Millburn, NJ Real Estate Guide: Buy, Sell & Rent

Millburn Township is an Essex County municipality of about 21,700 residents as of the 2020 Census, and it includes Short Hills, the section where most of the township's population lives. Two NJ Transit train stations, a walkable downtown along the West Branch of the Rahway River, the Paper Mill Playhouse, The Mall at Short Hills and a large share of South Mountain Reservation all sit within its borders. Here's what to know before you make a move.

Why People Choose Millburn and Short Hills

Rail access is a big part of the appeal. The township has two stations on NJ Transit's Morris & Essex Lines, so much of Millburn and Short Hills is within reach of a train to New York Penn Station or Hoboken. Downtown Millburn, centered on Millburn Avenue and Main Street, has shops and restaurants, and the Paper Mill Playhouse, a winner of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, stages productions on Brookside Drive beside the river.

Open space is the other draw. Essex County's South Mountain Reservation covers about 2,110 acres across parts of Millburn, Maplewood and West Orange, with an Olmsted-designed landscape, hiking trails, carriage roads and the Washington Rock lookout. Short Hills also has two public gardens: the 16-acre Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary and the 28-acre Greenwood Gardens, a former private estate with early 20th-century terraced gardens.

Getting Around: Commuting from Millburn

• Train: Millburn station on Essex Street and Short Hills station both sit on NJ Transit's Morristown Line and Gladstone Branch. Trains run to New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal, with connections at Newark Broad Street and Secaucus Junction.
• Bus: NJ Transit's Route 70 links Newark with the township, serving Millburn station and The Mall at Short Hills.
• Car: Routes 24 and 124 run along the Summit border, and Interstate 78 crosses the southern tip of the township, connecting to Newark and the rest of the state's highway network.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Millburn is mainly a township of owner-occupied homes. Census figures put the owner-occupancy rate at about 81 percent. What you'll find:

• Short Hills: The larger of the township's two main sections. It began as a planned community that inventor Stewart Hartshorn started developing in 1874, and the original core is now the Short Hills Park Historic District. A National Register nomination for the district describes houses built mostly between about 1870 and 1928 in Queen Anne, Tudor, Shingle, Stick and Neo-classical styles, with later Colonial Revival and Neo-Georgian homes, on streets running out from the Short Hills train station.
• Millburn center and Wyoming: The area around the downtown and Millburn station, plus the Wyoming section, which has its own locally designated historic district.
• Single-family homes: These make up most of the housing across the township, from older homes near the rail line to newer construction.
• Apartments and newer multifamily buildings: A smaller but growing part of the mix. Under its Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, the township has approved several multifamily developments with income-restricted set-aside units, including The Upton Short Hills on Fineran Way and projects on Millburn Avenue.

Buying a Home in Millburn

Here's what we help Millburn buyers check:

• Historic district rules: Millburn's code lists two historic districts, Short Hills Park and Wyoming. Exterior work inside a district, including additions, new construction, and replacing windows, doors, roofing or fences, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before it starts. Interior work and ordinary maintenance are generally exempt. If you're planning an addition or a renovation, we'll check the address first.
• Flood risk: The West Branch of the Rahway River runs through downtown Millburn, and storms including Hurricanes Floyd and Irene and the remnants of Ida pushed it over its banks into homes and businesses. We review FEMA flood maps, elevation and flood insurance requirements for any property near the river.
• Older-home inspections: For homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s, a thorough look at the roof, foundation, drainage, electrical, plumbing and heating system is essential.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so you can budget accurately.
• Multi-unit properties: If you're considering a two-to-four-family property, an FHA loan can work with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units.

We can connect you with a lender for pre-approval before you start touring, and we work with cash buyers too.

Selling Your Millburn or Short Hills Home

Pricing in Millburn depends heavily on the specific house: its age and style, lot, distance to the train, whether it sits in a historic district, and its flood zone status. A Short Hills Park Victorian, a renovated colonial and a newer home each compete with a different set of comparable sales. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using truly similar recent sales, gather historic district and flood information up front so buyers have answers early, and market your home across the MLS and major online channels.

Renting and Investing in Millburn

With owner-occupied homes making up most of Millburn's housing, rentals are a smaller part of the market, and units near the two train stations appeal to commuters. Choices range from apartments in newer downtown and Short Hills buildings to single-family homes for lease. For investors, we'll look at realistic rents, taxes, insurance, flood exposure and any historic district limits on exterior work before you commit. We also help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Paper Mill Playhouse on Brookside Drive
• The Mall at Short Hills on Morris Turnpike
• South Mountain Reservation, including Washington Rock and the reservation's trails and carriage roads
• Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary
• Greenwood Gardens
• Downtown Millburn shops and restaurants along Millburn Avenue and Main Street
• Township recreation memberships for the municipal pool, golf, tennis and pickleball
• Public schools: Millburn Township Public Schools, including Millburn High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Millburn with nearby towns? Read our guides to Maplewood, Livingston, South Orange and West Orange, 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 Millburn.

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.