West Orange, NJ, carries the kind of name recognition that most towns never earn, thanks to one of history's greatest inventors calling it home. Thomas Edison built his famed laboratory complex here in the late 1800s, and today the Thomas Edison National Historical Park preserves that legacy for anyone curious enough to explore it. The township spans about 13 square miles in Essex County, striking a balance between a relaxed suburban atmosphere and easy access to New York City.
Neighborhoods range from the storied Llewellyn Park, thought to be one of the country's earliest planned residential communities, to newer developments closer to the commercial corridors along Pleasant Valley Way. Seton Hall University is just minutes away to the southeast, adding an educational anchor to the broader area.
