Located in scenic Morris County, Boonton evokes a small-town environment with upscale amenities. This tight-knit community 20 miles from Newark has a rich industrial history as an ironworks town dating to the late 1700s. Blacksmiths brought their families to the area to use its natural resources and named the village Boone Towne after a Colonial Governor. One of the town’s parks preserves this history with its display of a historic iron forge. The town officially got the name Boonton in 1867, and industry continued to prevail until the last factory shuttered in the early 1990s. The area, home to almost 9,000 residents, then transitioned into a more modern suburb. Today, a growing number of galleries and artistic businesses are moving into town, stirring a sort of renaissance. “Boonton is classically a blue-collar town, but it’s moved into the high-end,” says Glen Baker, a resident of 24 years who works as both the local fire chief and a real estate agent at RE/MAX. “The town has really flourished around the growing art scene, especially in terms of property value. Even the code enforcement has shifted to reflect this high-end environment,” Bake says, referring to Boonton’s Property Maintenance Code.
Typical single family homes in the historic district of Boonoton.
A Thai restaurant nestled among local shops on Main Street in Boonton.
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Varied architecture and limited housing supply
Boonton’s housing styles vary from Colonial-era houses, raised ranch-style homes and Craftsman cottages to Tudor Revivals and Victorian estates. Some homes are packed close together, and others sit on spacious lots with driveways. There are older homes that were built in the 1800s in the Historic District, while newer Craftsman homes have been recently built in the adult community of Knoll Edge. Regardless of style or size of the homes, the Town of Boonton's Property Maintenance Code ensures that each home maintains a manicured aesthetic. “The market here is extraordinarily aggressive,” Baker says. “It’s very hard to get a home here because of limited inventory and soaring prices.” The median price for a home in Boonton is about $645,000, which is higher than both the New Jersey state median and the national median. Properties stay on the market for an average of three weeks.
A row of Boonton homes with front porches in the historic district.
A Victorian home in the historic district of Boonton.
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Trail walks through history at Grace Lord Park
Grace Lord Park provides green space that wraps around the Rockaway River. The park is popular for its forest-themed playground and wooded riverfront walking trails that pass by several historic sites, including the Iron Works Ruins, a stone arch bridge and an old railroad trestle and turntable. On the west side of town, The Tourne covers 550 acres where residents can hike its 12-mile trail through forests and wetlands to reach a panoramic view of the New York City skyline. To the east, Knoll Country Club has an east golf course that is open to the public and a west golf course that is for members only.
A waterfall in Grace Lord Park of Boonton.
Residents of Boonton can visit The Tourne, with its' expansive trail systems.
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Main Street dining, artisan markets and festivals
The popular downtown corridor of Main Street is home to local boutiques, art galleries, bars and eateries, many with an industrial-era atmosphere. The establishments sit close together and parking can be difficult, so many residents walk to reach their reservations or appointments. “Main Street is the hub of our community,” Baker says. “About six times a year, the town makes the street pedestrian-only and hosts events like Music on Main, where local artists perform at every corner." This section of Main Street also hosts the Boonton Farmers Market each Saturday from May through November. The town draws a crowd for the annual four-day Labor Day celebration and carnival. “It’s gone on for almost 100 years and is known throughout the state,” Baker says. “There’s a parade on Saturday that goes along Main Street and ends at the high school, where families enjoy rides and carnival food.” For groceries, Kings, Walmart and ACME Markets are all near this downtown retail area.
Residents walk the streets of Main Street in Boonton exploring the variety of shops.
The area surrounding Boonton Avenue and Main Street is often referred to as the Boonton Art District.
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Boonton Public Schools and OLMC Catholic school
Boonton Public Schools receives a B-plus from Niche. Students can begin at School Street School, graded an A-minus, for pre-kindergarten through second grade. They can then attend John Hill School, which has a B-plus, for third through eighth grade, before advancing to Boonton High School, which receives a B. Our Lady of Mount Carmel School is a private Catholic kindergarten through eighth-grade academy in town. This private school sits across the street from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, which was established just before Boonton itself. The Gothic Revival church building features dark stone accents and a towering front facade with a church bell.
Boonton High School was founded in 11875.
Aerial view of the front of John Hill School.
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Getting around on Interstate 287 and Route 202
Two major highways cut through Boonton, Interstate 287 and U.S. Route 202. The interstate connects to Interstate 80, making the 20-mile commute to Newark and the 30-mile commute to Manhattan more manageable. Because of the location of these busy thoroughfares, homes around the highways have higher noise levels than other parts of town. The Boonton Station provides NJ Transit service into New York City, delivering passengers to Hoboken in about an hour. For further destinations, Newark Liberty International Airport is about 25 miles away. The nearest general hospital, Saint Clare’s Denville, is a 5-mile drive west.
Weather patterns and crime rates in Boonton
Boonton experiences all four seasons, with average summer highs of 85 degrees and average winter lows of 20 degrees. The average annual snowfall is around 10 inches. Using a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection permit, the Town of Boonton is working to correct a 10-foot-deep cesspool full of contaminated groundwater from a former electroplating facility. The facility sits next to residential and commercial properties, so the cleanup of contaminants continues to be monitored.
According to data provided to the FBI, Boonton has a significantly lower crime rate than the national average. While crimes related to theft and burglary fluctuate, these rates remain lower than national rates.
Jesse Flowers is not your typical agent. He believes that the best way to serve his clients' interests and help them make the best decision possible is by providing a pressure free consultative approach. He believes in continuous process improvement and doing everything with a high level of professionalism.
As a resident of Convent Station, Jesse is primarily focused on the communities within a short drive of Morristown or Madison. In addition, Jesse serves the real estate needs of clients across Morris, Essex, Union, and Somerset counties. Jesse was living in Scotch Plains when he began working as a full-time licensed agent in 2012. In a few short years, he became the #1 agent in his neighborhood and one of the top agents in Scotch Plains. Jesse has closed more than 150 transactions across 6 counties and over 40 towns, totaling over $70 million in sales volume.
When he's not selling homes, he's probably on a play date with his young son, playing tennis, or cooking with his wife for a dinner party. While he harbors no ill will toward cats, Jesse is definitely a dog person.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
