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

Nutley is an Essex County township of about 30,000 residents as of the 2020 Census, covering roughly three and a half square miles between the Passaic River and the Garden State Parkway. It borders Belleville, Bloomfield, Clifton and Lyndhurst, and it pairs a long network of parks along the Third River with a former pharmaceutical campus that has been turned into a medical school and business hub. Here's what to know before you make a move.

Why People Choose Nutley

Green space is a big part of the draw. Much of the Third River valley through town is parkland. Essex County's Yanticaw Park covers nearly 29 acres between Centre and Chestnut streets, with paths laid out by the Olmsted Brothers and a stretch of the county's 36-mile Lenape Trail. Just upstream, the township's Kingsland Park follows the shore of Kingsland Lake, and the township says it maintains nine parks in all, plus ball fields, tennis courts and a roller hockey rink.

Nutley also has a new economic anchor. For decades the town was the U.S. home of Hoffmann-La Roche. That campus, which straddles the Nutley–Clifton line along Route 3, is now ON3, a 116-acre mixed-use redevelopment. Tenants have included the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Seton Hall University's nursing and health sciences schools, Quest Diagnostics, Eisai and Ralph Lauren, bringing students and employees to the edge of town every day.

History is visible, too. The Enclosure, once a colony of painters, writers and magazine editors, is a National Register historic district, and the township owns Kingsland Manor and the Van Riper House.

Getting Around: Commuting from Nutley

• Bus to Manhattan: NJ Transit's 192 route runs through Nutley to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown. Check NJ Transit for current schedules.
• Train: Nutley no longer has its own passenger station. The old Newark Branch line through town now carries limited freight only. The closest rail option is Delawanna station in neighboring Clifton, on NJ Transit's Main Line to Hoboken.
• Car: Route 21 runs along the Passaic River on Nutley's eastern side toward Newark. Route 3 passes the ON3 campus toward the Lincoln Tunnel, Route 7 crosses the north end of town, and the Garden State Parkway clips the southwest corner.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Nutley is mostly owner-occupied. Census estimates put the owner-occupancy rate at about 70 percent. The township's zoning maps out a few distinct kinds of areas:

• Single-family districts: Several residential zones (R-1, R-1A and R-1AA) are set aside for single-family homes, and they make up much of the township.
• Two-family homes: Two-family houses are part of the local mix, and the township tracks them as a distinct housing type in its master plan.
• Downtown and business corridors: The master plan describes a long downtown and business areas along Franklin Avenue and Chestnut Street, where apartments are allowed on upper floors above shops.
• The Enclosure: A historic district from the town's artists' colony era, with twelve homes on the State and National Registers.
• Redevelopment areas: Beyond ON3, the township has designated redevelopment areas downtown and has studied the Washington Avenue and East Centre Street area, so new projects may follow.

Buying a Home in Nutley

Most buyers here are choosing between a single-family home and a two-family. If you're using an FHA loan, you can buy a two-to-four family property with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units, and the rent from the other unit can help with the mortgage.

Before you make an offer, we help you check:

• Older-home inspections: Much of Nutley's housing has some age. Look closely at the roof, heating system, electrical service, plumbing, foundation and any old oil tank.
• Two-family details: Legal unit count, separate utilities, certificate of occupancy requirements and existing leases.
• Historic district rules: Nutley has a historic preservation ordinance. If a home is in the Enclosure or is a designated landmark, exterior changes may need review.
• Flood risk: Parts of Nutley lie in 100-year floodplain areas, and the township has looked at zoning changes to make it easier to raise homes there. We check flood maps and insurance needs up front.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so your budget reflects the real carrying cost.

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

Selling Your Nutley Home

Nutley sellers can market to commuters, people who work on the ON3 campus, owner-occupants shopping for a two-family and investors. A single-family, a two-family and a historic Enclosure home each compete in a different pool, so pricing has to fit the property. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Nutley

Rental options in Nutley include units in two-family houses and apartments above storefronts on the business corridors. We help renters find a unit that fits their budget and commute, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Landlords should know that Nutley has a Rent Leveling Board, which hears landlord and tenant complaints about rent increases. Before you buy, we'll review how local rent rules may apply, plus realistic rents, taxes, insurance, flood exposure and condition, so the numbers work from day one.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Yanticaw Park, an Essex County park along the Third River with part of the Lenape Trail
• Kingsland Park on Kingsland Lake, with a walking and bike track, playground and the United Nations Garden
• Booth Park at Ravine Avenue and Harrison Street
• Kingsland Manor and the Van Riper House, both owned by the township
• The Vreeland Homestead, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places
• Nutley Museum, in a former town schoolhouse
• Nutley Public Library at 93 Booth Drive, a Carnegie library building that has since been expanded
• The ON3 campus on Route 3
• Township of Nutley municipal offices at 1 Kennedy Drive
• Public schools: Nutley Public Schools, including Nutley High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Nutley with nearby towns? Read our guides to Belleville, Bloomfield, Clifton and Lyndhurst, 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 Nutley.

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.