Town guide · Union County
Living in Cranford, NJ
Cranford is a Union County township built along the Rahway River, which winds through the middle of town and gives it the nickname the Venice of New Jersey. It has a downtown around a Raritan Valley Line station, river parks on both banks, and a canoe livery that has been on the water since 1908.
- County
- Union
- Population
- About 23,800 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 4.9 square miles
- Setting
- Suburban, with a train station downtown and parkland along the Rahway River
- Main roads
- Garden State Parkway (Exits 136 and 137), Route 28 (North Avenue) and South Avenue
Neighborhoods
A town shaped by its river
Cranford was incorporated in 1871 from parts of five neighboring towns. Its name is said to come from the Crane family, whose mill on the Rahway River dates to 1720. Garwood in 1903 and Kenilworth in 1907 were later formed from parts of the township.
The Rahway River bisects the township, and the county's Rahway River Parkway, designed by the Olmsted Brothers in the 1920s, follows its banks. Cranford borders nine towns: Garwood, Westfield, Springfield, Kenilworth, Roselle, Roselle Park, Linden, Winfield Township and Clark.
- Downtown: The commercial center around Cranford station, where upper floors have been turned into apartments and new condominiums were built next to the tracks. Cranford was named a Transit Village in 2003.
- Riverside streets: Homes along Riverside Drive and other streets that follow the bends of the Rahway River.
- Indian Village: A residential section near Mohawk Park, part of the Rahway River Parkway.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family homes: Most of Cranford is residential neighborhoods, with roughly 8,000 homes in the township as of 2011.
- Downtown apartments and condominiums: Units above storefronts and newer buildings within walking distance of the train.
- Historic houses: A handful of 18th century homes survive, including houses on Riverside Drive, Orange Avenue and Lincoln Avenue East.
Worth knowing: Flooding is the first thing to check in Cranford. The Rahway River has a long history of flooding here, and Hurricane Irene in 2011 damaged about one fifth of the township's homes, according to the mayor at the time. For any home near the river or its brooks, we check the FEMA flood zone, the cost of flood insurance and the home's water history before pricing it or making an offer.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Cranford
- 2.106%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $13,7292025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $650,000 on today's market would pay roughly $13,689 a year at Cranford's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
The Garden State Parkway runs along the township's eastern edge, with Exit 136 at Centennial Avenue and Raritan Road and Exit 137 at Route 28. Route 28, called North Avenue here, runs east and west through the center of town. Cranford station, at South Avenue and High Street downtown, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with trains to Newark Penn Station and some trains through to New York Penn Station. NJ Transit buses 112, 113 and the 113 express run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and routes 59 and 66 run to Newark.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Nomahegan Park: A Union County park in Cranford along the Rahway River, part of the Olmsted designed Rahway River Parkway.
- Lenape Park: About 450 acres of county parkland shared with neighboring towns, redesigned by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, with walking paths on its earthen berms.
- Cranford Canoe Club: A township owned boathouse on Springfield Avenue, built in 1908, where canoes and kayaks are rented for paddling the Rahway River.
- Droescher's Mill: A historic mill on Lincoln Avenue East beside a Rahway River dam, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Crane Phillips House: A mid 1800s cottage on North Union Avenue, listed on the National Register and run as a museum by the Cranford Historical Society.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Cranford
What are property taxes in Cranford, NJ?
Cranford Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.106 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $13,729, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Why is Cranford called the Venice of New Jersey?
The Rahway River winds through the middle of Cranford, and canoeing on it has been part of town life for more than a century. The Cranford Canoe Club boathouse, built in 1908, still rents canoes and kayaks.
Does Cranford flood?
Parts of it can. The Rahway River has flooded Cranford repeatedly, and Hurricane Irene in 2011 damaged about one fifth of the township's homes. Lenape Park was redesigned by the Army Corps of Engineers to hold back floodwater, and flood control studies continue. Buyers should always check the flood zone of a specific home.
Can you take the train from Cranford to New York?
Yes, with a transfer on most trips. Cranford station is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, and most trains run to Newark Penn Station, where riders connect for New York. Some trains run through to New York Penn Station.
What Parkway exits serve Cranford?
Exit 136, at Centennial Avenue and Raritan Road, and Exit 137, at Route 28, are along Cranford's eastern edge. Exit 138 for Kenilworth is just to the north.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Cranford
Buying or selling in Cranford?
Every street by the river is different
In Cranford, a block can change the flood zone and the insurance bill. We pull the flood map and the water history first, then talk with you about value and every way to sell.
Call or text either of us directly.