OT: Any NJ Town (w/ NYC commute) Recommendations

[SKOHR]

I was hoping that I could canvass everyone here to get your thoughts on what towns are great places to live these days for a young family looking to move out of the city to NJ for some more space. I've checked out NJ Monthly's lists and all the others I could find online but I want to know what are NJ's Best Places to Live according to Rutgers fans?

Some background:
My wife and I are in our early 30's, have been married for 2 years, have a 1 year old, and have lived in NYC for the past 11 years. I grew up in South Jersey, which as most of you know makes North Jersey largely unfamiliar territory to me.

What's important for us:

• Great public schools
• Short commute - we will both continue to work in midtown NYC and want to keep daily travel time down as much as possible. Shooting for under 45 minutes each way.
• Vibrant downtown and community

Any thoughts on where we should be looking would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[RU-AGK]

Cranford.

It checks all the boxes.

 

[LevaosLectures]

Maplewood immediately springs to mind. Millburn if you're very very wealthy.

 

[Plum Street]

Cranford.

It checks all the boxes.

Would agree with this . Scotch plains area is nice too . Summit ? Not sure if these fit your under 45 minutes commute time . You can't trust nj transit on a daily basis .

 

[LevaosLectures]

Any way you slice it, two parents commuting to midtown to work from Jersey is going to suck.

 

[pd125]

Many great towns with train and bus service in Bergen County. Just depends on your budget and needs.

 

[srru86]

I lived in Westfield for 15 years a great town.

The only down side (besides pricey real estate*) is not currently a one seat ride into Penn Station. A real downtown including a full service department store not many can say that. Good schools and other amenities.

* My former home recently sold for $570,000. I bought it for $217,000 in 1999. It was completely renovated and updated but still one of the smaller homes in town on just an ok street by Westfield standards.

 

[LevaosLectures]

Many great towns with train and bus service in Bergen County. Just depends on your budget and needs.

Most Bergen County towns that fit the bill are on the Main line and require a Hoboken transfer....Glen Rock, Ridgewood, etc.

 

[LevaosLectures]

I lived in Westfield for 15 years a great town.

The only down side (besides pricey real estate*) is not currently a one seat ride into Penn Station. A real downtown including a full service department store not many can say that. Good schools and other amenities.

* My former home recently sold for $570,000. I bought it for $217,000 in 1999. It was completely renovated and updated but still one of the smaller homes in town on just an ok street by Westfield standards.

Westfield is very nice. I thought they added midtown service on that line.

 

[anon_ivydyf0amkzay]

Ridgewood...best town in NNJ...

 

[RU205]

Summit , Westfield, Cranford, Metuchen. Also check Fanwood.

 

[imoapie]

I was hoping that I could canvass everyone here to get your thoughts on what towns are great places to live these days for a young family looking to move out of the city to NJ for some more space. I've checked out NJ Monthly's lists and all the others I could find online but I want to know what are NJ's Best Places to Live according to Rutgers fans?

Some background:
My wife and I are in our early 30's, have been married for 2 years, have a 1 year old, and have lived in NYC for the past 11 years. I grew up in South Jersey, which as most of you know makes North Jersey largely unfamiliar territory to me.

What's important for us:

• Great public schools
• Short commute - we will both continue to work in midtown NYC and want to keep daily travel time down as much as possible. Shooting for under 45 minutes each way.
• Vibrant downtown and community

Any thoughts on where we should be looking would be greatly appreciated!!

That is just not going to happen unless we are talking train or bus ride only and even then that only leaves about 5 towns. I think you are looking at minimum 1-1.5 hrs door to door depending on where in midtown.

 

[MoobyCow]

I was hoping that I could canvass everyone here to get your thoughts on what towns are great places to live these days for a young family looking to move out of the city to NJ for some more space. I've checked out NJ Monthly's lists and all the others I could find online but I want to know what are NJ's Best Places to Live according to Rutgers fans?

Some background:
My wife and I are in our early 30's, have been married for 2 years, have a 1 year old, and have lived in NYC for the past 11 years. I grew up in South Jersey, which as most of you know makes North Jersey largely unfamiliar territory to me.

What's important for us:

• Great public schools
• Short commute - we will both continue to work in midtown NYC and want to keep daily travel time down as much as possible. Shooting for under 45 minutes each way.
• Vibrant downtown and community

Any thoughts on where we should be looking would be greatly appreciated!!

Depending on where you are in Midtown there aren't a hell of a lot of options for door to door in 45 min. It can take me almost 45 min and I'm in JC. (10 min to/ wait for PATH, 22 min on PATH, 10 min walk to work).

Still, there are a lot of good suggestions for towns here that have reasonable commutes, if not ideal.

 

[Zak57]

How much $$$$ is a big question.

 

[Ridge 22]

Maplewood immediately springs to mind. Millburn if you're very very wealthy.

I grew up in Maplewood. Great center of town, nice architecture on the houses, commuters dream into the city, good proximity to pretty much everything. Lots to like. The only problem is the school system has gone way downhill since I went there. Not sure I would send my kids there now. However if you have very young kids and plan to move again, that may not be an issue.

