Town guide · Union County
Living in Westfield, NJ
Westfield grew up around a rail station that opened in 1839, and its downtown still sits just north of the tracks. It is a town of about seven square miles with historic districts, Mindowaskin Park at its center and Raritan Valley Line service toward Newark and New York.
- County
- Union
- Population
- About 31,000 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 6.7 square miles
- Setting
- Residential streets around a historic downtown and rail station
- Main roads
- Route 28, U.S. Route 22 on the northern edge, and the Garden State Parkway at Exits 135 and 137
Neighborhoods
North Side, South Side and the sections in between
Westfield takes its name from the western fields of the old Elizabethtown tract, and for more than a century it was known as West Fields. It became a township in 1794 and was reincorporated as a town in 1903.
Route 28 runs alongside the railroad for about two miles and divides the town into the North Side and the South Side. The downtown lies mostly north of the train station.
- Downtown: A nineteenth century commercial district that grew up along the commuter rail line. The town is working on a National Register nomination for it.
- Wychwood: A residential section that includes Kimball Avenue and Kimball Circle, home to Westfield's only locally designated historic district.
- Stoneleigh Park: A historic enclave of about 30 houses on a looped private drive, planned by the Tremaine family and built mostly between 1904 and 1929. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family homes on residential streets across the North Side and South Side, built over more than a century.
- Historic houses including the Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and other early twentieth century houses of Stoneleigh Park and the Kimball Avenue district.
- Homes near the train within reach of the Westfield station and the downtown on both sides of the tracks.
Worth knowing: Westfield has a Historic Preservation Commission. Homes in the Kimball Avenue historic district and the town's individually designated landmarks fall under its jurisdiction, which can affect exterior changes and demolition. Stoneleigh Park is governed by deed restrictions and a homeowners association. We confirm any historic designation or association rules on a property before it is listed or put under contract.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Westfield
- 1.810%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $18,9482025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $1,050,000 on today's market would pay roughly $19,005 a year at Westfield'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
Westfield station, at South Avenue and Summit Avenue, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with service to Newark Penn Station and connections or some direct trains to New York Penn Station. NJ Transit's 113 bus runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal seven days a week, routes 114 and 117 serve Route 22 on the northern edge of town, and the 59 links Plainfield and Newark. Route 28 runs through the middle of town beside the railroad, U.S. Route 22 is reached from Lawrence, Mountain or Springfield Avenue, and the Garden State Parkway is reached at Exits 135 and 137. Downtown Westfield is the town's main shopping district.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Mindowaskin Park: The town park on East Broad Street, with a pond, fountains, a bandstand and a footbridge. It marked its centennial in 2018.
- Miller-Cory House Museum: A 1740 farmhouse on Mountain Avenue with costumed docents and open hearth cooking, open Sunday afternoons outside the summer months.
- Lenape Park: A 450 acre Union County park and wildlife reserve along the Rahway River, partly in Westfield, with a paved path and walking trails on its flood control berms.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Westfield
What are property taxes in Westfield, NJ?
Westfield Town's 2025 effective tax rate is 1.810 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $18,948, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is there a train from Westfield to New York?
Yes. Westfield station is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line. Trains run to Newark Penn Station, with connections to New York Penn Station, and some trains run directly to New York. NJ Transit's 113 bus also runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Is Westfield a town or a township?
Westfield is a town. It was formed as Westfield Township in 1794 and reincorporated as the Town of Westfield in 1903.
Does Westfield have historic districts?
Yes. Kimball Avenue is the town's locally designated historic district, and the town also has individually designated landmarks under its Historic Preservation Commission. Stoneleigh Park is listed on the State and National Registers, and the town is working on a National Register nomination for the downtown.
How did Westfield get its name?
The town grew in the western, undeveloped fields of the old Elizabethtown tract. For more than a century the area was called West Fields.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Westfield
Buying or selling in Westfield?
Know the street and the rules
In Westfield, a historic designation or the Stoneleigh Park association can matter as much as square footage. We check those details first, then talk with you about value and your options.
Call or text either of us directly.