Mountainside

Enjoy community activities, including pools and recreation centers, and visit the gorgeous forests and stables of Watchung Reservation. There is a lingering sense of countryside even though the town is so close to Westfield and Summit. With about one-third of the borough being parkland, Mountainside may be one of the most densely wooded communities in the Central New Jersey area. Mountainside mainly comprises of a series of wooded back roads, many lacking sidewalks - driving through the Borough is almost like entering a different world.

Virtually all the housing comprises of owner-occupied, single family detached homes. Most of the housing was built before 1970 in a variety of styles, although there are many ranches in the mix. There are also some large, newly constructed homes where old homes have been demolished. The higher up the mountain you live, the better the view of New York City and the higher the prices. It's possible to find a home with a view of the Manhattan skyline and backing up to the Watchung Reservation. Some of the housing on the terraced streets have steep backyards due to mountain living. Despite its relatively high housing prices, one of the other attractions of the town is a lower effective tax rate than neighboring towns such as Summit and Westfield. Many sellers are empty nesters or retirees and the buyers are a mixture of young professional couples and older people looking for lower property taxes.