 

[Upstream]

That is just not going to happen unless we are talking train or bus ride only and even then that only leaves about 5 towns. I think you are looking at minimum 1-1.5 hrs door to door depending on where in midtown.

Yep. Depending on where you work in midtown, a 45 minute door-to-door in a suburban town with great schools and vibrant downtown is going to be hard to find .... and those that exist are expensive.

You've pretty much ruled out anything on the NE Corridor, Shore Line, or Raritan Valley line, since the towns you describe are too far. For example, Cranford to Penn Station or Metuchen to Penn Station is 45 minutes by train, and then you have to add the time to get from your home to the train and then from the train to your office.

So you are pretty much limiting yourself to a handful of very expensive towns in Essex, Passaic, or Bergen counties.

 

[BigLou]

New Providence. Train or bus to midtown. Plenty of commuter parking. Small but nice town center (just issued its first liquor license). Great school system, great youth activities and sports. Not as expensive as some f the surrounding towns.

 

[RUFogey]

Ridge wood has a really good downtown area with a bunch of great restaurants but is very expensive and the taxes are insane. Anywhere around Ridgewood or Paramus is a 20-25 minute ride into the city with great schools but again most of the houses in the area are pretty expensive.

 

[knightfan7]

Don't know anything about the commute but from spending a good portion of my life in North Jersey four towns that always stood out to me are Westfield, Madison, Montclair, and Ridgewood. All have great downtowns and nice homes to choose from as long as you can afford it (not me). I loved living in Bedminster but there's no downtown. Flanders and Randolph are too far and West Orange....eh.

 

[imoapie]

Ridge wood has a really good downtown area with a bunch of great restaurants but is very expensive and the taxes are insane. Anywhere around Ridgewood or Paramus is a 20-25 minute ride into the city with great schools but again most of the houses in the area are pretty expensive.

That is not accurate unless we are talking speeding at 3 am in your own car. Since I assume we are talking regular business hours for work, that will NEVER happen in 20-25 min.

 

[Crazed_RU]

Given you only have a 1 year old I suggest a NJ urban stop before you go all out suburban. Hoboken, JC, etc.

Forget Raritan Valley Line - I've commuted it for years and getting to mid-town sux bad. To the poster talking about direct trains - yeah they added them but only during the non-rush hours which is useless to a commuter.

 

[LevaosLectures]

I grew up in Maplewood. Great center of town, nice architecture on the houses, commuters dream into the city, good proximity to pretty much everything. Lots to like. The only problem is the school system has gone way downhill since I went there. Not sure I would send my kids there now. However if you have very young kids and plan to move again, that may not be an issue.

Supposedly there is one good elementary school and one dodger one? Columbia is still an excellent high school and one of the only diverse ones in the state.

 

[LevaosLectures]

I wonder if you've considered an outer borough. I don't mean to pry but assuming regular 9 to 5 work hours when exactly do you plan to spend time with your child? Don't take that as criticism....I do think people underestimate a NJ to NYC commute based on realtor fantasies.

 

[Leonard23]

That is just not going to happen unless we are talking train or bus ride only and even then that only leaves about 5 towns. I think you are looking at minimum 1-1.5 hrs door to door depending on where in midtown.

Depending on where you are in Midtown there aren't a hell of a lot of options for door to door in 45 min. It can take me almost 45 min and I'm in JC. (10 min to/ wait for PATH, 22 min on PATH, 10 min walk to work).

Still, there are a lot of good suggestions for towns here that have reasonable commutes, if not ideal.

It's a very tough ask to get a vibrant downtown, space, short commute & great schools. NJT to NYPS alone is ~40 mins from Millburn, ~45 mins from Summit & Metuchen, ~50 mins from Cranford, ~55 mins from Westfield, Chatham, Madison & New Providence, & ~60 mins from Ridgewood & Montclair. That's without delays which are a daily occurrence. Maplewood is ~30 mins.

 

[WhoRU?]

Before kids, my wife and I lived in Bloomfield and she commuted into NYC. The bus lines to Penn Station were typically a 45 minute ride if you left early enough. We were very close to Montclair and you might consider it since there is a NY transit line there now. Honestly, if you are looking for a 45 minute commute, it's going to be tough. If you can afford it, you might look into Hoboken.

 

[JMORC2003]

Cranford.

It checks all the boxes.

I'm in Cranford, commute to NYC, have small kids entering the school system. It's a great place. Commute by train OR bus. About an 1 hr 10 during rush hour. 35 minutes if you catch a 113X off peak.

Lots of development recently in the downtown area, it's becoming a very attractive place for anyone wanting the 'burbs, but not middle of nowhere (which is good for my property value, since i'm eventually looking to head out to the middle of nowhere).

 

[RedSpartan]

Madison. Outstanding schools, younger population (with three colleges there or nearby), best downtown in NJ, and direct train to Manhattan in 50 minutes.

 

[newell138]

Denville. Great little downtown w/ lots of nice little places to eat and easy train ride into NYC. Good schools and lots of little lake communities too if you like living near the water. I grew up there and it was a great childhood.

