Best NJ Towns for NYC Commuters: A Buyer’s Guide to Choosing Your Suburb

You know your budget. You just don’t know which town yet.

If you’re relocating to the New York metro area—or ready to leave the city—and you’ve got a real budget for a home in northern New Jersey, you’re in an enviable position. As a result, you can choose almost any of the best NJ towns for NYC commuters along the Midtown Direct train line. The hard part, however, isn’t finding a house. It’s deciding where you want your life to be.

That’s the question I help buyers answer. Every week.

I’m Perri Feldman, and for over 20 years I’ve helped buyers across more than two dozen New Jersey communities figure out which town actually fits how they live—not just which town has the prettiest listings on Zillow this month. Some of my clients arrive certain they want Short Hills and end up loving Madison. Others, on the other hand, assume Summit is “the one” and discover Maplewood has the energy they didn’t know they were craving.

This guide, then, is the conversation I have with every new buyer. No sales pitch. No agenda for any one town. Just an honest look at the corridor I’ve called home for my entire life.

Why “The Midtown Direct Corridor” Matters

Most NJ Realtors specialize in one or two towns. That’s helpful, of course, if you already know where you want to live. But it’s a problem if you don’t.

The Midtown Direct train line is the spine of New Jersey’s most desirable commuter suburbs—a 30-mile arc running from Maplewood and South Orange in the east through Millburn/Short Hills, Summit, Chatham, Madison, and Morristown to the west, with Westfield, Livingston, West Orange, Montclair, Glen Ridge, Scotch Plains, and Roseland all within easy reach. From most of these towns, you can be at New York Penn Station in about 30 to 60 minutes.

Each town along this corridor has a distinct personality. In fact, they’re not interchangeable. Choosing the right one comes down to four questions:

1. What does the commute actually need to look like?
2. Which school district matches your priorities?
3. How will you spend your weekends?
4. What kind of community do you want to be part of?

So let’s go through each one.

Question 1: The Commute Reality Check

The phrase “Midtown Direct” matters because these trains go directly into Penn Station without transferring. But not every town’s commute is created equal.

• Midtown Direct ride times to New York Penn Station (NJ Transit), fastest first:
  • Maplewood: 31–41 min
  • Millburn: 34–44 min
  • South Orange: 35–47 min
  • Short Hills: 39–47 min
  • Summit: 39–52 min (Morristown Line and Gladstone Branch)
  • Chatham: 46–58 min
  • Madison: 51–62 min
• Montclair-Boonton Line: Montclair (multiple stations), 47–57 min; Glen Ridge is also on this line
• Raritan Valley Line: Westfield, 47–60 min; many trains require a transfer at Newark Penn
• Towns with jitney/shuttle service to nearby train stations:
  • Livingston runs a jitney to South Orange Station
  • West Orange runs a jitney to Orange, South Orange, and Brick Church Stations
• Towns requiring a longer drive or bus connection:
  • Roseland — bus service to Newark Train Station

In particular, the jitney service in Livingston and West Orange is a hidden gem most buyers don’t know about until I tell them. If your commute is occasional rather than daily, these towns open up significantly.

Question 2: Schools — A Major Selling Point of This Corridor

Schools are one of the primary reasons buyers choose this corridor over other parts of New Jersey. Every district along the Midtown Direct line is well-regarded, but each has its own character:

• Millburn (Millburn/Short Hills): Consistently ranked among NJ’s top school districts. Highly competitive academics, strong arts and athletics programs. Feeds into Millburn High School.
• Summit: Smaller K-12 district with newer facilities and tight community feel. Strong continuity from elementary through high school.
• Madison: Excellent academic ratings with a less intense atmosphere than some neighboring districts. Strong arts and AP programs, smaller class sizes.
• Chatham: Top-tier district with extensive community involvement. Highly rated across all measures.
• Maplewood/South Orange (SOMSD): Combined district known for a wide-ranging curriculum, strong humanities, and notable arts programs. A different cultural feel than the western suburbs.
• Livingston: Highly rated district with one of New Jersey’s largest high schools. Strong academic and athletic programs.
• Westfield: Top-rated schools with particularly strong athletic and music programs.
• Montclair: Magnet school system with arts focus, urban-suburban hybrid environment.
• Glen Ridge: One of NJ’s smallest and most intimate districts.
• Scotch Plains: Solid academic reputation with growing recognition.

Still, the “best” school district isn’t always the highest-ranked one—it’s the one whose culture and approach matches your priorities. I can speak to the strengths and personalities of each because I’ve worked with buyers in every one of these districts for two decades.

Question 3: Lifestyle — How Do You Want to Spend Your Weekends?

This is also the question buyers underestimate most.

• Close to vibrant downtowns with restaurants and cafes: Maplewood, South Orange, Madison, Westfield, Summit, Montclair, Millburn
• Estate-style privacy and larger lot sizes: Short Hills, parts of Livingston, Roseland, parts of Chatham Township
• Luxury shopping access: Short Hills (The Mall at Short Hills—Neiman Marcus, Hermès, Tiffany’s)
• Strong arts and culture scenes: Maplewood, South Orange, Montclair, Madison (Drew University)
• Outdoor recreation: Chatham Township (Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge), South Mountain Reservation (bordering Millburn/West Orange), Watchung Reservation (near Westfield/Mountainside), Loantaka Brook Reservation
• Country club culture: Established clubs throughout Short Hills, Summit, Westfield, Livingston, and Morristown

My Personal Take on the Active Life Here

I don’t just sell homes in this corridor—I live the active life here. My tennis has taken me across the area’s best clubs over the years—currently at Summit Tennis Club, and previously at Morristown Field Club, Center Court, and historic Orange Lawn Tennis Club. Because of that, I know the public courts, the private clubs, and where to find rare grass courts in New Jersey.

