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

Verona is an Essex County township of 14,572 residents as of the 2020 Census, covering just under three square miles in the valley between First and Second Watchung Mountains. It became a borough in 1907, after splitting off from what was then Verona Township (now Cedar Grove), and today it is organized around Bloomfield Avenue, an Olmsted-designed county park and two ridgetop reservations. Here's what buyers, sellers, renters and investors should know about Verona.

Why People Choose Verona

Open space is a big part of Verona's appeal. Verona Park, at Bloomfield and Lakeside Avenues, is a 54-acre Essex County park with an Olmsted-designed landscape, a 13-acre lake with seasonal paddle boating and fishing, a boathouse, walking paths, a 1.2-mile fitness course, tennis, bocce and a softball field. On the western ridge, Hilltop Reservation covers 284 acres of trails and restored wildlife habitat on former Essex County Hospital Center land, shared with Cedar Grove and North Caldwell. To the east, Eagle Rock Reservation runs along the ridge between Verona, Montclair and West Orange, with New York City skyline views from its overlook.

Verona also has a castle: Kip's Castle Park on Crestmont Road, an 11-acre county park on the ridge of First Mountain with a 30-room mansion built to resemble a Norman castle, a two-story carriage house and views toward Manhattan. Day to day, Bloomfield Avenue serves as the main street, with Town Hall at 600 Bloomfield Avenue and shops and restaurants along the corridor. Recreation is run by the township, including the Verona Community Pool and the Veterans Sports Complex.

Getting Around: Commuting from Verona

• Bus: NJ Transit buses run along Bloomfield Avenue, including Route 29 between West Caldwell and Newark. Weekday rush-hour express service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown replaced the former DeCamp commuter route that served Verona. Check current NJ Transit timetables before you commute.
• Train: Verona has no rail station of its own. The nearest stations are in neighboring Montclair, which has six NJ Transit commuter rail stops on the Montclair-Boonton Line, with service toward Hoboken and New York Penn Station.
• Car: Bloomfield Avenue (County Route 506) and Route 23 (Pompton Avenue) are the main roads. The Garden State Parkway and Interstate 80 are a short drive away.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Verona is mostly an ownership market. According to Census figures in the township's 2025 Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, about three-quarters of homes are owner-occupied, and the median home was built in the early 1950s. Roughly 87% of occupied homes predate 1980. The main options:

• Single-family homes: About 62% of the housing stock.
• Two-to-four family homes: Two-family homes make up about 6% of homes, and three- and four-unit buildings about 3%.
• Larger multifamily buildings: About 16% of homes are in buildings with 50 or more units.
• Newer rentals: Annin Lofts at 151 Bloomfield Avenue converted the former Annin flag factory into 52 loft-style apartments, with a new 60-unit building next door. The township's housing plan also lists Verona Flats, a 95-unit building, as constructed and occupied, and notes high-density residential development on part of the Hilltop property.

More change is planned. Verona's Fourth Round housing plan adds a Town Center mixed-use overlay and identifies several redevelopment sites along Bloomfield Avenue. We track these plans for clients buying or selling nearby.

Buying a Home in Verona

A few things we help Verona buyers check:

• Older-home inspections: With so much of the stock built before 1980, plan a thorough inspection covering roof, electrical, plumbing, heating, oil tanks and drainage, and ask for the permit history.
• Flood exposure: The Peckman River runs through the valley, and the township has an active program for flooding, stormwater and bank erosion along it, working with Essex County, the NJDEP and FEMA. We check flood maps and insurance needs before you make an offer.
• Condo associations: If you buy a condo, we review fees, reserves, rules and any planned assessments.
• Two-to-four family homes: An FHA loan lets you buy one with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units.
• Landmark rules: Verona's Landmarks Preservation Commission reviews demolition, major exterior changes and new construction at designated landmarks. We check a property's status before you plan renovations.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a major part of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering.

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

Selling Your Verona Home

Verona sellers can point to the county parks, the Bloomfield Avenue corridor and bus access toward Newark and Midtown. Value still depends on property type, condition, lot, flood exposure and location. A mid-century single-family, a two-family and a unit in a large condo building each compete in a different market. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of homes like yours, then market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Verona

About one in five occupied homes in Verona is rented, and the Annin Lofts and Verona Flats buildings have added newer rental choices. Investors should know the rules. Verona's rental regulations (Chapter 402 of the township code) cap annual rent increases in covered apartment buildings and require landlords to file an annual rent roll. Buildings with fewer than four units are exempt. Pre-1978 rentals also fall under New Jersey's lead-based paint inspection requirements. We help investors estimate realistic rents, taxes, insurance and repairs, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Verona Park and its lake and boathouse, Bloomfield and Lakeside Avenues
• Hilltop Reservation, 255 Fairview Avenue, including the Hilltop Dog Park
• Kip's Castle Park, 22 Crestmont Road
• Eagle Rock Reservation and its scenic overlook
• Erie Railroad Freight Shed, 62 Depot Street, a designated local landmark
• Annin Lofts, the former Annin flag factory, 151 Bloomfield Avenue
• Verona Community Pool and the Veterans Sports Complex
• Public schools: Verona Public Schools, including Verona High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Verona with nearby towns? Read our guides to Cedar Grove, Montclair, West Orange and Essex Fells, 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 Verona.

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.