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Cedar Grove is a residential township in the western part of Essex County, New Jersey, set between the ridge of the Second Watchung Mountain and the Peckman River valley, roughly 12 miles west of Manhattan. The township covers a little more than four square miles and is bordered by Verona and Montclair to the east and south, North Caldwell to the west, and Little Falls in Passaic County to the north. The community traces its municipal history to the nineteenth century, when it was formed from portions of the former Caldwell Township, and it later separated from the neighboring township of Verona. Today it is primarily a bedroom community whose residents commute to New York and to nearby employment centers in Essex and Passaic counties. Cedar Grove's built environment reflects its mid-twentieth-century suburban growth: tree-lined residential streets of Cape Cod, ranch, and split-level homes, with newer townhouse developments added in recent decades. Commercial activity is concentrated along Pompton Avenue, the township's main artery, with additional shopping and dining in the bordering communities of Montclair, Verona, and Little Falls. The township is known for its strong local school system, community recreation programs, and preserved open space. Cedar Grove Park, Mills Reservation, and the Cedar Grove Reservoir anchor a landscape that combines suburban convenience with woodland and water views. Along the western edge, the township climbs the Second Watchung Mountain, where hillside streets offer views toward the New York skyline and access to wooded trails. With roughly 13,000 residents, Cedar Grove retains the feel of a small, close-knit community while remaining within easy reach of the region's larger urban centers.

Population 13,000

County Essex County

Active Listings 81

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Cedar Grove in?

Cedar Grove is in north-central Essex County, New Jersey, roughly 12 miles west of Manhattan. The township is bordered by Verona, Montclair, North Caldwell, and the Passaic County community of Little Falls.

What school district serves Cedar Grove?

The Cedar Grove Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across four schools. The district enrolls roughly 1,570 students and operates Cedar Grove High School along with elementary and middle schools.

How do residents commute to New York City?

NJ Transit buses run from Cedar Grove to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, a trip of roughly half an hour, and commuter rail stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line are located in nearby Montclair. Interstate 80 and the Garden State Parkway provide highway access.

What are Cedar Grove's main parks?

Cedar Grove Park, a 77-acre Essex County facility, offers sports fields and trails, and Mills Reservation is a wooded county preserve along the township's western edge. The 92-acre Cedar Grove Reservoir provides a scenic setting for walking and fishing.

Is Cedar Grove a township?

Yes. Cedar Grove is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, a primarily residential community of about 13,000 residents. It sits in the western part of the county, between the Second Watchung Mountain and the Peckman River valley.

City Guide

About Cedar Grove

Real Estate & Housing

Cedar Grove's housing stock reflects its growth as a mid-twentieth-century commuter suburb. Cape Cod, ranch, and split-level single-family homes dominate the established tree-lined streets, with many properties built between the 1940s and 1970s. Newer townhouse developments, often arranged around cul-de-sacs, provide a lower-maintenance alternative and appeal to a mix of first-time buyers and downsizers. Lots are generally suburban in scale, larger than in neighboring Montclair but smaller than in the more rural communities to the west. The township's zoning keeps much of the residential fabric single-family, while multifamily construction is concentrated near Pompton Avenue and the township's main roadways.

Neighborhoods

Cedar Grove is a compact township organized around Pompton Avenue, its main commercial corridor, and Ridge Road. Residential sections include the central township's tree-lined streets, hillside homes along the western edge near Mills Reservation and the Second Watchung Mountain, and newer townhouse communities built along cul-de-sac streets. The area around Cedar Grove Park and the reservoir adds a park-like setting to the town's eastern side. Because the township is small, most neighborhoods sit within a short drive of the town center, the schools, and the commercial districts of Montclair and Verona, while the hillside streets offer some of the township's most elevated outlooks toward New York.

Lifestyle in Cedar Grove

Cedar Grove offers a quiet, family-oriented suburban lifestyle with easy access to the amenities of its larger neighbors. The township maintains active recreation programs, community events, and a volunteer fire department and ambulance corps that anchor local civic life. Residents do much of their dining and entertainment in nearby Montclair, Verona, and Little Falls, which offer a dense concentration of restaurants, theaters, and independent shops within a short drive. Cedar Grove itself provides convenient everyday retail along Pompton Avenue, and its parks and reservoir support walking, fishing, and outdoor recreation close to home.

Schools & Education

Public education in Cedar Grove is provided by the Cedar Grove Township School District, a comprehensive community district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district operates four schools, including Cedar Grove High School, a middle school, and elementary schools, with an enrollment of roughly 1,570 students. Its small scale allows for comparatively low student-teacher ratios, and the district is closely tied to the township it serves. Many families also have access to private and parochial schools in the surrounding Essex County communities.

Getting Around

Cedar Grove is well positioned for regional commuting. NJ Transit buses run from the township to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, a trip of roughly half an hour, and commuter rail stations on the Montclair-Boonton Line are located in neighboring Montclair. Interstate 80 and the Garden State Parkway are both minutes away, and Route 23 runs along the township's northern edge, providing highway access across northern New Jersey. Newark Liberty International Airport lies within about a 20-minute drive.

Parks & Recreation

Cedar Grove's open space is anchored by Cedar Grove Park, a 77-acre facility in the Essex County Park System with sports fields, playgrounds, and walking paths, formally dedicated in 2016. Mills Reservation, a wooded county preserve along the township's western ridge, offers trails and overlooks, while the 92-acre Cedar Grove Reservoir provides a scenic setting for fishing and walking. Nearby Eagle Rock Reservation and the parks of Montclair and Verona expand recreational options, and the township's own recreation department runs seasonal programs and events for residents.