Hailed by the New York Times as a Norman Rockwellesque town, Maplewood is a cosmopolitan community with an artistic sensibility and historic architecture. Maplewood was named among the “Best Places to Live'' in the United States by Money Magazine which declared, “A 30-minute train ride from midtown Manhattan, Maplewood, N.J. is a favorite compromise for city people who also want good public schools, affordable homes, and their own yards.” With a population of roughly 24,000, Maplewood enjoys small town charm with all the modern conveniences. The housing stock in Maplewood varies from modest cottages, to center hall and side hall colonials, tudors, and the occasional victorian, most built in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Prices range from the $400K’s to $2M. Maplewood also has a jitney service with jitney stops all around Maplewood that run in the morning and rush hour/early evenings to and from the Maplewood Train Station, which offers midtown direct service to NY Penn Station. 

Maplewood and South Orange are sister towns and share a school district as well as several municipal services. There are three libraries in the two towns – plus a borrowing agreement with universities and other libraries. Both towns have community pools, public and private tennis courts, basketball courts, numerous playgrounds, and the Maplewood Country Club has a pool plus a private golf course. In the summer, two Farmer’s Markets, one on Springfield Ave. in Maplewood, the other in the train station parking lot in South Orange, offer the best in NJ’s fresh produce and flowers. Maplewood is also home to Maplewoodstock, a summer music festival, as well as a huge 4th of July celebration complete with a big top circus and fireworks. Nearly 30 neighborhood associations preserve “over the back fence” neighborliness and community. 

Some of our favorite restaurants in Maplewood are Coda, a family favorite offering small plates as well as an extensive menu and full bar, plus a great Thursday happy hour menu; Arturos’s, the best brick oven pizza and make sure you place your order early in the day for take out that evening, Mt. Fuji serves the best sushi and has great lunch specials, St. James Gate serves great burgers and pub chips; Roman Gourmet, a family owned pizzeria is the best for slices and they make a mean pesto with fresh mozzarella thin crust, plus The Spot (formerly the Maple Leaf Diner) and Park Wood Diner on Springfield Ave. And Restaurant Lorena, in its bigger location on Maplewood Avenue, which was Voted North Jersey's 2022 Best of the Best Restaurant from New Jersey Monthly Magazine, and now features a Sunday Jazz Brunch.