West Milford
NJ
Average Sales Price
$594,804
Median Sales Price
$530,000
Population
15,884
Total Listings
142
Living in West Milford
80 Square Miles. ~40 Lakes. 100% NJ Highlands Protection Zone.
Passaic County's Largest Township. Greenwood Lake on the NY Border.
Everything you need to know before making West Milford, NJ home.
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Active homes for sale in West Milford
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What's your West Milford home worth?
→Clifton is one of New Jersey's largest and most genuinely diverse cities — 11.4 square miles, population approximately 90,000, incorporated as a city in Passaic County at 131 feet elevation, 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan. The city is structured as a dense patchwork of distinct neighborhoods — Botany Village, Richfield, Styertowne, Athenia, Montclair Heights, Allwood, and Lakeview — each with its own commercial character and residential identity that reflects successive waves of immigrant settlement from the early 20th century through today. 35.1% of residents were born outside the United States, representing one of Passaic County's most international communities, with significant Latin American, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Eastern European populations alongside the established Italian-American and Polish-American communities that shaped the city's mid-century character. City-Data: $86,591 median household income (2024); 59.6% homeownership; 28.3-minute average commute; 27% of workers live and work in the city.
The school district — Clifton Public Schools, PreK-12, 20 schools, approximately 10,514 students, 12.1:1 ratio, DFG CD — is one of New Jersey's larger unified districts. Clifton High School (333 Colfax Avenue, Mustangs, Maroon and Gray, established 1906, 3,150 students 2024-25, 14.0:1, Big North Conference, rival: Passaic High School) is the third-largest high school in New Jersey. The market: Redfin $617,500 (+0.4%, November 2025, 63-day DOM, 104.7% sale-to-list); Movoto $599K list (May 2026, 23-day DOM); Zillow ZHVI $514,371 (+6.2%); Houzeo $585,000 (+0.02% YoY). True SFH range approximately $500K-$750K; condos approximately $300K-$450K. The 2024 average tax bill is approximately $10,001 on a 2.1% effective rate. The city sits at the intersection of Route 3, Route 46, I-80, I-280, and the Garden State Parkway — arguably the most highway-accessible residential city of its size in northern New Jersey — with NJ Transit bus service (Routes 190, 191, 192, 74, 75) providing Port Authority access approximately 35-50 minutes.
🛣️
Route 3, Route 46, I-80, GSP — All In-City
Most highway-accessible residential city in northern NJ
🌍
35.1% Foreign-Born — Passaic County's Most Diverse City
Latin American · Middle Eastern · South Asian · Eastern European
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Clifton HS — 3rd Largest in NJ · DFG CD · 14:1
3,150 students · Mustangs · est. 1906 · Big North Conference
🏡
SFH ~$500K-$750K · Condos ~$300K-$450K
Redfin $617K · Movoto $599K · Zillow $514K · 23-day DOM
💰
~$10,001 Avg Tax Bill · 2.1% Effective Rate
City-Data 2024 · $86,591 median HH income · 59.6% homeown.
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7 Distinct Neighborhoods — Each With Its Own Identity
Botany Village · Richfield · Styertowne · Athenia · Allwood · more
Commute & Connectivity
Getting There From Here
Clifton sits at the convergence of Route 3, Route 46, I-80, I-280, and the Garden State Parkway — the most highway-accessible residential city of its size in northern New Jersey — with NJ Transit bus service to Port Authority and 12 miles to Midtown Manhattan.
NYC Port Authority (Bus)
NJ Transit Routes 190/191/192 · Route 3 corridor
~35-50
minutes by bus
Midtown Manhattan (Car)
Via Route 3 E / Lincoln Tunnel · ~12 miles
~25-40
minutes by car (off-peak)
George Washington Bridge
Via I-80 E / Rt-46 E · ~8 miles
~15-25
minutes by car (off-peak)
Newark Liberty Airport
Via GSP S / I-280 W · ~14 miles
~20-30
minutes by car
Paterson (County Seat)
Via Route 19 N / I-80 W · ~5 miles
~10-15
minutes by car
Public Schools
Education That Raises Property Values
Clifton Public Schools: PreK-12, 20 schools, ~10,514 students, 12.1:1, DFG CD. Clifton HS: 3,150 students, 14.0:1, 3rd largest in NJ, est. 1906, Mustangs, Big North Conference.
