Far Hills is one of the smallest boroughs in the Somerset Hills by population, and one of the most distinctive by feel. Open land, a historic train station, and a quiet village center give it a sense of space that larger towns work hard to preserve. When buyers tell us they want countryside character with rail access, Far Hills is often on the short list.
Here is a closer look.
A Little History
The name is newer than the land. According to the Borough of Far Hills, in the 1880s Evander H. Schley, a New York land developer and broker, purchased thousands of acres in Bedminster and Bernards Townships. In 1887 his brother Grant and Grant’s wife, Elizabeth, visited the farms by carriage. Elizabeth is said to have remarked on the vista of the “far hills,” and the name took hold before a village existed.
Grant B. Schley is widely regarded as a founder of the community. At his urging, the railroad was extended to Far Hills and Gladstone in 1890. In 1899, Evander Schley and local farmer David Dumont plotted village lots around the station. Rising taxes later led residents to separate from Bernards Township; on May 12, 1921, voters approved incorporation as the Borough of Far Hills.
The Historical Society of the Somerset Hills notes that Far Hills also became home to notable estates, including Cragwood, once associated with industrialist Charles Engelhard. The borough’s scale has remained deliberately small. According to the 2020 U.S. Census figure cited by the Historical Society, the population was 924.
Rail, Roads, and Daily Life
Far Hills is unusually well connected for a small borough:
- Rail: The Far Hills station on NJ Transit’s Gladstone Branch sits at Route 202 and County Route 512. The current Spanish Revival–style station building dates to 1914 and is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places as part of the operating passenger railroad stations thematic resource. Service runs toward Hoboken and, via transfer connections, toward New York.
- Roads: U.S. Route 202 and nearby Route 206, with Interstate 287 close by, make regional driving straightforward.
- Neighbors: Bernardsville, Bedminster, and Peapack-Gladstone are minutes away, which expands shopping, dining, and services without changing the borough’s quiet core.
The station has long been a landmark for visitors and for people attending events at the Far Hills Fairgrounds / steeplechase grounds — a reminder that Far Hills punches above its size on the regional calendar.
Landscape and Landmarks
Far Hills shares in the wider Somerset Hills landscape of fields, wooded ridges, and estate roads. A substantial portion of Natirar — the county park created from the former Ladd estate — lies within Far Hills, alongside acreage in Peapack-Gladstone and Bedminster. Somerset County Park Commission describes the full park as 411 acres, with 124 acres in Far Hills.
The borough also lists the Linn Homestead among its National Register sites, alongside the railroad station. For buyers, the takeaway is simple: open space and historic fabric are not backdrop here. They are part of why people choose the town.
Schools and Community
Public school students in Far Hills attend the Somerset Hills School District, the regional district that also serves Bernardsville and Peapack-Gladstone, with Bedminster high-school students attending Bernards High School under a send/receive arrangement. As always, we encourage families to visit schools and speak with the district about programs that matter to them.
Community life often overlaps with neighboring towns — a natural pattern in a borough this size — while local identity remains strong around the station village and the surrounding countryside.
What Buyers Should Know
If you are considering Far Hills:
- Inventory is limited. Small boroughs mean fewer homes change hands; timing and preparation matter.
- Property types vary, from village-proximate homes to larger parcels with privacy and acreage.
- Comparable sales need care. A Far Hills sale may be compared with Bedminster or Peapack-Gladstone properties, but micro-location and land still drive value.
- Utilities and systems differ by property. Confirm well/septic versus public services and plan inspections accordingly.
- Lifestyle fit matters. Buyers who want a dense downtown may prefer Bernardsville; buyers who want open horizon and rail often land here.
The Takeaway
Far Hills is proof that a small place can feel complete. History, rail, parkland, and a wide skyline come together in a borough that still looks like the countryside people imagine when they say “Somerset Hills.”
Curious about homes in Far Hills or nearby? Call Fahey Realtors at 908.204.0600 or stop by 61 Claremont Road in Bernardsville. We know these roads well, and we would be glad to show you what is possible.
