South Orange NJ Real Estate & Information

A small community in Essex County, South Orange, NJ, has a population of about 16,000 residents. The community has numerous historic locations giving the town a remarkable feel. Most of the residential streets of South Orange are still illuminated by gaslight lamps adding to the unique feel of the town. With eclectic housing options, good schools, low crime rates, and a tolerant atmosphere, South Orange attracts homebuyers.

Shopping and Dining
Main Street South Orange (MSSO) is a non-profit volunteer organization that works to improve the downtown area, and its work has yielded good fruit in South Orange’s core district. Main Street is full of great restaurants, clothing stores, grocers, and unique retail choices. Some stores include A & I Clothing, South Mountain Yoga, Victor’s Florist, and many more. If you are looking for a larger shopping venue, there are many malls in the area including the Mall at Short Hills, Livingston Mall, and Essex Green Shopping Center.

Main Street in South Orange also provides a variety of restaurants including Italian, Japanese, Mexican, American, Caribbean, and even Ethiopian. Some of favorite the favorite eateries of South Orange’s residents are El Greco Pizza, Blue Ocean Chinese Restaurant, Neelam Exotic Indian Cuisine, and Yama 7 Sushi.

Parks and Recreation
There are quite a few city parks within South Orange including Meadowland Park, Grove Park, Memorial Park, and Cameron Field. Each park has its own amenities such as playgrounds, baseball diamonds, jogging/walking trails, soccer fields, and basketball courts.

The South Orange Performing Arts Center frequently offers artistic fare ranging from music and dance to theater and comedy programs. Since its opening, it has hosted notable artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Olympia Dukakis, Paquito D’Rivera, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

Living
The average sale price for South Orange real estate is around $500,000. The architecture of the community is quite varied, but most of the homes were built prior to 1939 and are single-family wood framed dwellings. Styles including Tudor, Victorian, Colonial, and Ranch are all found in the area.

Schools, Health, Transportation
South Orange shares a school district with Maplewood, which is comprised of about nine different schools. Generally, the schools in this district rank well for overall quality. Some of the top schools in the area include Jefferson Elementary School, South Orange Middle School, and Columbia Senior High School. Seton Hall University is also located in South Orange.

There are several hospitals near South Orange including Saint Barnabas Medical Center (West Orange), East Orange General Hospital, and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

South Orange real estate is located directly in between Interstate 78 and Interstate 280. The town is also near the Garden State Parkway. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is only about a twenty-minute drive away. Commuter trains are also readily available and a popular choice for traveling.