| School | Grades | Type | Student:Teacher | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Schools (13 schools) Clifton Public Schools · PreK-5 · DFG CD · 745 Clifton Ave |
PreK - 5 | Public | 12.1 : 1 | DFG CD |
| Middle Schools (5 schools incl. Clifton MS) Clifton Public Schools · Grades 6-8 · DFG CD |
6 - 8 | Public | 12.1 : 1 | DFG CD |
| Clifton High School 333 Colfax Ave · Mustangs · Maroon & Gray · Est. 1906 · 3,150 students · 3rd largest HS in NJ |
9 - 12 | Public | 14.0 : 1 | DFG CD · BNC |
Clifton Public Schools: PreK-12 · 20 schools · ~10,514 students (2020-21) · 12.1:1 · DFG CD · Superintendent: Danny A. Robertozzi · 745 Clifton Avenue. Clifton HS: 333 Colfax Avenue · Mustangs · Maroon and Gray · established 1906 · 3,150 students (2024-25) · 14.0:1 · Big North Conference · rival: Passaic HS · 3rd largest HS in NJ · current building opened September 1962 ($6M, equivalent to $64M in 2024). Private options: St. Philip the Apostle (K-8), St. Brendan (K-8). Montclair State University (~10 min) accessible for concurrent enrollment.
Neighborhood Life
What Makes West Milford West Milford
Explore Botany Village's Italian-American delis along Van Houten Avenue, Richfield's quiet residential streets, Styertowne's shopping center, Allwood's suburban character, the Passaic River waterfront, and the city where seven distinct neighborhoods share one zip code cluster and one Clifton High School since 1906.
Botany Village — Italian-American Heritage on Van Houten Avenue
Botany Village along Van Houten Avenue is Clifton's most distinctive neighborhood commercial corridor — the Italian-American heart of the city where multigenerational families have operated delis, pork stores, bakeries, pizzerias, and restaurants since the mid-20th century. The neighborhood reflects the Italian and Eastern European immigrant settlement that gave Clifton its working-class suburban character after World War II. The commercial strip on Van Houten Avenue is authentic, local, and unpretentious — the kind of main street that corporate development hasn't reached because the community never needed it to. Italian ice, Sunday gravy, and the butcher shop that has been there since the 1960s are Botany Village's defining qualities.
Van Houten Ave · Italian-American · Delis · Pork Stores · Bakeries · Multigenerational · Authentic
Clifton's International Commercial Corridors
With 35.1% of residents born outside the United States, Clifton's commercial corridors reflect one of Passaic County's most genuinely international communities. Main Avenue, Lakeview Avenue, and Paulison Avenue host Latin American restaurants (Colombian, Dominican, Mexican, Peruvian), Middle Eastern bakeries and halal butchers, South Asian grocery stores, Brazilian steakhouses, and Eastern European specialty shops alongside the established Italian and Polish commercial infrastructure. The diversity is not curated for outside visitors — it reflects the actual household composition of a city where five consecutive waves of immigrant settlement have each found affordable homeownership, highway access, and community infrastructure.
Main Ave · Latin American · Middle Eastern · South Asian · Brazilian · Polish · International
Styertowne Shopping Center & Route 46 Commercial Corridor
Styertowne Shopping Center on Route 46 provides the anchor retail infrastructure — ShopRite, Home Depot, major chain restaurants, and service retail — that serves Clifton's 90,000 residents. The Route 46 commercial corridor extending through the city provides the full range of auto-oriented suburban retail that a dense residential city without a traditional downtown requires. For major format retail, the Garden State Plaza (Paramus) is approximately 15-20 minutes east via Route 3 South, and Willowbrook Mall (Wayne) is approximately 10 minutes west via Route 46.
