Kean University, NJ

Kean University anchors this lively corner of Union Township, blending a modern campus atmosphere with quiet residential streets along the Hillside border. Having called Union home since the late 1950s, the university brings plenty of energy to the neighborhood through its sports facilities, arts venues, and walkable green spaces. For commuters, the area is especially convenient, featuring its own NJ Transit train station that offers direct links to Newark and easy trips into New York City.

Right alongside the academic buildings sits Liberty Hall, a preserved estate dating back to 1760 when it was built for New Jersey's first elected governor, William Livingston. Today, the property operates as a museum and research center surrounded by gardens and orchards, with exhibits exploring both colonial leadership and the lives of the enslaved people who worked the land. The mix of open historic grounds and active university facilities gives this pocket of Union a unique, welcoming feel.