“Homegrown hospitality”
People in Nutley tend to stay. They plant seeds and watch family trees grow, their branches stretching across generations. But while Nutley may have fewer transplants than most Essex County towns, New Yorkers shouldn’t overlook this homegrown suburb. With a population of 29,000, Nutley radiates small-town warmth and welcomes newcomers with open arms, even if they’re from the big city.
Spanning over three square miles, Nutley has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a million-dollar home, an affordable apartment, a Colonial or a condo, Nutley offers great value, lower taxes, and a walkable downtown. Residents can stroll along Franklin Street, exploring street fairs, the farmers’ market and quaint mom-and-pop shops. And with an impressive variety of quality restaurants, the downtown serves up just the right foods for every meal. There’s the Pancake Palace for breakfast, Lil Burgers for lunch and The Steakhouse for dinner. Or you can try Michael’s Pastaria for casual Italian, Jim Dandy’s for “pub grub” and Jarets Stuffed Cupcakes for the tastiest treats. Beyond the restaurants and stores, there’s the Nutley Park Oval, a downtown gathering spot for community fun. “The Oval” is the starting line for fun-runs and holiday parades, and it’s the landing spot for Santa’s helicopter during the Christmas celebration.
Nutley’s nine public parks are considered the “crown jewel” of the Essex County park system. With over 10,000 trees and 100 acres of recreational land, no home in Nutley is more than half a mile from a park or a playground. One of the favorites is 13.5-acre Memorial Park, with its scenic walking and bike paths, playground and pond where visitors ice skate in the winter and feed ducks in the spring. In the summer, residents also flock to there to screen family-friendly movies and enjoy free popcorn and shaved lemon ice. Across its parks, the town maintains 4 soccer fields and 12 baseball fields, including the newly renovated home of the Nutley East Little League.
Repeatedly named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education,” the Nutley school district offers challenging academics as well as diverse extracurricular and arts programs. The five elementary schools feed into one middle school and then into one high school where the graduation rate is 95.5%. At the high school, students can participate in a variety of athletics from football to wrestling to bowling to competitive cheerleading. And the yearly school musical is always a hit!
Just 15 miles from downtown Manhattan, Nutley makes commuting relatively simple. Residents can board buses that run express to Port Authority, or drive to the Clifton or Harrison train stations and ride the rails to Penn Station. Either way, you’ll be across the Hudson in 20-30 minutes.
So if you want an affordable suburb where old-school charm meets modern convenience, plant roots in Nutley and watch your life bloom.