 

[RUfinal4]

be careful with your 45 min rule. If a specific train or bus is scheduled for a 40 or 45 min commute you have to also add in time to the train / bus station plus time from the Port Authority / Penn Station to your office.

Even if you live in Hoboken or Jersey City next to the PATH stations you may have a 45 min commute to your office.

I will use Millburn as an example. Rush hour trains are between 35-40 mins to Penn Station. You may have to allow for 10-15 mins from leaving your house until the train's scheduled time to drive to the train station and park. Then when the train arrives it can take 5 mins to just navigate your way out of Penn Station or the Port Authority and another 10 mins to walk to your office. In my example above you are looking at a 60 to 75 min commute each way.

Another option to consider (although expensive) is Monmouth County near the NY Waterway (Belford) or SeaStreak (Atlantic Highlands) boats. The boats are under 40 mins to pier 11 downtown. It may be another 15-20 mins for the midtown stops.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

New Providence. Train or bus to midtown. Plenty of commuter parking. Small but nice town center (just issued its first liquor license). Great school system, great youth activities and sports. Not as expensive as some f the surrounding towns.

Lou, I worked in New Providence for 11 years. Who got the liquor license?

 

[Local Shill]

The only commutes of less than <45 minutes from NJ to NYC is if you live across the street from the PATH in Hoboken or Jersey City and your office is across the street from the PATH in the city.

 

[mdk01]

Given that 45 minutes is unrealistic, particularly if you're talking about time to your office and not reaching whatever station in Manhattan you go to, there are a number of Bergen County towns (most already mentioned) that would fit the bill.

Via train - Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn (slight drop off in schools)

Via express bus - Tenafly

 

[RUpop]

Tenafly...lived here for most of my life. A great town to raise a family in.
Ridgewood would be my second choice and it absolutely has a bigger more vibrant downtown.
Paramus is another very nice town but has no central downtown.
Westwood is a good town with a vibrant downtown area.

All of these towns are super close to the GWB, highways & mass transit (Bus, train or both). The first two can be very pricey but there are also pockets of relative affordability

 

[C0bra Kai]

The only commutes of less than <45 minutes from NJ to NYC is if you live across the street from the PATH in Hoboken or Jersey City and your office is across the street from the PATH in the city.

This is the god's honest truth right here. Look no further than this comment if you are serious about <45 minute commute door-to-door.

The op did mention good public schools though, and Hoboken/JC fail miserably in that department. Therefore, the equation he is looking for does not exist.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Morristown may be a little more than a 45 minute train commute, but it has everything else.

 

[BigLou]

Lou, I worked in New Providence for 11 years. Who got the liquor license?

The town voted to allow liquor licenses a couple of years ago. The town council say $ signs and set the price too high so there were no takers. they re-bid this year and issued 2. One was a relatively new restaurant (Bistro Seven Three) which is on Springfield Ave (old McGraths location). The renovated to add a bar and are re-opening but under a different name -Providence Bar and Kitchen. Funny thing was that the place was very popular as a bring your own and lots of people were surprised they would add the license. I believe the 2nd license was bought by the owner of the Prestige Diner, not for that location but he recently bough the building that formerly housed Friendly's. Not sure what his plans are to renovate. A lot of towns people were pissed that the Murray Hill Inn did not get a license. The management of the hotel is very town friendly but I guess they low balled their bid.

 

[MADHAT1]

I grew up in Maplewood. Great center of town, nice architecture on the houses, commuters dream into the city, good proximity to pretty much everything. Lots to like. The only problem is the school system has gone way downhill since I went there. Not sure I would send my kids there now. However if you have very young kids and plan to move again, that may not be an issue.

Agree from what I have heard the Maplewood/South Orange school system has gone downhill
To find out something about the township of Maplewood this might be a good place to start and checking out its message board a must.
Maplewood Online
http://www.maplewoodonline.com/

 

[rutgersdave]

Given that 45 minutes is unrealistic, particularly if you're talking about time to your office and not reaching whatever station in Manhattan you go to, there are a number of Bergen County towns (most already mentioned) that would fit the bill.

Via train - Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn (slight drop off in schools)

Via express bus - Tenafly

Ridgewood is very expensive with majority of the homes close to the $1 million mark. My nephew just purchased in Ridgewood for over $800k , no garage. GLen Rock is about $200k less than Ridgewood and Fairlawn even lower.

They just had a kid a couple of months ago and moved away from the city. You are going to need a lot of family support to take care of the baby. My nephews has several relatives involved including myself.

 

[RBS05]

I live in uptown Hoboken and it takes me 40-45 mins to get to my office at 48th and Park. That's with a solid 20 minute walk from Port Authority. I could shave a few minutes off there by taking the subway but it's not worth it to me.

Understand the desire to get out of the city with a kid, but you're making this move 3-4 years before you actually have to deal with schools, no? Come to Hoboken, spend about the same as you likely are in Manhattan but get much more for your money, enjoy the shorter commute for another couple years and then do the full suburb move when it's time to put your kid in school.

 

[Myrtleknight]

Rutherford is a up and coming hidden gem most people don't talk about.