commute from Maplewood to NYC?
37 minutes via NJ Transit from Maplewood Station on the Midtown Direct. Direct service, no transfers.
What are property taxes in Maplewood, NJ?
Tax rate is 2.67%. Average homeowner pays $15,678/year. At the median price of $750,000, expect about $20,025/year.
What are the best neighborhoods in Maplewood?
Maplewood Village / Station Area ($650,000 to $1,000,000). College Hill ($750,000 to $1,200,000). South Mountain ($700,000 to $1,200,000). Wyoming / Upper Wyoming ($600,000 to $900,000). Hilton ($500,000 to $750,000). See the full guide above for all 7 neighborhoods.
Is Maplewood safe?
Maplewood is a safe community with crime rates below state averages. The walkable Village center and active community create natural surveillance. The South Essex Fire Department (formed 2022 from the Maplewood and South Orange merger) provides fire and emergency services.
How walkable is Maplewood, NJ?
Walk Score of 68, rated "Somewhat Walkable." Median income $135,000, median age 39.6. 25% renter-occupied.
Homes for Sale in Maplewood, NJ
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