Living in Cedar Grove 2026 Guide
A hillside Essex County township between the Watchung ridges with big lots, its own K-12 public school district, a Walk Score of 73, and no rail station in town.
Hillside setting - winding hillside streets, big lots, and a mix of mid-century, colonial, and newer homes between the Watchung ridges.
Bus + car commute - no train in town; NJ Transit buses reach the city (about an hour in reasonable traffic, [verify: current routes and times]) and Montclair or Glen Ridge stations are a short drive.
Own district - Cedar Grove runs its own K-12 public district, capped by Cedar Grove High School.
The numbers - median sales roughly $650K-735K, about an hour to Midtown by NJ Transit bus (verify current routes), and the 200+ acre Hilltop Reservation along the ridge. Figures vary by street, so I'll pull current comps for the ones you like. Get a home value estimate if you are pricing a move.
The Quiet Hillside Town: Living in Cedar Grove NJ
Cedar Grove sits up on the hill country between the First and Second Watchung ranges, and you feel it the moment you arrive: the streets climb, the lots are generous, and the trees do most of the talking. There is no train line through town, and for a lot of buyers that is exactly the point. In exchange for a rail station you get more house, more yard, and streets that stay calm.
The housing stock runs from mid-century splits and ranches to colonials and newer construction, with plenty of room between neighbors. Because the town is small and hillside, most of it reads as private and green rather than built-up. Views toward the ridges show up from a surprising number of back windows.
Buyers choose Cedar Grove for the space, the quiet, and the town's own school district, and they accept that getting to the city takes a bus or a short drive to the rail. Montclair and Glen Ridge are minutes down the road for shopping and stations, and the buses have a long history of local and Express service into Midtown, though [verify: current service] before you plan around one.
Commuter Logistics: Bus Into the City, or Drive to Rail
There is no train station in Cedar Grove. Most regular commuters either take NJ Transit bus service toward the city, historically a mix of local and Express routes into Midtown with a total trip of about an hour in reasonable traffic ([verify: current route numbers and travel time]), or drive the short distance to stations in Montclair or Glen Ridge and ride rail from there. It is a genuine trade, and it is the reason Cedar Grove values tend to sit below the rail towns.
Cedar Grove Public Schools
Cedar Grove runs its own K-12 public district, capped by Cedar Grove High School. Some local reporting cites small class settings ([verify: current class-size figures]), and I can confirm the current enrollment picture and feeder pattern for any address you are considering.
Between the Watchungs
Cedar Grove's streets climb the hillside between the First and Second Watchung ridges, which is why the lots are big and the outlooks are real. It is the kind of green, quiet setting that northern Essex towns are famous for.
Low-Key Main Roads
A handful of casual spots, delis, and pizzerias line Cedar Grove's main roads ([verify current lineup]). For a bigger dining scene, Montclair and Verona are minutes away by car.
What Homes Actually Sell For
List prices are a strategy, not a ceiling. Cedar Grove's median has been running roughly $650K-735K, and the exact number varies by street: larger hillside homes toward the top of the range, more modest mid-century houses toward the bottom. Days on market have averaged about 25-27, a steadier clip than the rail towns, and most homes sell close to list. It is a more measured market, which gives serious buyers a little more room to get the details right.
The Cedar Grove reality: in the $650K-735K range, well-priced homes go under contract in about a month, and there is less bidding pressure than in Summit or Westfield. That means buyers can afford to inspect carefully, ask the real questions, and still land the house they want. Let's pull current comps for your shortlist.
Data: Redfin + GSMLS/NJMLS area reporting and Homes.com, last updated September 2026. Figures move; I'll pull current numbers for your search.
Commute & Transit
Everything NYC relocators need to know
- NJ Transit bus service to the city ([verify: current routes])
No rail station in Cedar Grove. Commuters use bus or shuttle connections.
- NJ Transit bus to NYC ([verify: current route numbers])
- Historically local and Express service to Midtown; routes and times change, so verify current.
No rail station in Cedar Grove, so there is no station parking to chase. Most residents park at home and bus into the city, or drive the short distance to Montclair or Glen Ridge for rail.
No rail station in Cedar Grove. NJ Transit has historically run local and Express buses from town into Midtown, about an hour in reasonable traffic depending on route. A short drive reaches Montclair or Glen Ridge stations for rail riders. Verify current service before planning around it.