Styertowne · Route 46 · ShopRite · Home Depot · GSP ~15 min · Willowbrook ~10 min · Retail
Seven Neighborhoods — One City Identity
Clifton's seven distinct neighborhoods — Botany Village (Italian heritage, Van Houten Ave), Richfield (quiet residential, Route 3 border), Styertowne (shopping corridor, commercial), Athenia (mixed residential, Route 46), Montclair Heights (border with Montclair, elevated terrain), Allwood (suburban residential, quieter streets), and Lakeview (Passaic River adjacent, park access) — each maintain distinct commercial and residential characters while sharing the Clifton High School identity, the Route 3/46/I-80 highway network, and the municipal infrastructure of one of New Jersey's largest cities. Buyers choosing Clifton are effectively choosing which neighborhood character fits their lifestyle while accessing the full city infrastructure.
Botany Village · Richfield · Styertowne · Athenia · Montclair Heights · Allwood · Lakeview
Clifton History — Dutch, Industrial, Immigrant, Suburban
Clifton's history traces through four distinct layers: Dutch colonial settlement in the Passaic River valley (1600s-1700s); industrial development along the Passaic River (cotton mills, rubber factories, 1800s-early 1900s); massive immigrant settlement from Southern and Eastern Europe during the 1910s-1950s; and postwar suburban residential expansion that transformed the remaining farmland into the dense neighborhood grid that defines the city today. The current high school building on Colfax Avenue opened in September 1962 at a cost of $6 million (equivalent to $64 million in 2024) — an investment reflecting the scale of the postwar residential expansion. Clifton was incorporated as a city in 1917, separating from Manchester Township.
Incorporated 1917 · Dutch Colonial · Industrial Passaic River · Immigrant Settlement · Suburban 1950s
Clifton Stadium & Mustangs Athletics
Clifton High School's Mustangs compete in the Big North Conference — the same athletic conference as many Bergen County schools — providing a community sports identity that unifies the city's seven neighborhoods. Friday night Mustangs football at Clifton Stadium draws from across the city. The Big North Conference rivalry with Passaic High School is one of northern New Jersey's most historically significant high school athletic rivalries. For a city of 90,000 with one high school, the Mustangs are a genuine cross-community identity anchor in a way that multi-high-school cities cannot replicate.
Clifton Mustangs · Clifton Stadium · Big North Conference · Rival Passaic HS · Community Identity
Weasel Brook Park — Clifton's Primary Green Spine
Weasel Brook Park runs through central Clifton as the city's primary green corridor — athletic fields, walking paths, picnic areas, and passive recreation serving residents across multiple neighborhoods. The park's linear character connects Allwood and central Clifton residential areas and provides the green infrastructure that a densely built 11.4-square-mile city requires. Youth baseball, soccer, and recreation programs operate from Weasel Brook Park as the primary community athletic hub. The city maintains additional smaller parks throughout all seven neighborhoods, ensuring walkable green space access across the residential grid.
Weasel Brook Park · Athletic Fields · Walking Paths · Picnic · Youth Sports · Central Clifton
Passaic River Greenway & Lakeview Neighborhood
The Passaic River runs along Clifton's eastern edge, and the Lakeview neighborhood provides the most direct residential access to the river corridor. The Passaic River Greenway trail project — a multi-municipality effort to create continuous trail access along the Passaic River — passes through or adjacent to Clifton, connecting to trail networks in Garfield, Wallington, and the broader Passaic River Valley. For a dense urban city, the Passaic River corridor provides the natural waterway access that the city's residential interior cannot provide.
Passaic River · Lakeview · Greenway Trail · Garfield Border · River Valley Access
Clifton Municipal Pool & Recreation Programs
Clifton's municipal recreation department operates pools, community centers, and year-round programming serving 90,000 residents across seven neighborhoods. The recreation infrastructure reflects the scale investment appropriate for one of New Jersey's largest cities — adult fitness, youth sports leagues, summer camps, and senior programming at multiple facilities. For a city at $86,591 median household income serving a highly diverse population including 35.1% foreign-born residents, the recreation department's multilingual programming reflects the community's international character.
