Montclair, New Jersey is a culturally rich and vibrant suburban township in Essex County, perched on the slopes of the First Watchung Mountain just 12 miles from New York City. Known as “where the city meets the suburbs,” it features several lively, walkable downtowns—especially Montclair Center and Church Street—teeming with restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, and theaters such as the Wellmont and the Montclair Art Museum . Montclair also thrives as a commuter hub, served by multiple train stations on the NJ‑Transit Montclair–Boonton Line, offering easy access to Manhattan . With its leafy streets, historic Victorian and early-20th-century homes, diverse population, award‑winning magnet schools, and an active arts scene including annual film festivals, Montclair delivers a compelling blend of suburban charm and urban advantages.