Livingston, NJ: Schools, Sports, Activities, and Everyday Life

Moving to Livingston, NJ with a Family

If you’re considering a move to Livingston, New Jersey with children, chances are the schools are somewhere near the top of your list.

They should be. But raising a family in Livingston is about much more than the school district.

It’s Saturday morning soccer games, summer afternoons at Haines Pool, trips to the Livingston Library, Little League, playgrounds, camps, high school sports, neighborhood friends and the kind of community events where you inevitably run into people you know.

As both a Livingston resident and a local real estate professional, I think families considering the town should understand what day-to-day life here actually looks like.

Here’s a closer look.

First, the Livingston Public Schools

Livingston has its own PreK-12 public school district, with six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. (Livingston⁠)

The elementary schools are:

• Burnet Hill Elementary School, 25 Byron Place
• Collins Elementary School, 67 Martin Road
• Harrison Elementary School, 148 N. Livingston Avenue
• Hillside Elementary School, 98 Belmont Drive
• Mount Pleasant Elementary School, 11 Broadlawn Drive
• Riker Hill Elementary School, 31 Blackstone Drive 

After elementary school, students attend Mount Pleasant Middle School, followed by Heritage Middle School, and then Livingston High School at 30 Robert Harp Drive. 

One important point for parents house-hunting in Livingston: don’t assume a home’s elementary school assignment without verifying it with the district. School placement and registration are handled through Livingston Public Schools, and families moving into town should confirm the current assignment for a specific address before relying on it. The district’s registration process is especially important for incoming kindergarten families.

What about school buses?

This is one of those practical questions that matters once you’re actually living here.

Livingston Public Schools currently provides free transportation to students who live more than two miles from school in grades K-8 and more than 2.5 miles from Livingston High School. Families who live closer may be able to purchase subscription busing when space is available. (Livingston⁠)

That means the location of a house relative to school can make a difference in your family’s daily routine.

If Your Kids Play Sports, They’ll Have Plenty of Options

Livingston is a very active youth-sports town.

The Township’s recreation program and local sports organizations offer opportunities that include:

• Soccer
• Baseball and softball
• Basketball
• Lacrosse
• Football and cheerleading
• Swimming
• Martial arts
• Tennis
• Pickleball
• Summer sports camps

There are recreational and more competitive options depending on the sport and age. 

Soccer

The Livingston Soccer Club coordinates youth soccer in town and offers both in-town and travel programs. (Livingston Township⁠)

If you move here with a soccer-playing child, don’t be surprised if a good portion of your fall and spring weekends quickly revolves around practices and games.

Baseball and softball

Livingston Little League and Softball is another longstanding part of the youth sports scene, with baseball and softball opportunities for children in town. (Blue Sombrero⁠)

Lacrosse, basketball, football and more

The Township also lists youth basketball, football and cheerleading, lacrosse and other organized sports through its Recreation and Senior Services programs and affiliated local organizations. (Livingston Township⁠)

And summer sports don’t stop

Livingston’s Lancer Summer Sports Camps are particularly worth knowing about. They are run in conjunction with Livingston High School coaching staff and give younger athletes opportunities to participate in individual sports camps during the summer. 

For 2026, for example, offerings expanded to include field hockey, touch rugby, karate and additional tennis camps.

Haines Pool Is Part of Summer in Livingston

If you’re moving here with younger kids, put Mervyn V.T. Haines Community Pool on your radar.

It’s at 10 Wahler Road, next to Livingston High School, and includes a main pool, lap pool, wading pool, water slide, locker facilities, games and a snack bar. The Township offers different types of seasonal memberships. 

There are also youth swim lessons and the AquaJets Swim Team, which is open to eligible swimmers ages 6 through 18. 

For many Livingston families, the pool becomes one of those places where the kids find friends and the parents do too.

The Memorial Oval Is One of Livingston’s Community Hubs

Directly in front of Livingston High School and across from Town Hall is Memorial Oval & Park.

It has:

• A playground
• Walking track
• Basketball court
• Tennis courts
• Bocce
• Open recreation space

It also serves as a gathering place for sporting events, concerts, fireworks and community activities. (Livingston Township⁠)

If you live in Livingston long enough, you’ll probably spend some time at the Oval.

The town’s annual Fourth of July celebration is a perfect example. In 2026, Livingston held an all-day celebration there with children’s activities, pony rides, a magic show, an ice cream eating contest, music and other events. 

These events are part of what gives Livingston more of a community feel than you might expect from a suburb this close to New York City.

Don’t Overlook the Livingston Public Library

For families with children, the Livingston Public Library at 10 Robert H. Harp Drive is another great resource.

