Rose City Commuter Borough
Welcome to Madison, the "Rose City" — an affluent Morris County borough about 25 miles west of New York City, home to Drew University and direct Midtown rail service.
Madison is an affluent borough in Morris County, New Jersey, about 25 miles west of New York City. Its nickname, "the Rose City," dates to the nineteenth century, when the community's greenhouses cultivated roses in such quantity and quality that they supplied England's queens. The 2020 census recorded 16,937 residents, up from 15,845 in 2010. The borough functions as a classic upscale commuter town. NJ Transit's Midtown Direct service on the Morris & Essex Lines places Manhattan about an hour away, and the walkable downtown along Main Street gives Madison a self-contained village character with shops, restaurants, and civic life. Drew University, a private liberal arts institution, brings a college-town element to the borough and hosts the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, the state's professional classical theater company. Giralda Farms, the former estate of philanthropist Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, now serves as a landscaped corporate campus, reflecting Madison's long-standing presence as a white-collar employment node in Morris County. The borough balances this corporate and commuter identity with a leafy, established residential fabric, tree-lined streets, and a strong civic culture anchored by the Madison Public Schools. The borough's Free Public Library is widely regarded as one of the finest small-community libraries in New Jersey, a mark of the community's investment in civic life. Madison suits families and professionals seeking top-rated schools, a walkable downtown, and direct rail access to New York City. Morristown, the county seat, lies just west, and Interstate 287 runs along the borough's edge. It is a borough that has retained its historic, village character even as it functions as one of Morris County's most desirable and convenient commuter addresses.
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, about 25 miles west of New York City. It sits along the Morris & Essex rail corridor, close to Morristown, the county seat.
Yes. Madison is served by NJ Transit's Midtown Direct service on the Morris & Essex Lines, with trains reaching New York Penn Station in roughly an hour, making it a practical base for Manhattan commuters.
Madison is known as 'the Rose City' for its nineteenth-century rose-growing industry, and as the home of Drew University and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Its walkable Main Street downtown and highly rated schools also define the borough.
Madison is served by the Madison Public Schools, with Madison High School consistently ranked among the top high schools in Morris County and in the upper tier statewide. Drew University provides a higher-education anchor within the borough.
The 2020 census recorded 16,937 residents in Madison, an increase from the 15,845 counted in 2010. It is a compact, largely built-out commuter borough with a walkable Main Street downtown and an affluent, family-oriented character.
City Guide
Madison's housing is that of a mature, largely built-out commuter borough. The stock is predominantly single-family, with a range of older Colonials, Victorians, and established homes on tree-lined streets, alongside condominiums and apartments clustered near the downtown and train station. The borough's desirability is driven less by new construction than by its location, schools, and village center. Buyers drawn to Madison typically prioritize walkability, school quality, and the one-hour rail commute to Manhattan over large lot sizes or newer subdivisions.
Madison's character is organized around a few anchors rather than a long list of subdivisions. The historic downtown district along Main Street forms the commercial and civic heart, with the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts housed in an 1899 Romanesque building. Around Drew University, leafy residential streets and the university's wooded campus create a quieter, more academic pocket. The landscaped Giralda Farms corporate campus occupies a large, park-like parcel on the borough's edge, separating office uses from the surrounding residential blocks.
Madison blends small-town charm with commuter convenience. The walkable Main Street downtown, the presence of Drew University, and a steady flow of professionals commuting to New York give the borough an active, educated, family-oriented culture. Residents enjoy a village atmosphere with quality dining and shopping, while the one-hour rail ride keeps the city's opportunities close. It is a lifestyle built on strong schools, historic character, and the ease of an established Morris County commuter town.
Madison is known for strong public schools. The Madison Public Schools serve the borough, with Madison High School consistently ranking among the top high schools in Morris County and the top tier statewide. Drew University provides a higher-education anchor within the borough, and the wider Morris County region offers additional private and parochial options. The district's reputation is a central reason families choose Madison, reinforcing the borough's identity as an education-focused commuter community.
Madison is directly served by NJ Transit's Midtown Direct rail service on the Morris & Essex Lines, with trains reaching New York Penn Station in roughly an hour. The borough sits about 25 miles west of Midtown Manhattan and is reached by road via Interstate 287 and Route 124 (Madison Avenue). Morristown, the Morris County seat, lies just to the west, and Newark Liberty International Airport is reachable by car or connecting transit. The frequent rail service makes Madison a practical base for Manhattan commuters.
Madison's cultural life centers on the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, the state's professional classical theater company based on the Drew University campus, and the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts on Main Street, which explores the work of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century artisans. Drew University's campus and wooded grounds host performances, lectures, and community events. The downtown's restaurants and shops, along with nearby Morristown's arts and dining scene, round out the borough's recreation and entertainment options.
MARKET SNAPSHOT
How homes have been selling here over the last 90 days.
Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.
BROWSE BY ZIP
Browse listings by postal code in this area.
No listings found.