As an avid cyclist, most weekends you’ll find me on the gravel trails in Bedminster, the loops through the Great Swamp, or out in Tewksbury. So I know which trails are best for road cycling, which routes work for gravel riding, and where the post-ride coffee is worth stopping for.

My Favorite Spots to Eat

When buyers ask where to eat in this corridor, my current go-to recommendations are La Pergola and Vinnie’s in Millburn, Osteria LK in Maplewood, and Osteria Trevi in Madison. I’m also looking forward to MM by Morimoto (already a favorite of mine in Montclair) opening a location in Morristown, and Dilli Dilli just opened in Millburn. Overall, this area’s restaurant scene has come a long way over the past 20 years.

This isn’t research. It’s experience.

Question 4: Community — Finding the Right Fit

Again, each town has a distinct personality. Some are more traditional, others more contemporary. Some prioritize quiet residential streets; others have lively downtowns. And while some have historic charm, others have newer construction. However, none of these are better or worse—just different.

This part of the decision is harder to explain in writing. Instead, it’s the conversation I have over coffee with new buyers, going through what you’re looking for and matching it to what each town actually offers. By the time we’re done, you’ll know which two or three towns belong on your shortlist—and which ones don’t.

A Snapshot of the Best NJ Towns for NYC Commuters

Here’s a quick overview of the towns I work in most. Each has its own dedicated guide on this site:

Best NJ Towns for NYC Commuters: FAQ

Which NJ towns have the shortest train commute to NYC?

On NJ Transit’s Midtown Direct service to New York Penn Station: Maplewood 31–41 minutes, Millburn 34–44, South Orange 35–47, Short Hills 39–47 and Summit 39–52. Chatham, Montclair, Westfield and Madison run about 46–62 minutes.

Which commuter towns have the lowest home prices?

Among the towns in this guide, Springfield (about $550K to $1M), West Orange ($600K to $2M), Scotch Plains ($700K to $1.5M) and South Orange ($800K to $1.8M) have the lowest typical price ranges.

Which towns have no train station, and how do commuters get to NYC?

Livingston runs a shuttle to South Orange station, and weekday Community Coach buses go to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. West Orange runs a weekday jitney to the Orange, South Orange and Brick Church stations. Springfield runs a weekday rush-hour jitney to Short Hills station.

Which towns have the top-rated school districts?

In Niche’s 2027 rankings, Summit is the #6 school district in New Jersey and Millburn is #14. Each town page has its full Niche and U.S. News rankings.

How do I choose between these towns?

Start with four questions: how your commute needs to work, which school district fits your priorities, how you want to spend weekends and what kind of community you want. Then talk to a local. Perri K. Feldman has closed transactions in 24 New Jersey communities: 973-650-4727 or perri@midtowndirecthomes.com.

Why I Can Help You Make This Decision

I cover all of these towns. Not as a generalist who knows a little about each—but as a Realtor who has actually closed transactions in 24 different NJ communities. I know which Madison neighborhoods have larger backyards and which don’t. Likewise, I know which Maplewood streets are closer to the train and which require more of a drive. I can also tell you why some buyers love Livingston and others find it doesn’t fit.

I’m a lifelong local. I attended Deerfield School in Short Hills when it was brand new and graduated from Millburn High School. My husband graduated from Livingston High School. In other words, this isn’t a market I moved to—it’s the only one I’ve ever known.

I serve buyers and sellers equally. That matters because I’m not a listing-only specialist trying to push you into the homes I happen to have for sale. My job, after all, is helping you find the right home in the right town.

I also work with longtime homeowners ready to transition. As a Certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), I bring specialized training to clients who are right-sizing, downsizing, or relocating—whether that means moving to a more manageable home in the same town, transitioning to a 55+ community, or relocating closer to family. The financial, emotional, and logistical considerations of this kind of move are different from a typical purchase, and I’m trained specifically for it.

My credentials reflect 20 years of consistent recognition:

• Five Star Real Estate Agent — 2011–2026 (top 2% in NJ for 15 consecutive years)
• Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) & Million Dollar Guild
• Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR)
• Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)
• Certified Internet Professional (e-PRO)
• Featured in The New York Times for NJ market insight
• 240+ closed transactions across 24 NJ communities

The Next Step: A Real Conversation

I don’t pressure buyers. I don’t push you toward a town that doesn’t fit. And I won’t waste your time showing you homes that don’t match what you’re actually looking for.

What I do, instead, is sit down with you—over coffee, over Zoom, on a phone call—and listen. First, we talk about your work, your commute, your priorities, and what you want your life here to look like. Then I tell you honestly which towns make sense to explore and which probably don’t.

If you’d like to start that conversation, I’d love to hear from you.

📞 (973) 650-4727
✉️ perri@midtowndirecthomes.com
📍 518 Millburn Avenue, Suite 102, Short Hills, NJ 07078

Perri K. Feldman is a Sales Associate with Keller Williams Realty in Short Hills and Summit, New Jersey. She has helped 240+ clients buy and sell homes along the Midtown Direct corridor in Essex, Morris, Union, and Somerset Counties.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Perri K. Feldman is a licensed real estate Sales Associate with Keller Williams Realty in New Jersey.