Roselle Park, NJ

Roselle Park was incorporated as a borough in 1901, carved out of Union Township. It was developed primarily around the railroads, which served both as commuter lines and freight routes for local industry. In 1921, the first-ever radio broadcast of a religious service was transmitted from WDY, a station located in a GE facility in Roselle Park — one of the earliest commercial radio broadcasts in American history.

The borough today appeals to first-time homebuyers and commuters who appreciate the walkability to the train station without the premium price tag of Cranford or Westfield. Westfield Avenue is a busy, heavily trafficked commercial spine featuring a mix of old-school taverns, new diverse eateries, and local retail. The town is currently known for its aggressive posture on modernizing its housing stock, bringing in new apartment complexes near the transit line.

What separates Roselle Park is its geometric density; it is essentially a perfect grid centered around the intersection of two major roads and a train line. A local would want an outsider to understand that it is a "walking town" where neighborhood ties are literal and physical, and the local pizza places hold fiercely loyal followings.