Cedar Grove Spotlight
| County | Essex |
| Public Schools | Cedar Grove Public |
| Railroad Depot | None in town (drive to Montclair, Glen Ridge) |
| Transit Line(s) | Bus; rail via Montclair-Boonton (drive) |
| Transit Time | About 1 hr by bus [verify] |
| Signature Vibe | Quiet Hillside Streets |
Sorelle's Cedar Grove Tip
"Cedar Grove is the town you find when you'd rather have more house and a quiet hillside than the train at the door. Values in the $650K-735K range move at a steadier pace, so you can ask the real questions before you write the offer. Every situation is different, so let's talk through yours."
Property Taxes in Cedar Grove NJ
Per the NJ Division of Taxation's MOD IV Average Residential Statistics report, the average residential property tax bill in Cedar Grove for Tax Year 2025 was $12,460, with an effective (equalized) tax rate of 1.943 per $100 of equalized value in the Division's 2025 General Tax Rates table. The figure is cross-checked against Patch's town-by-town Essex County property tax list for the same tax year; the amount you actually pay depends on the assessed value of the specific home.
Use these as a planning anchor, not a quote: your bill is set by the year's rate and the home's assessed value. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
Related Reading
A current estimate of your Cedar Grove area home value from the latest market data, before you make any decision.
Get an EstimateTrains, buses, PATH, and driving for every town I cover, including the bus and drive options around Cedar Grove.
Read the GuideA longer town-specific look at buying and selling in Cedar Grove is coming soon.
(coming soon)"Sorelle guides clients through every step of the real estate process with clear communication, deep local expertise, and real-world results."
Ready to Explore Cedar Grove Homes?
From the big-lot hill streets to the quieter culs-de-sac, I can help you find the right Cedar Grove address at the right price. Call, book a time, or send a note and we'll get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Grove
Cedar Grove's median has been running roughly $650K-735K in recent 2026 reporting, and the exact figure varies by street. Days on market average about 25-27, and most homes close near list.
There is no train in Cedar Grove, so commutes are by bus or car. Bus service into the city runs about an hour in reasonable traffic, depending on route, and [verify: current bus routes and times] before you plan around one. Driving to Montclair or Glen Ridge stations gets you back on rail.
No, Cedar Grove has no rail station. The nearest stations are a short drive away in Montclair or Glen Ridge, both on the Montclair-Boonton Line.
The average residential property tax bill in Cedar Grove for Tax Year 2025 was $12,460, with an effective rate of 1.943 per $100 of equalized value (NJ Division of Taxation). Your actual bill depends on the assessed value of the specific home, so I'll run the exact number for any property you are considering.
Cedar Grove is a hilly, car-friendly town (Walk Score 73 on walkscore.com, centered on the Pompton Avenue area) without a rail-to-walk downtown. You can walk quieter streets and local parks, but daily errands and the commute are usually by car or bus. The outdoor anchor is the Hilltop Reservation, roughly 284 acres of Essex County hilltop trails along the ridge.
The stock is a mix of mid-century ranches and raised ranches, colonials, and newer homes on big hillside lots, with views toward the Watchung ranges from the upper streets.
Measured and steady compared to the rail towns: homes typically sit about 25-27 days, prices run roughly $650-735K, and buyers have room to line up financing and inspections without a bidding war on every listing.
Life is quietly low-key: a handful of casual restaurants, delis, and pizzerias along the main roads (verify named spots), and easy car runs to Montclair and Verona for a bigger dining and event scene.
Cedar Grove runs its own K-12 district, Cedar Grove Public Schools, capped by Cedar Grove High School.
Have a question not listed here? I'm happy to help.
Ask SorelleSources
- NJ Division of Taxation, MOD IV Average Residential Statistics, Tax Year 2025 (Cedar Grove average residential tax bill: $12,460)
- NJ Division of Taxation, 2025 General Tax Rates (Cedar Grove effective rate: 1.943 per $100)
- Patch, Essex County Ranked By Property Taxes (Tax Year 2025) (cross-check)
- Walk Score, Cedar Grove NJ (Walk Score 73, Pompton Avenue area)
- Hilltop Conservancy / Hilltop Reservation (roughly 284 acres)
All figures carry the year attached; the state republishes tax tables annually and market and park data change, so confirm current figures before relying on them.