Community guide
Living in Montclair, NJ
Train stations, older homes, a competitive market, and how to buy here without overpaying.
Montclair, Essex County
Six train stations and a lot of old houses.
Montclair runs from Bloomfield Avenue up the slope of First Watchung Mountain, with several small business districts, a large stock of older homes, and six NJ Transit stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line.
Getting around
- Six Montclair-Boonton Line stations: Bay Street, Walnut Street, Watchung Avenue, Upper Montclair, Mountain Avenue and Montclair Heights
- Midtown Direct trains to New York Penn Station on weekdays, plus trains to Hoboken (see the service note below)
- NJ Transit buses along Bloomfield Avenue and into Manhattan
- Garden State Parkway and Route 3 nearby
The housing stock
- Victorians, Colonials and Tudors, many built in the early 20th century
- Two-family homes and smaller single-families in parts of town
- Condos and apartments near Bloomfield Avenue and the train stations
- Older homes mean inspections matter: heating, roofs, drainage and any old oil tank
Service note, updated Oct 30, 2026: during NJ Transit’s Portal North Bridge cutover (Oct 11 to Nov 14, 2026), weekday Midtown Direct trains on the Montclair-Boonton Line run to Hoboken instead of New York Penn Station, with tickets cross-honored on PATH, NY Waterway and NJ Transit bus 126. NJ Transit expects regular service from Nov 15, subject to testing. NJ Transit: Portal cutover
Parks and downtown
Brookdale Park, an Essex County park shared with Bloomfield, has trails, fields and a rose garden. Van Vleck House & Gardens, the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens and the Montclair Art Museum are local landmarks. Business districts include Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street downtown, Upper Montclair, Watchung Plaza and Walnut Street.
Schools
Montclair Public Schools uses a magnet and choice system for school placement; check the district’s site for how assignment works. For official information on any school, see the NJ DOE School Performance Reports.
What I tell buyers
Recent sales here have often closed above list (see the snapshot), so get fully pre-approved, know your ceiling before you tour, and look at the property tax bill early. Budget for older-house upkeep, and walk to the nearest station before you decide a house is “close to the train.”
Thinking of selling?
Pricing in Montclair comes down to street-level comparables, not town-wide averages. Start with a free valuation and I’ll follow up with a real comparative market analysis. Get your home value.
Market snapshot
Montclair by the numbers
| Measure | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $1,239,410 (+12.4% year over year) | 3 months through Sep 2026 |
| Homes sold | 118 | 3 months through Sep 2026 |
| Median days on market | 19 | 3 months through Sep 2026 |
| Sale-to-list price | 117.6% | 3 months through Sep 2026 |
| Homes sold above list price | 80.2% | 3 months through Sep 2026 |
| Homes with price drops | 13.7% | 3 months through Sep 2026 |
| Zillow Home Value Index | $1,154,955 (+8.8%) | Sep 2026 vs. Sep 2025 |
| Zillow Observed Rent Index | $3,114 (+2.4%) | Sep 2026 vs. Sep 2025 |
Search homes
Homes for sale in Montclair
The search on this site covers Central Jersey (Middlesex, Monmouth and Union County), so Montclair homes, listed on a different MLS, won’t show up in it. Register below and I’ll send you Montclair matches myself.
Montclair FAQ
Questions I get about Montclair
Can I take a train from Montclair to New York?
Yes. Montclair has six stations on NJ Transit’s Montclair-Boonton Line, with Midtown Direct trains to New York Penn Station on weekdays and trains to Hoboken. Check NJ Transit for your station’s schedule, and note the temporary Portal cutover changes through Nov 14, 2026.
Why do so many Montclair homes sell over asking?
Over the three months through September 2026, Redfin reported a median sale-to-list ratio of 117.6% and about 80% of homes selling above list. In a market like that, the list price is often a starting point rather than the final number.
How do Montclair school assignments work?
Montclair Public Schools uses a magnet and choice placement system. The district explains the process on its website.
Commute options, schedules, taxes and market numbers change. Treat this guide as a starting point and confirm the details for any specific home. I’ll help you do that.
New listings
Get new Montclair listings.
Tell me your budget and must-haves. I’ll send new matches, plus my honest take on each one.
Rather talk? Call or text (551) 373-5354