Are You Looking to Buy or Sell a Home in Verona, NJ?

Verona is a township located in Essex County, New Jersey. This family-friendly town of 13,000+ residents was ranked the #1 “Top Places to Live” in Essex County and the #3 town in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly. With a solid public school district, available transportation, well-kept parks and recreational areas and community services, it’s no surprise why so many people choose to call Verona home. Even though the market has fallen in many areas, it continues to maintain its value in this town, with 99.5 percent of the homes being single family.

According to Zillow, the median home value index is $404,200. The majority of homes are single family, with the exception of a few condos. Approximately 77 percent of residents are owners, while 23 percent are renters. The average year that homes were built is 1940, so many of the properties bring historic value to the area. While the majority of residents are families with children, 33 percent constitute families without children, giving the area a refreshing balance.

For families with children, Verona is served by the Verona Public School District that educates kids from kindergarten through twelfth grade.  Three of these schools were honored as Star Schools by the New Jersey Department of Education and overall, ranked 53rd out of 316 for Top Public High Schools. The schools in the area include:

• Brookdale Avenue School, K-4
• Frederic N. Brown School, K-4
• Forest Avenue School, K-4
• Laning Avenue School, PK-4
• Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School, 5-8
• Verona High School, 9-12

There are also several private schools in the area, including Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School,  Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, and the Children’s Institute for children with learning, social and language challenges.

You may have heard Verona being referenced in many of The Sopranos episodes, as the mafia family resided just outside of the town. Verona has also been home to many other popular movies, TV shows and books, especially with the history and upscale nature of the town. Despite the tough housing market, properties still continue to move, with nearly 20 homes being sold during the month of July, according to Zillow.

A booming housing market and ideal location make Verona, New Jersey a great choice for anyone looking for a family home. Not only is the area established and in the heart of almost everything, it is also a first choice for many people due to its peaceful parks and quiet neighborhoods.

This established township covers a total area of 2.77 square miles, which lies between the First and Second Watchung Mountains and is adorned by the Peckman River that flows at the bottom of the valley.

The neighboring towns are also very established, dating back to times when the area was known as the Horseneck Tract. These neighboring areas have been renamed and today and include Montclair, North Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells and West Orange.

The town is also well equipped to handle busy parents who need to get around. The local transportation system consists of two main routes, which are Route 23 and CR 506. These routes run directly through the township allowing easy access to other main roads. The CR577, Interstate 80, New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway are other main highways that allow for easy mobility.

Verona is included on the New Jersey Transit bus routes that provide service to Newark, West Caldwell and New York City. Residents of Verona can also utilize the train portion of the New Jersey Transit system by heading into Montclair and Little Falls. Nearby airports include Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Community services in Verona include an excellent Fire Department that is almost completely volunteer. Staffed by more than 60 firefighters in two stations, the fire department is complete with all the necessary trucks, fire engines and command vehicles needed. The community also has a volunteer Rescue Squad and is home to the world’s oldest flag manufacturer.

For more information on Verona, New Jersey visit: VeronaNJ.org