Town guide · Union County
Living in Garwood, NJ
Garwood covers about two thirds of a square mile between Cranford and Westfield. It grew up in the late 1800s as a railroad and factory town, and the Raritan Valley Line still runs right through the middle of it.
- County
- Union
- Population
- About 4,500 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 0.65 square miles
- Setting
- Small borough of residential streets and a former industrial corridor along the railroad
- Main roads
- Route 28 and Center Street, with the Garden State Parkway a short drive east through Cranford
Neighborhoods
North and south of the tracks
Garwood was incorporated in 1903 from parts of Cranford and Westfield, after residents grew unhappy with the services they were getting. It was named for Samuel Garwood, president of a railroad land company. Manufacturers including the Aeolian Company, once the largest maker of musical instruments in the world, built factories along the tracks.
- North of the tracks: Most streets are numbered.
- South of the tracks: Most streets are named for trees.
- The rail corridor: The borough's former industrial area along the railroad, where the remaining castle like Aeolian building is being converted to apartments.
Homes
What you will find
- Homes north of the tracks: Houses on mostly numbered streets on the north side of the railroad, around Hartman Park and Georgiana Memorial Park.
- Homes south of the tracks: Houses on streets mostly named for trees on the south side, near Unami Park and the Garwood Sports and Recreation Complex.
- Apartments in the Aeolian building: The remaining castle like Aeolian factory building is being converted to apartments, a project that followed an affordable housing dispute under New Jersey's Mount Laurel doctrine.
- Senior housing: The Village at Garwood, a senior housing development built in 2014.
Worth knowing: In a borough of about two thirds of a square mile, being north or south of the tracks and how close a home sits to the former industrial corridor can matter. We look at each street on its own, and we read the borough's redevelopment plans, including the Aeolian building conversion, and the flood maps before we price a home.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Garwood
- 2.059%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $11,7252025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $550,000 on today's market would pay roughly $11,324 a year at Garwood'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
Route 28 is the borough's main road, running east to Cranford and west to Westfield. The Garden State Parkway is a short drive east through Cranford. Garwood station, on Center Street between North and South Avenues, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line with limited service. It has low platforms and is not accessible. Most trains run to Newark Penn Station, where riders connect to New York, and Cranford and Westfield next door also have stations on the same line. NJ Transit bus 113 runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and bus 59 runs to Newark. Newark Liberty International Airport is about 15 minutes away.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Unami Park: A Union County park on the south side of the borough off Hickory Avenue, with a playground, soccer, baseball and softball fields, a tennis court, a picnic area and restrooms.
- Garwood Sports and Recreation Complex: A borough complex at 140 Myrtle Avenue with a field house, a multipurpose field, a basketball court, a playground, a covered pavilion and a walking track.
- Hartman Park: A borough park on the 400 block of Second Avenue on the north side, with a large basketball court, picnic tables and play equipment.
- Georgiana Memorial Park: A small borough park with a gazebo and benches at Walnut Street and Fourth Avenue.
- Lenape Park: Just outside the borough, about 450 acres of Union County parkland in Cranford, Westfield and neighboring towns, with walking paths along the Rahway River.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Garwood
What are property taxes in Garwood, NJ?
Garwood Borough's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.059 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $11,725, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Does Garwood have a train station?
Yes. Garwood station on Center Street is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, but service is limited and the station has low platforms. Most trains run to Newark Penn Station, and Cranford and Westfield next door also have stations on the same line.
How big is Garwood, NJ?
Garwood covers about 0.65 square miles, all land, and had about 4,500 residents in the 2020 census. It borders Cranford to the east and Westfield to the west.
What was the Aeolian Company in Garwood?
The Aeolian Company was once the largest maker of musical instruments in the world and had a factory in Garwood. In 1901 the station was briefly renamed Garwood Aeolian. The remaining Aeolian building is being converted to apartments.
How did Garwood get its name?
Garwood is named for Samuel Garwood, president of a land company tied to the railroad. The borough was incorporated in 1903 from parts of Cranford and Westfield.
Buying or selling in Garwood?
North of the tracks or south
Garwood is small enough that we compare your home with sales on your own side of the railroad. Then we explain your choices in plain terms.
Call or text either of us directly.