Municipal Pool · Recreation Centers · Year-Round · Youth Sports · Senior Programs · Multilingual
St. Joseph's University Medical Center (~5 min) · Hackensack UMC (~20 min)
St. Joseph's University Medical Center (Paterson, ~5 minutes north via I-80) is Passaic County's top hospital and one of northern New Jersey's most significant regional medical centers. St. Joseph's Health serves Clifton's population as the primary hospital. HackensackUMC (~20 minutes east via Route 3/Route 17) provides Bergen County's top hospital as the secondary major option. Montclair State University (~10 minutes southeast) and William Paterson University (~15 minutes north via Route 23) provide higher education access within practical range.
St. Joseph's ~5 min · HackensackUMC ~20 min · Montclair State ~10 min · William Paterson ~15 min
Clifton Public Library — Main Branch & Branches
Clifton Public Library serves a city of 90,000 with a main branch and additional service points across the seven-neighborhood footprint. With 35.1% of residents born outside the United States and significant communities speaking Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish, and South Asian languages, the library's multilingual collections, ESL programming, and citizenship preparation resources reflect the city's genuinely international character. The library is a member of the Passaic County library consortium and provides access to the broader regional library network.
Main Branch · Multilingual · ESL Programs · 35% Foreign-Born · Passaic County System
~$10,001 Average Tax Bill · 2.1% Effective Rate
Clifton's 2024 average residential tax bill of approximately $10,001 (City-Data, 2.1% effective rate) is below Bergen County's average of $13,329 and reflects the Passaic County tax structure for a large urban city. On a $550K home: approximately $7,500-$11,500/year. On a $650K home: approximately $8,900-$13,650. The 2.1% effective rate applied to Clifton's lower assessed values produces the bill; actual effective rates vary by neighborhood. Passaic County tax appeals are filed with the Passaic County Board of Taxation (deadline April 1). Comparisons: Paterson (higher rate, lower assessments), Wayne (lower rate, higher assessments), Passaic (comparable rate). Clifton's tax position relative to its income level ($86,591 median HH) is manageable for working and professional families.
~$10,001 Avg Bill · 2.1% Effective Rate · Below Bergen Avg · Passaic County Board of Taxation
Passaic County's Most International City — 35.1% Foreign-Born
Clifton's 35.1% foreign-born population represents one of New Jersey's most genuinely international mid-size cities. The successive waves of immigrant settlement — Italian and Polish (1910s-1950s), Latin American (1970s-1990s), Middle Eastern and South Asian (1990s-2010s), and continued international immigration — have produced a city where the cultural geography is visible block by block. Religious institutions include Catholic parishes, Orthodox churches, mosques, Hindu temples, and evangelical congregations, reflecting the full range of the international community. For buyers seeking a city-scale community with true cultural depth at an accessible price point, Clifton delivers that combination at the Passaic County price tier.
35.1% Foreign-Born · Italian · Polish · Latin American · Middle Eastern · South Asian · International
NJ's Most Highway-Accessible Residential City
Clifton sits at the convergence of Route 3, Route 46, I-80, I-280, and the Garden State Parkway — five major highway/interstate routes within or immediately adjacent to the city boundary. This makes Clifton arguably the most multi-directionally highway-accessible residential city of its size in northern New Jersey. The practical implications: Manhattan 25-40 minutes by car off-peak, Newark Airport 20-30 minutes, Paramus 15-20 minutes, Paterson 10-15 minutes, the entire Route 3 commercial corridor (Secaucus, Kearny, East Rutherford) accessible without a highway construction challenge. For working families who commute by car in multiple directions, Clifton's highway position is a structural quality-of-life asset.
Route 3 · Route 46 · I-80 · I-280 · GSP · 5 Highways · Manhattan ~30 min · Newark Airport ~25 min
Route 46 & Route 3 Commercial Corridors — In-City Retail
Clifton's primary retail infrastructure runs along Route 46 (Styertowne Shopping Center, Home Depot, ShopRite, major chain restaurants) and Route 3 (auto dealers, big-box retail, service businesses). The city's 90,000 residents support significant in-city commercial activity that most suburban municipalities at this density lack. Main Avenue, Lakeview Avenue, and Van Houten Avenue provide the neighborhood-scale retail — delis, bakeries, pharmacies, dry cleaners, restaurants — that serves daily needs without requiring highway access.
