Totowa, NJ Properties | Susan Camus

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Totowa is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, in the northern part of the state about twenty miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan. The roughly four-square-mile community sits along the Passaic River, which curves past the borough on its way into nearby Paterson, and it forms part of the densely settled New York metropolitan area. The name Totowa derives from a Lenape term describing the land near the Great Falls of the Passaic River, variously interpreted as "falling water," "sinking water" or "land between river and mountain." The borough was incorporated in 1898 from portions of Wayne and the former Manchester Township. Its population remained modest in its early years — about 560 residents in 1900 and roughly 1,100 by 1910 — before the twentieth century's suburban expansion filled in its residential streets. Interstate 80 and Route 46 cross the borough, anchoring its role as a convenient commuter location. The highway access puts Totowa within a direct drive of the George Washington Bridge and Manhattan, while Route 46 carries local commerce and retail. The Passaic River and the Watchung and Garret mountain ridges frame the surrounding landscape, and the industrial history of neighboring Paterson — long a center of American silk manufacturing — shaped the region Totowa calls home. Totowa functions today as a mature, family-oriented suburb with a strong school pathway, established single-family housing and proximity to the employment, shopping and cultural centers of Paterson and Wayne. It suits buyers who want a quiet Passaic County address with direct access to the region's highways and, by extension, to New York City.

Population 11,065

County Passaic

Active Listings 82

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Totowa, New Jersey in?

Totowa is a borough in Passaic County, in northern New Jersey. It sits along the Passaic River, just north and west of the city of Paterson, and is part of the New York metropolitan area.

What school district serves Totowa, New Jersey?

Totowa Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade within the borough. High school students attend Passaic Valley Regional High School in Little Falls, a district shared with Little Falls and Woodland Park, or may apply to the Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne. St. James of the Marches offers a Catholic option for pre-K through eighth grade.

How far is Totowa from New York City?

Totowa lies about 20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan. Interstate 80 provides a direct highway route east toward the George Washington Bridge, and NJ Transit bus service and nearby rail stations connect the borough to New York City and the surrounding region.

What highways run through Totowa?

Interstate 80 and Route 46 run directly through Totowa, and Route 62 also passes through the borough. Nearby routes include New Jersey Route 23, Route 3 and the Garden State Parkway, giving residents quick access across Passaic County and North Jersey.

What is Totowa known for?

Totowa takes its name from a Lenape term describing the area near the Great Falls of the Passaic River. The borough is known as a residential Passaic County suburb, with Garret Mountain Reservation and the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park nearby.

City Guide

About Totowa

Real Estate & Housing

Totowa's housing stock is built around single-family homes on suburban lots — a mix of established Colonials, capes and ranches, with some newer construction and a limited supply of townhomes and multi-family buildings near the Route 46 corridor. The borough's four square miles are largely built out, giving the market a mature, stable character with relatively modest turnover. Buyers are typically families and commuters seeking a well-established Passaic County address with quick highway access and municipal services close at hand.

Neighborhoods

Totowa is a compact, roughly four-square-mile borough whose residential blocks fan out from the Route 46 and I-80 corridors. The Passaic River forms part of its boundary, separating the borough from Paterson to the east, while Wayne, Little Falls and Woodland Park surround it on the other sides. Most of the borough is low-density and residential, with commercial activity concentrated along Route 46 and the borough's main roadways. This layout gives Totowa a quiet, suburban feel within a densely developed corner of Passaic County.

Lifestyle in Totowa

Totowa is a settled, family-oriented commuter suburb. Its residential streets sit close to the retail and dining of Wayne, including the Willowbrook Mall area, and to the cultural offerings of Paterson, whose Great Falls National Historical Park preserves one of the region's most dramatic natural landmarks. Local life centers on schools, churches and borough recreation, with the convenience of Route 46's commercial corridor running through town. For commuters, the borough's direct Interstate 80 access makes trips toward the George Washington Bridge and Manhattan a straightforward daily routine.

Schools & Education

The Totowa Public Schools operate the borough's kindergarten-through-eighth-grade program, with elementary and middle schools serving local families. High school students attend Passaic Valley Regional High School in Little Falls, a regional district shared with Little Falls and Woodland Park, or may apply to the Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne for career-focused programs. St. James of the Marches, a Catholic school in the borough, offers an additional pre-K through eighth-grade option under the Diocese of Paterson.

Getting Around

Totowa is positioned at the junction of major Passaic County corridors. Interstate 80 runs through the borough, providing a direct route east toward the George Washington Bridge and New York City, while Route 46 and Route 62 carry local and regional traffic. Nearby Route 23, Route 3 and the Garden State Parkway extend access across North Jersey. NJ Transit bus service links Totowa to Paterson, Newark and New York, and commuter rail stations in the surrounding towns connect the borough to the region's rail network.

Parks & Recreation

Totowa sits close to some of Passaic County's signature outdoor spaces. Garret Mountain Reservation, the county's major recreational area, lies just to the southeast and offers hiking, fishing, athletic fields and panoramic views, while the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park preserves the powerful waterfall that gave the region its name. Closer to home, borough parks such as Gregg Froehner Memorial Park provide neighborhood playgrounds and sports facilities, and the Morris Canal's historic corridor adds a link to the area's industrial past.

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