RUTHERFORD STATS AT-A-GLANCE
• Population: 18,782
• Median Home Value: $435,100
• Median Rental Cost: $1,347
CHEAP EATS
• Ice Cream Charlie’s: We all scream for ice cream, especially when it’s loaded with cannoli, fudge or pumpkin.
• Big Bowls Little Plates: Fill your plate with Asian fusion cuisine. Locals flock to Big Bowls on Thursdays during lunch for four-dollar little plates and discounted General Taos big bowls.
DATE NIGHT
• Café Matisse: Boasting décor inspired by artist Henri Matisse, this critically-acclaimed à la carte restaurant offers a tasting menu that changes regularly.
• Paisano’s Restaurant: This family-operated Italian restaurant is a staple thanks to homemade pasta and comedy nights.
AROUND TOWN
• The Williams Center: Named after the poet William Carlos Williams, this venue houses the historic Newman Theater, which is awaiting refurbishment. In the meantime, grab some popcorn and head downstairs for a movie.
• Lincoln Park: Smack in the middle of Park Ave., this is the place to be for the borough’s annual multicultural festival and weekly outdoor summer concerts.
• Meadowlands Museum: The historic house on the corner of Crane Ave. is home to exhibits on the pre-electric kitchen and the geology of the Meadowlands.
LOCALS LOVE
• Rutherford Music Exchange: Since 1993, this Rutherford landmark has offered music aficionados a reliable place to buy instruments, take lessons and even exchange stamps, a childhood hobby of owner Tony Ugliarolo.
RUTHERFORD FUN FACTS
• The 2.9-square-mile borough gets its name from John Rutherfurd (who spelled it with a “u”), a one-time state legislator and United States senator whose family owned much of the land in the area.
• Rutherford is the former home of poet William Carlos Williams. There’s a red wheelbarrow in the public library’s garden, silently paying tribute to his poem, “The Red Wheelbarrow.”
Population is based on 2017 US Census data. Median housing unit cost and median gross rent are based on 2012-2016 US Census data.