Wayne Among Top 10 Places To Live In NJ, Travel And Leisure Says

WAYNE, NJ — A recent article in Travel + Leisure magazine had Wayne Township among the best places to live in New Jersey, based on real estate experts' opinions and the quality of education and amenities available.

The magazine cited a recent survey of the happiest states in the U.S., which ranked the Garden State in fifth place. Travel + Leisure spoke with New Jersey realtors to pick out the 10 best places to live in the state, including the most popular and sought-after communities on the market right now.

Realtor Joseph Simone of Howard Hanna Rand Realty picked Wayne Township for the list, noting the amenities around the Lionshead, Packanack, and Pines Lake communities and the high-ranking public and private schools. School quality "is a draw for many families seeking excellent education and suburban amenities close to Manhattan," the magazine noted.

Wayne Township schools got an overall "A" grade from Niche.com this year, as did Passaic County Technical Institute and DePaul Catholic High School. Pioneer Academy and Hawthorne Christian Academy both got A+ ratings.

People who have bought or sold a home recently in the township know that the real estate market continues to be competitive, and a majority of homes in Wayne (83.5 percent) are sold above the asking price, per Zillow data.

The median home price in Wayne is $638,672, up 7 percent over the past year and homes go to pending in around 15 days.

Simone said it can " be a little bit of a roller coaster ride with multiple offers" to find your dream home in Wayne, and urged patience.

"If you miss out on a home, have your realtor stay in touch with the listing agent because in multiple offer situations, buyers do sometimes back out and you can step right back into the home of your choice," he said.