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

Fanwood is a Union County borough of about 1.3 square miles, with 7,774 residents counted in the 2020 Census. The town grew up around its railroad station, and that station still sits at the center of things: a historic 1874 depot on the Raritan Valley Line, with a compact downtown and newer apartment buildings directly across South Avenue. Here's what you should know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Fanwood.

Why People Choose Fanwood

Fanwood's layout is built around the train. In 1874 the Central Railroad of New Jersey rerouted its line and built a new station on the present site, and the railroad's president gave it the name Fanwood. The surrounding township took its name from the station, and in 1895 the area around the depot split off to form the Borough of Fanwood. The borough itself describes Fanwood today as a residential commuter town of individual homes.

The station building is still in use. The borough calls it the oldest original train station in Union County, and it now houses the Fanwood Museum and serves as a meeting place for community groups. A few steps away, the downtown along South Avenue offers shops, restaurants and services, and the borough provides free visitor parking there. Recurring downtown events include Fanny Wood Day, Small Business Saturday and the holiday tree lighting.

Getting Around: Commuting from Fanwood

• Train: Fanwood station, at South Avenue and Martine Avenue, is on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with service toward Newark Penn Station and connections to New York.
• Bus: NJ Transit lists Port Authority Bus Terminal connections at Fanwood on routes 112, 113 and 114. The 113 runs along South Avenue and stops at the Fanwood/Scotch Plains station.
• Car: Route 28 (South Avenue) runs through downtown, and Martine Avenue (County Route 655) connects the borough to Route 22 and I-78.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Fanwood is mainly a town of single-family homes on individual lots, with a cluster of apartment buildings near the train station. A few areas have documented histories:

• Fanwood Park: In the early 1870s, the railroad's real estate arm laid out a large tract on both sides of North Avenue and named it Fanwood Park. Building there continued into the 1950s. The Fanwood Park Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Kramer Manor: A 51-acre development laid out by Kramer Realties in 1924, covering parts of both Fanwood and Scotch Plains, along with Kramer Manor Park.
• Downtown apartments: The Block 64 Downtown Redevelopment Area, about 6.5 acres bounded by South Avenue, Martine Avenue, La Grande Avenue and Second Street, sits across from the station. The borough's 2021 Master Plan Reexamination Report describes it as fully developed. The borough also adopted an Old South Avenue Redevelopment Plan in 2019.

The housing stock skews older. The borough's housing plan reports that roughly three-quarters of its homes were built before 1960, with the 1950s the busiest decade for construction.

Buying a Home in Fanwood

Most Fanwood purchases are single-family homes, and many of them are mid-century or older. Here's what we help buyers check:

• Older-home inspections: With so much of the housing built before 1960, look closely at roofs, electrical service, heating systems, oil tanks and any past additions.
• Historic review: Fanwood has a Historic Preservation Commission that reviews applications, including Certificates of Appropriateness. If you plan to renovate a home in or near the historic district, we'll find out early what review applies.
• Two-to-four family homes: Fanwood's housing is mostly single-family, but if a multi-unit property fits your search, note that an FHA loan allows a low down payment on a two-to-four family property as long as you live in one of the units.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so you can budget accurately.

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

Selling Your Fanwood Home

Buyers looking at Fanwood often weigh the walk to the train, the age and condition of the house, and how much updating it needs. A renovated mid-century home and an original-condition one can compete for very different buyers. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your home across every MLS and online channel.

Renting and Investing in Fanwood

Most Fanwood homes are owner-occupied. Much of the rental supply is in the newer apartment buildings near the station, along with some single-family homes for lease. For investors, the numbers usually come down to condition, taxes and the property's distance to the train. We help investors run realistic figures on taxes, insurance, maintenance and rent before they buy, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants for their rentals.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Fanwood train station (1874), home of the Fanwood Museum
• Fanwood Park Historic District (National Register of Historic Places)
• Fanwood Nature Center, 487 Terrill Road
• La Grande Playground on Second Street and Forest Road Park
• Fanwood Community House, 230 North Avenue
• Fanwood Library
• Downtown shops and restaurants along South Avenue
• Public schools: Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District, including Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Fanwood with nearby towns? Read our guides to Scotch Plains, Westfield and Plainfield, 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 Fanwood.

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.