Its Children’s Department offers programming for babies through elementary-aged children, including storytimes, arts and crafts, STEM activities, reading programs and seasonal events. The library also has dedicated programming and resources for middle schoolers and teens. (Livingston Public Library⁠)

It’s particularly useful when you have young children and you’re looking for something local to do on a cold or rainy day without turning it into a major outing.

There Are Plenty of Non-Sports Activities Too

Not every child wants to spend Saturday morning on a soccer field.

Livingston’s Recreation Department offers programs that go well beyond traditional sports, including a Dance Academy, preschool programming and Livingston Youth & Community Services, or LYCS. (Livingston Township⁠)

LYCS offers after-school programming for Livingston students in grades 1 through 12, with an emphasis on leadership, life skills, healthy choices, volunteering and community involvement. (Livingston Township⁠)

Older kids can also begin getting involved in summer employment and leadership opportunities. For example, Livingston operates a Counselor-in-Training program for ninth graders connected with its summer camps. 

That matters because one of the questions parents eventually ask isn’t simply, “What can my six-year-old do?” It becomes, “What is there for my teenager?”

Livingston does a fairly good job of providing options across age groups.

Riker Hill Art Park Is Actually in Livingston

Here’s one that newcomers sometimes miss.

Essex County’s Riker Hill Art Park, at 276 Beaufort Avenue in Livingston, is a 42-acre former military site that is now home to working artists and studios. The grounds are open from dawn to dusk, and artist studios traditionally open to the public for special open-house weekends. 

It’s a nice counterpoint to all the sports programming and another reason families don’t necessarily need to leave town for every activity.

And Turtle Back Zoo Is Practically in Your Backyard

One of the great things about Livingston is what sits just outside its borders.

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange is close enough to become a regular family outing rather than an occasional destination.

For younger children there is a prehistoric-themed playground, a miniature train ride and children’s programs, including activities designed specifically for toddlers and preschoolers. 

The surrounding South Mountain area also gives families access to additional outdoor and recreational activities.

When your kids are little, being able to decide at 10:00 on a Saturday morning to “just go to the zoo” is a surprisingly nice perk.

What Is Everyday Family Life Like?

 One thing I always tell families moving to Livingston is that Livingston isn’t one uniform neighborhood.

Different parts of town can feel surprisingly different.

Some homes are tucked into quiet interior streets where children are constantly outside. Some are closer to schools and recreation facilities. Others offer easier access to Route 10, Route 280 or neighboring towns. Some neighborhoods have sidewalks; others have a much more suburban, winding-road feel.

And because the town has housing built across many decades, you’ll find everything from older ranches, split-levels and colonials to expanded and extensively renovated homes and substantial new construction.

This is why two homes that look similar online can offer very different lifestyles once you actually stand on the street.

For a family with children, I would look beyond bedrooms and bathrooms and ask:

Where will the kids go to school? How will they get there? Where are their activities? Are there other children nearby? How busy is the street? Where will they ride bikes? How far are we from the places we’ll use every week?

Those questions can matter just as much as the house itself.

One of Livingston’s Biggest Advantages: Kids Can Grow Up Here

Some suburbs work beautifully when children are five but become less convenient when they’re fifteen.

Livingston has a fairly complete ecosystem for families.

A child can start with library storytime, preschool recreation and swim lessons, move into Little League or soccer, attend local summer camps, participate in middle and high school activities, get involved with community service and eventually become a camp CIT.

And as children get older, Livingston High School, the Oval, library, recreation programs and sports facilities are all concentrated within the community rather than requiring families to constantly look elsewhere. 

So, Is Livingston a Good Place to Raise Kids?

For many families, the answer is yes, but I think the reasons are more interesting than simply saying “the schools are good.”

It’s the combination of the school system, sports, recreation, camps, community pool, library, parks, nearby attractions and an established community infrastructure built around families.

And perhaps most importantly, Livingston is the kind of town where children can have a life in their own town.

They go to school here. They play sports here. Their friends live here. They go to camp here. They meet at the pool. They eventually go to Livingston High School together.

That sense of community is difficult to measure on a spreadsheet, but when you’re choosing where your family will live, it matters.

Thinking About Moving to Livingston?

If you’re considering Livingston with children, choosing the right house is only part of the decision. Understanding the schools, neighborhoods, commute, recreation and day-to-day lifestyle is equally important.

I live here, work here and know Livingston street by street. If you’re thinking about making a move, I’m always happy to help you understand not only which homes are available, but which parts of town may make the most sense for the way your family actually lives.

Lena Pesso

Broker Associate

Coldwell Banker Realty, Livingston