Tucked away in northern New Jersey are two upper-class towns with a lot to offer: Morristown and Montclair. Both offer a stunning downtown area, incredible historical significance, and a unique small-town vibe. But which of these towns is best to live in?
Morristown has lower average home prices, historic sites and a bustling downtown with fancy shops and eateries. Montclair is within 30 miles of New York City, has a thriving school district, and an abundance of arts.
| Morristown (Morris County) | Montclair(Essex County) | |
| Average Home Price | $620,000 | $755,000 |
| Local Attractions | Morristown National Historical Park, golf, & The George Griswold Frelinghuysen Arboretum | Montclair Jackal games, Montclair Film Festival, & The Wellmont Theater |
| Activities for Children | Ice skating, swimmable lakes, & kid-friendly parks | Museums, learning centers, & kid-friendly parks |
| Distance From NYC | About 40 miles & 50 minutes | About 20 miles & 40 minutes |
| Nearby Parks & Preserves | Morristown National Historical Park & Morristown Green | Eagle Rock Reservation & Mills Reservation County Park |
| Quality of Schools | #4,600 Nationally | #2,479 Nationally |
Choosing the right place to live is no easy feat, and there are a ton of things that may sway your decision one way or the other. So keep reading to learn more about w Morristown and Montclair and which best fits your lifestyle and budget.
Average Home Price
According to Smart Asset, the median home price in New Jersey is $448,000. Northern New Jersey housing prices are higher due to the proximity to New York City. Both Morristown and Montclair are a bit pricey, with home values ranging from an average of $620,000 in Morristown to well over $750,000 over in Montclair. With that, Morristown is a better town to live in if you have a slightly lower budget and want to pay lower property taxes.
Morristown is known for having nearly every style of home seen in modern-day America. Modest Cape Cods, split-levels, and ranches line the streets of the Morristown suburbs. Sprinkled sporadically across town are multi-million dollar mansions and lofts, boasting luxury features like spiral staircases and brick driveways.
Morristown is also home to countless rows of townhouses and apartments, a more affordable choice for growing families.
Montclair’s real estate market offers the quintessential “upper class” vibes. Montclair’s bustling downtown area (South Park Street) boasts high-end condos sitting just above the town’s hottest shops and eateries. The tree-lined streets of the Montclair suburbs are the perfect place for large families.
Montclair boasts everything from Tudor-style homes to Victorians, many of whom have sprawling front lawns for the kids to run around.
Here’s a quick video showing you the benefits of moving to Montclair, New Jersey:
And here’s another video, this time of Morristown, New Jersey:
Local Attractions
Both Morristown and Montclair have incredible local attractions that wow locals and out-of-staters yearly, and they just might make those pricey home values worth it.
Morristown is home to Morristown National Historical Park, part of the National Park System. Living in Morristown, you’d be within driving distance of miles of trails at this beautiful park, the barracks used to house soldiers of the Continental Army in the 1700s, and the museum with classical furniture and weaponry known as Ford Mansion.
In addition to countless country clubs and 18-hole golf courses, Morristown also has George Griswold Frelinghuysen Arboretum. This 127-acre natural oasis is the perfect place to spend time with the family. Learn about the local evergreens of New Jersey, relax by the water fountain as you read a book, or even host a picnic with your local friends at the gazebo or on the lawn.
Montclair attracts sports lovers from across the state, as the town is home to a minor league baseball team called the Montclair Jackals. Buy season tickets for the whole family, and you’ll be treated to the typical baseball game experience. That includes everything from eating hotdogs to catching a flyball. You might even catch a glimpse of a future star in the making.
Montclair is also home to the Wellmont Theater, but also the Montclair Film Festival. This film festival has been growing strong since 2012 and is a hotspot for catching regional films and indie flicks. If you attend every year, you may even meet real actors and actresses from today, including Michael Moore or Ice-T.
Activities for Children
Both Montclair and Morristown are terrific towns for kids. Each town has dozens of local parks and playgrounds and a few unique locations that kids seem to love.
Morristown is a great place to live if your children are adventurous and enjoy athletics. The town boasts the massive Williams G. Mennen Sports Arena, where you can bring your kids year-round to learn how to figure skate or play hockey from former Olympic athletes
Lake Morris Park is another local hotspot that kids love. Bring the whole family down mid-summer to cool off in the lake with a swim, traverse the inflatable obstacle course, or bring the boat.
Montclair is more of an educational haven for children who love to learn. The Montclair Art Museum is extremely popular for the art lover in your family, with over 12,000 beautiful pieces of art from genres like contemporary and Native American art, and kids just can’t seem to get enough of the Montclair Learning Center.
You can sign your kids up for weekly classes for STEAM-style subjects, everything from coding and chess to 3D printing.
Distance From NYC
When you live in New Jersey, you want to be within driving distance of one of two cities: New York City or Philadelphia. Fortunately, both Montclair and Morristown are within reasonable driving distance of the Big Apple.
On a good day (i.e., No rush-hour traffic), your drive from Morristown to NYC would be just under an hour and about 40 miles one-way. Montclair is a tad closer, around 20 miles from the city, and closer to 40 minutes away.
Regardless of which town you choose to live in, you’ll get to the city in the same way. You’ll hop onto Route 3, cross into New York via 495 (the Lincoln Tunnel), and be in Manhattan before you know it. Either town is great if you commute to NYC and pay frequent visits to Central Park, Midtown Manhattan, or Carnegie Hall.
Nearby Parks & Preserves
It’s impossible to deny that Morristown and Montclair both have natural beauty in the form of parks and local preserves.
Morristown boasts Morristown Green, a 2.5-acre park with tons of history behind it. You’ll take a time machine back to the 1700s and catch a glimpse of what life was like during the American Revolution. Follow the miles of trails for a nice hike, see the beautiful statutes from the time period, and pay a visit during the four-week Christmas tree lighting ceremony each year.
Montclair is a bit more popular in the natural sense. The town is home to the 400+ acre Eagle Rock Reservation, nestled within the Watchung Mountains. While there, you can catch a stunning look at the NYC skyline, and see some of the state’s animals in their natural habitat.
There’s also the 150+ acre Mills Reservation, an awesome place for birdwatchers with over two miles of trails and airspace graced by warblers and hawks during the year.
Quality of Schools
For many people, the quality of the public school district and proximity to local colleges is a deal-breaker. Both Montclair and Morristown have great school districts, but Montclair is ranked much higher nationally (#2,479 vs. Morristown’s #4,600). And back in the 1990s, Montclair’s school system earned the “Star School” title and was ranked a “Blue Ribbon School.”
Montclair is also home to Montclair State University, a sprawling college campus that saw the beginnings of some of Jersey’s most prominent political figures, actors like Bruce Willis, and baseball legends like Yogi Berra. You can also jet over to the campus to catch some DIII games in your favorite sports.
Morristown is home to another NJ university, Saint Elizabeth University. This college doesn’t quite come with the same recognition as MSU, but it does offer great doctoral programs and nearly 20 Master’s programs. Living in Morristown might just mean you head back to school and earn a higher degree.
Conclusion
Both Montclair and Morristown have great benefits as your new hometown, and each one targets a different type of person best. Here are the key benefits of each:
- Morristown: Cheaper, Morristown National Historical Park, lakes, and a large ice skating arena
- Montclair: MSU, great schools, acres of natural parks and space, an educational hub for kids, film festivals, thriving downtown area, and minor league baseball games
For most families, Montclair is a better choice and has more to offer.