Chatham, NJ, pronounced CHAT-um, combines the best of small-town living with big-city access, offering an old-fashioned Main Street, first-rate schools and a direct train to NYC. “It’s warm and welcoming, with an extremely strong sense of community,” says Michelle Daniher, a top one percent agent in the nation with Compass who has lived in Chatham for 25 years. She adds, “A mom will post in a local Facebook group saying she just moved here with her three-year-old and is looking for a playdate, and she’ll be swarmed with responses.” There are actually two Chathams — Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. Known as "The Chathams,” these two municipalities share a school district, Chatham Library, parks and recreation department and EMT services, but maintain separate municipal governments and police forces.
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Throwback Main Street with boutique shops and diverse dining
Life here revolves around the charming Main Street. It channels an earlier time, lined with family businesses. These have become more diverse, like Namkeen, a Pakistani restaurant specializing in hot chicken. Scalini Fedeli is an older fixture; this upscale Italian restaurant is housed in George Washington’s one-time headquarters. And Scoops is a favorite for ice cream. For shopping, the Purple Aardvark curates handcrafted gifts made in the U.S., while Jabberwocky is a go-to for kids’ toys. ShopRite and Kings Food are in-town options for grocery shopping, and Whole Foods is nearby. A popular farmer’s market operates from June through November at the train station. For chain shopping, The Mall at Short Hills offers 140 high-end stores just minutes away.
Sandy, at Chatham's The Purple Aardvark curated gift shop, perfects a display of baby clothes.
Main St., Chatham; the nucleus of the area with restaurants, shops and amenities
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Local and national celebrations
Chatham goes big every 4th of July with a parade, live music and fireworks. “People will line up chairs five days in advance of the parade on Main Street, and no one will take the chairs,” says Daniher. The annual Fishawack Festival celebrates all things Chatham with live music, food vendors and fun runs. And the Small Fry Fishing Derby is an annual event for youngsters to catch trout at Kelley’s Pond.
Older, well-maintained colonials on shady streets
Quiet, residential streets with well-maintained homes are shaded by mature trees and serve as a backdrop for block parties. Sidewalks aren’t common, but streets are still conducive for families pushing strollers or kids riding bikes around town. Single-family 1930s colonials are most common with breathing room between homes. There are a few townhome and condo developments; the luxury Enclave is the newest. Homes in the borough along the train are the oldest and desirable for their walkability to the train, town and playground. Homes in the township tend to be bigger with larger lots; Rolling Hill and Wyckam Woods are popular sections. Prices range from $350,000 for a one-bedroom condo to $4.2 million for a new-build mansion, with the median hovering around $1.2 million. A four-bedroom single-family starts around $800,000. While there’s no new construction developments, Daniher notes how affordable housing is being built. Plus, property taxes are lower in Morris County than in neighboring counties.
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The Chatham Township area features tree lined streets that are quiet, shady and perfect for strolling along
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Highly rated schools with Blue Ribbon recognition
Niche ranks the entire district an A plus and lists it as 13th best in New Jersey. Public elementary schools include Milton Avenue, Southern Boulevard and Washington Avenue Schools for kindergarten through third grade. Lafayette School is dedicated to grades four and five, and Chatham Middle School serves sixth through eighth grades. Public school students continue at Chatham High School. The latter offers a fencing and sailing team, and the town turns out for football games. Plus, Milton Avenue, Southern Boulevard and Chatham High School have all been named National Blue Ribbon Schools, a distinction for academic excellence. Chatham also offers half-day universal Pre-K for ages three and four.
Milton Avenue School, located in Chatham Township, is one of three K-3 schools in the area.
An aerial view of Chatham High School's campus in Chatham, NJ.
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Community pools and protected habitat
Families take advantage of recreational activities like the seasonal Colony Pool Club, featuring a spring-fed pool and sandy beach. Memorial Park Pool is another option, complete with a wading pool and adjacent playground. Castle Park Playground is also popular for small kids. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is unique to the town, a protected habitat with hiking trails and an education center.
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The Colony Pool Club was established in 1928 as a local swim club and has grown to become a Chatham Township landmark known for family fun
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Direct train and bus options
A midtown direct train is just a block from Main Street, offering service to NYC in just under an hour. There are trains to Hoboken as well. Of note, only borough residents can apply for a parking permit at the station, and there’s a long waitlist. Township residents have the option of commuting via the Boxcar bus or driving to other train towns, like Summit. Newark International Airport is a 20-minute drive, and NYC is 25 miles away, or about half an hour without traffic.
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Even more recreation
Additional ways to get involved include the Chatham Players, a community theater group, and the Library of the Chathams for yoga story time, crochet groups and even wine tastings. There’s also the private Fairmont Country Club with its 18-hole golf course, membership-based Noe Pond Club featuring a beach and Village Play Cafe, an indoor playground for kids.
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