Fairfield, NJ Real Estate Guide for Buyers, Sellers & Renters

Fairfield is a township in the northwest corner of Essex County, with 7,872 residents as of the 2020 Census spread across about 10.5 square miles. Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 46 cut straight through it, the Passaic River and the Great Piece Meadows wetlands frame its western edge, and it is home to Essex County Airport. That mix of highway access, open land and a busy commercial corridor gives Fairfield a different feel from the denser towns to its east. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Fairfield.

Why People Choose Fairfield

Location is the first draw. With I-80 and Route 46 both running through town, Fairfield gives drivers direct highway routes east toward the Meadowlands and west into Morris County. Route 159 also passes through the township.

The second draw is space. A large part of the township's western side is protected wetland rather than development. Great Piece Meadows, a preserve of about 4,100 acres shared with Lincoln Park and Montville, is open daily from sunrise to sunset for hiking, bird-watching and wildlife viewing.

Fairfield also has deep roots. It is one of the earliest settled areas of western Essex County, and the Van Ness House on Little Falls Road, a brownstone homestead whose oldest section dates to around 1720, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The township bought and restored the house in 1981.

Getting Around: Commuting from Fairfield

• Car: I-80 and Route 46 are the backbone of the township, with Route 159 as an additional state route.
• Bus to Manhattan: Lakeland Bus Lines runs daily express service along Route 46 from Dover, Rockaway, Denville, Parsippany-Troy Hills and Pine Brook through Fairfield to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown.
• Local connections: The free EZ Ride Fairfield–West Caldwell Shuttle, funded by Essex County, serves the Route 46 corridor in Fairfield and West Caldwell. Morning trips meet NJ Transit bus routes 29 and 71 at Passaic Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue in West Caldwell. Afternoon trips must be reserved by 11 a.m.
• Air: Essex County Airport, a general aviation field of roughly 278 acres, sits entirely within the township and is owned and operated by the Essex County Improvement Authority.

Fairfield has no train station of its own, so rail commuters typically drive to a station in a neighboring town. We can map the drive times for any home you're considering.

Housing in Fairfield

Fairfield is largely an ownership market. Census estimates put the owner-occupied rate at close to 79 percent of homes, so rentals make up a smaller share of the housing stock.

That may change over time. The township's zoning includes a Multifamily Dwelling Overlay, a Mixed Use Overlay and a Residential Zone Overlay that allow apartment and for-sale multifamily development on designated parcels, with a share of units reserved for low- and moderate-income households under the township's Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. If you're curious about new construction, we'll track what's approved and what's actually coming to market.

Buying a Home in Fairfield

Buyers looking in Fairfield should plan for a few town-specific checks:

• Flood zones: This is the big one. Fairfield borders the Passaic River, and major Passaic flooding has closed roads in the township, including Horseneck Road, Little Falls Road and Two Bridges Road. The township has its own floodplain management chapter that requires permits for work in flood hazard areas, and the state-regulated flood area can extend beyond FEMA's mapped zones. We check flood maps, elevation certificates and insurance requirements before you make an offer.
• Two-to-four family homes: Multi-family options are limited here, but when one comes up, an FHA loan lets you buy a two-to-four family property with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units.
• Newer condos or townhomes: For any unit in a newer multifamily building, we review association fees, reserves and any income or resale restrictions that come with the unit.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so your monthly budget is accurate from the start.
• Older homes: Fairfield's long history means some properties are older. A thorough inspection and a look at past permits are worth the time.

Need financing? We can introduce you to a lender for pre-approval before you start touring.

Selling Your Fairfield Home

In a town with a strong ownership base, pricing has to account for each home's details: lot size, distance from the highway, and where it sits relative to mapped flood areas. Buyers will ask about flooding, so having an elevation certificate, flood insurance history and records of any mitigation work ready can keep a deal on track. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent Fairfield sales and market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Fairfield

With a high owner-occupancy rate, rental inventory in Fairfield can be thin, so renters should be ready to move quickly when the right unit appears. For investors, the township's multifamily and mixed-use overlay zones are worth watching, and the Route 46 corridor's businesses keep a steady stream of workers coming into town. Before you buy, we'll walk through realistic rents, taxes, flood insurance and condition so the numbers hold up.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Great Piece Meadows preserve, managed with the NJ Natural Lands Trust and Wildlife Preserves
• Van Ness House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• Essex County Airport
• Fairfield Recreation Department at 221 Hollywood Avenue
• The Passaic River along the township's western border
• Public schools: Fairfield School District for the early grades, and the West Essex Regional School District, including West Essex High School, for grades 7 through 12

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Fairfield with nearby towns? Read our guides to West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Wayne and Little Falls, or browse all of our North Jersey town guides.

Talk to a Local Broker

The Thompson Realty Group is a licensed New Jersey real estate brokerage based at 20 MacArthur Ave in Garfield, serving buyers, sellers, renters and investors across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. Whether you're a first-time FHA buyer, a cash investor, or a homeowner wondering what your place is worth, we'll give you straight answers about Fairfield.

Call or text 201-928-5562 or book a free 15-minute consultation. You can also search every active New Jersey listing on our website.

Information on this page is provided for general guidance and is believed accurate as of October 2026. Programs, ordinances, taxes and transit schedules change, so please verify details for any specific property. Equal Housing Opportunity.