Route 46 Styertowne · Route 3 · ShopRite · Home Depot · Main Ave · Van Houten Ave · In-City
Willowbrook Mall (~10 min) · Garden State Plaza (~15-20 min)
Willowbrook Mall (Wayne, ~10 minutes west via Route 46 West) provides major format retail, anchored department stores, and dining in the Route 46 commercial corridor. Garden State Plaza (Paramus, ~15-20 minutes east via Route 3 South/Route 17 South) is Bergen County's premier retail destination — Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Bergen Town Center. For Clifton's working families, Willowbrook is the closer primary destination and Garden State Plaza is the premium option. The Route 3 commercial strip from Clifton east through Secaucus provides continuous retail access toward the Lincoln Tunnel.
Willowbrook ~10 min · Garden State Plaza ~15 min · Route 46 · Route 3 · Lincoln Tunnel Corridor
St. Joseph's University Medical Center (~5 min) · Montclair State (~10 min)
St. Joseph's University Medical Center (Paterson, ~5 minutes north via I-80 West) is Passaic County's most significant regional medical center. For routine and specialist medical care, Clifton residents have some of northern New Jersey's most comprehensive hospital access within 20 minutes in multiple directions: St. Joseph's (Paterson, ~5 min), Hackensack UMC (~20 min east), Mountainside Medical Center (Montclair, ~15 min south), and Valley Hospital (Ridgewood, ~20 min northeast). Montclair State University (~10 min south via Route 3) provides academic medical partnerships and the MSU graduate programs that Clifton's professional community accesses.
St. Joseph's ~5 min · HackensackUMC ~20 min · Mountainside ~15 min · Valley Hospital ~20 min
By the Numbers
West Milford at a Glance
Municipality Type
City
Passaic County · 11.4 sq mi · inc. 1917 · 131 ft elev.
Population
~88,461-90,296
2nd largest Passaic County · 11th largest NJ · 35.1% foreign-born
Median HH Income
$86,591
59.6% homeown. · 28.3 min avg commute · 27% work in-city
SFH Median Price
~$500K-$750K
Redfin $617K · Movoto $599K · Zillow $514K · 23-day DOM
Avg Tax Bill
~$10,001
2.1% effective rate · City-Data 2024 · Passaic County
School District
DFG CD · 12.1:1
20 schools · Clifton HS 3rd largest NJ · est. 1906
Zip Codes
07011-07015
7 neighborhoods · Route 3/46/I-80/GSP · 12 mi Midtown
Highways
Rt 3 · Rt 46 · I-80 · GSP
Most highway-accessible residential city in northern NJ
Explore the Area
Similar Towns Near West Milford
Buyers considering Clifton often explore these neighboring Passaic and Bergen County communities — from adjacent Wayne and Passaic to Garfield, Lodi, and Woodland Park, all within 15 minutes.
Wayne
Adjacent · Passaic County · Route 46 · step-up
→
Garfield
Adjacent Bergen · 2 NJ Transit stations · $584K-$665K
→
Lodi
Adjacent Bergen · Route 46 · $550K-$650K · comparable
→
Elmwood Park
Adjacent Bergen · 31% appreciation · affordable
→
Saddle Brook
Adjacent Bergen · I-80/Rt-46 · Paramus 5 min
→
Fair Lawn
Adjacent Bergen · 2 NJ Transit stations · $662K-$700K
→
Hawthorne
Adjacent Passaic · Route 208 · quieter family character
→
Woodland Park
Adjacent Passaic · Route 46 · Willowbrook Mall
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Passaic
Adjacent · affordable urban · NJ Transit · county peer
→Demographics
Data provided by Attom Data
Population
Employment
Population
15.9K
15.9K in 2020
Density
447.8
per square mile
Households
6K
32 With Children
Gender
49% / 51%
Men Vs Women
Occupancy
89% / 11%
Owned Vs Rented
Age Median: -- Years
No Data
Education Level
No Data
Educational Environment
Elementary Schools (5)Middle Schools (1)High Schools (2)
Name
Category
Grades
Library
Ratio
7/10
Westbrook Elementary School
55 Nosenzo Pond Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480
Public
KG - 6
No
13:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
5/10
Maple Road Elementary School
36 Maple Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480
Public
PK - 6
No
12:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
5/10
Marshall Hill Elementary School
210 Marshall Hill Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480
Public
KG - 6
No
13:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
5/10
Apshawa Elementary School
140 High Crest Dr, West Milford, NJ 07480
Public
KG - 6
No
11:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
0/10
New Biginnings Annex
36 Maple Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480
Private
PK - 6
Yes
3:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
Amenities & Attractions
Featured Listings
For Sale (89)
For Sold (1286)
Open Sun 1PM-4PM4 Beds4 Baths16 Weeden DR, West Milford, NJ 07480
MLS# 26021757
Listed by Mavourneen Slufik of Terrie O'Connor Realtors-Kinnelon
Open Sun 11AM-3PM4 Beds4 Baths193 Long Pond RD, West Milford, NJ 07421
MLS# 26021630
Listed by Joseph S. Lehr, IV of Weichert Realtors, Wayne
Open Sun 11AM-2PM3 Beds2 Baths677 Warwick TPKE, West Milford, NJ 07421
MLS# 26008014
Listed by Mariya Vasylkiv of Weichert Realtors, Kinnelon
New2 Beds2 Baths2 Richmond RD #302, West Milford, NJ 07480
MLS# 26024796
Listed by Camilia Anka of Keller Williams Realty
New2 Beds2 Baths7215 Richmond RD, West Milford, NJ 07480
MLS# 26024686
Listed by Lynn V. Fitzgerald of EXP Realty, LLC
New2 Beds1 Bath82 Fairview DR, West Milford, NJ 07421
MLS# 26024772
Listed by Mark Werner of Werner Realty
Similar Neighborhood
Common Questions
West Milford, NJ -- Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers about buying, selling, taxes, schools, and daily life in West Milford -- Passaic County's largest township: 80+ sq mi, ~40 lakes, 100% NJ Highlands Protection Zone, Greenwood Lake on the NY border, ~24,862 residents, West Milford HS Highlanders (est. 1962), DFG FG own K-12, $350K-$650K SFH with lakefront premiums to $1M+, 4 ZIP codes, former Warner Bros. Jungle Habitat 1972-1976.
West Milford is an active, volume-driven Passaic County township market with significant price variation by location and lake access. Movoto: $514,000 list median (June 2025, 22-day DOM, 89 sales). Homes.com: $479,900-$480,000 median (March 2026), average sale $520,931, 45-day DOM. Rocket: $437,690 (+10.7%, January 2025). Price ranges by type: standard SFH (no lake access) $350K-$550K; lakefront/lake-community homes $400K-$800K; premium Greenwood Lake waterfront $600K-$1M+. The township's 80+ square miles and ~40 lakes produce significant geographic price variation -- a $350K home in an inland area and a $900K Greenwood Lake waterfront are both "West Milford." The 4 ZIP codes (07480, 07435, 07438, 07421) reflect the township's geographic range from the central village to the NY border. Buyers get 89 homes sold per month -- the highest volume in this guide after Clifton. Talk to us about current West Milford market conditions
West Milford's housing stock is as geographically diverse as its 80 square miles. Standard SFH (non-lake): Cape Cods, ranches, and colonials in the central township area near Route 23 and Highlander Drive, typically $350K-$550K, standard suburban lots. Lake-community homes: approximately 40 lakes within the township host year-round residential communities originally developed as summer colonies (pre- and post-WWII cottages converted to year-round). Pinecliff Lake, Forest Hill Lake, Echo Lake, Shady Lake, and many others -- each lake community has its own homeowners association and character. Range $400K-$700K depending on lake and lot. Greenwood Lake waterfront: the 9-mile interstate lake straddling the NY/NJ border, 1,920 acres, 623 ft elevation -- the township's premier waterfront address at $600K-$1M+. Rural/wooded residential: the township's forested hillsides and valleys host homes at $350K-$600K on larger lots. Note: the NJ Highlands Protection Zone restricts development throughout the township, preserving the rural character and limiting future density increases -- a structural protection for property values.
West Milford Township Public Schools -- PreK-12, 8 schools, 3,028 students (2021-22), 10.8:1, DFG FG (46 Highlander Drive). The district operates its own complete K-12 system -- a significant advantage for a township of this size. West Milford High School (67 Highlander Drive, Highlanders, Black and Gold, established 1962, 937 students 2023-24, 11.8:1, Big North Conference, rival: Lakeland Lancers). Before 1962, West Milford students attended Butler High School; soaring enrollment in the 1950s forced West Milford to build its own school. The NAMM Foundation named the district a 2009 Best Community for Music Education -- a specific recognition of the district's arts programming. DFG FG = mid-range, same as North Haledon and Little Falls. The district's geographic spread -- serving students from Greenwood Lake to Oak Ridge to Newfoundland -- requires a distributed school network across the township's 80 square miles.
West Milford's taxes vary significantly by location and property type. General range: approximately $8,000-$14,000/year for most residential properties. Standard SFH at $450K-$500K: approximately $9,000-$12,000/year. Lakefront properties at higher assessed values will be higher. The township's location in the NJ Highlands means low development density and relatively modest municipal service costs -- supporting a reasonable tax position for the rural character. Lake community homeowners associations: most lake communities have annual HOA fees ranging from $300-$1,500+/year in addition to property taxes, covering road maintenance, dock access, and lake governance. Factor HOA fees into total cost calculations for lake-community purchases. The Chilton Medical Center is approximately 18 miles from central West Milford -- a longer distance to major hospital than the urban Passaic County communities, which is relevant to healthcare cost and access planning.
Yes -- high volume (89 sales/month), active buyer demand, +10.7% YoY appreciation. Key selling messages: 80+ sq mi = Passaic County's largest township (40%+ of county land); 100% NJ Highlands Protection Zone (protects drinking water for most of northern NJ -- structural development restriction = value protection); ~40 lakes; Greenwood Lake (9 miles, NY/NJ border, 1,920 acres, 623 ft elevation); Warner Bros. Jungle Habitat site 1972-1976 (state land 1988); Long Pond Ironworks museum; $350K-$650K SFH + lakefront premiums to $1M+; 22-day DOM (peak season); West Milford Highlanders HS est. 1962; DFG FG own K-12; NAMM Best Music Education community; Route 23 to NY Thruway via CR-511; Park & Ride bus access; summer concerts/4th of July/fishing derbies; 827 ft avg elevation; motto: A Clean Community; Newfoundland, Oak Ridge, Hewitt, Upper Greenwood Lake neighborhoods; inc. March 10 1834. The Highlands Protection Zone and the lake access are the two arguments that no comparable Passaic County community can replicate. Get a free West Milford home valuation
West Milford is 80+ square miles -- it covers more than 40% of Passaic County's land area by itself. It sits 100% within the NJ Highlands Protection Zone, which preserves the drinking water supply for most of northern New Jersey and restricts future development across the township. The township has approximately 40 lakes. Greenwood Lake stretches 9 miles along the New York border, 1,920 acres at 623 feet elevation. The township was named for Milford, Connecticut, settled by Dutch families who brought the name west. It became a township on March 10, 1834. Before World War II, New Yorkers came by train to stay at lakeside resorts throughout West Milford. After the war, the summer cottages became year-round homes, and communities like Pinecliff Lake, Forest Hill Lake, and Upper Greenwood Lake became permanent neighborhoods. From 1972 to 1976, Warner Bros. operated Jungle Habitat at a site the state bought in 1988 -- you can still find traces of the old park. The Museum at Long Pond Ironworks documents the pre-Revolutionary iron industry in the Highlands. The West Milford Highlanders have been playing on Highlander Drive since 1962, and the NAMM Foundation recognized the district for music education in 2009. Route 23 runs along the Pequannock River on the southern boundary. County Route 511 connects north and east to the NY Thruway, I-287, Route 17, and Route 208. The motto is "A Clean Community." It means exactly what it says.