Millington, Basking Ridge, Warren, or Watchung (Plainfield, Somerset: for sale, crime, new home)

[nyc12345]

Hello,

We're a family with a young baby looking to move into one of the towns along Route 78 west of Summit. We've found nice houses in Millington, Basking Ridge, Warren, and Watchung. Aside from the obvious differences (train in Millington and Basking Ridge vs no train in Warren and Watchung, great schools in both Basking Ridge and Watchung, Somerset County vs Morris etc.) does anyone have any insights to what living these towns are like and their differences? Thanks in advance for your input.

nycdweller

[Roselvr]

Watchung has a website, you can sign up to be on their email list to get updates about town news.

Spent a lot of time in Watchung from the early 70's until a few years ago, we own a business there. I've always liked the town although we couldn't afford to live there. Hopefully someone will be able to answer any questions you have

[madmoodawg]

I live in Warren and love it!! There is still plenty of open space, and I'm sure that developers are going to take advantage of it. The downtown area is starting to shape up, with the addition of more shops that are going to open up later this year, early '08. You get a lot of property for your money, great schools, and easy access to either 78, 22 or 287. Homes tend to be pricey, but you get what you pay for. One thing that people may not realize about Warren, is that it covers a large area, so you have a lot of locations when it comes to housing. I rented in Watchung for a year and had a great stay there, but I'm glad I got out.(it was along Rte 22). Watchung has plenty of retail in the way of Home Depot, Wal Mart, Target, BB&B, etc... Watchung is primarily homeowners except for a place or two along Rte 22. You almost feel secluded from the rest of the town and feel like a part of North Plainfield instead. Watchung proper, is a great place if you can afford it. Enormous homes sprinkled throughout, with the most affordable homes near the big pond. Watchung and Warren share the same high school, while Watchung, has one(i think) very good elementary school. Both towns are very quiet and have very little in the way of crime. Bridgewater Commons and the Mall at Short Hills are both less than 20 minutes away. I'd like upgrade to the Basking Ridge/Bernards area, which is just as nice, but the woman wants to move closer to her family. Good luck in your search.

[tahiti]

all of those places are the best of the best - you really can't go wrong with any of them. it's like picking between a lexus, mercedes, bmw, jag. just go with the one you like the most and the one which will give you the easiest commute.

[Roselvr]

Something to consider... Our business has well water, not sure about houses if they had city water. We didn't have septic.

Originally Posted by madmoodawg

I rented in Watchung for a year and had a great stay there, but I'm glad I got out.(it was along Rte 22). Watchung has plenty of retail in the way of Home Depot, Wal Mart, Target, BB&B, etc... Watchung is primarily homeowners except for a place or two along Rte 22. You almost feel secluded from the rest of the town and feel like a part of North Plainfield instead.

When I think of Watchung, I think of Watchung lake, Mountain Blvd, Valley Road. It's never felt like a part of Route 22 to me. The roads are beautiful, spent many nights riding Johnston Drive looking out over the other towns. The businesses you mention felt like North Plainfield to me and still do. Our place is on Somerset Street almost at the circle, we were pretty far from rt 22, so it never felt like N PLFD.

Originally Posted by madmoodawg

Watchung proper, is a great place if you can afford it. Enormous homes sprinkled throughout, with the most affordable homes near the big pond.

Is this the developement on Valley Rd? My son's aunt used to own the property before they devolped it.

Originally Posted by madmoodawg

Watchung and Warren share the same high school, while Watchung, has one(i think) very good elementary school.

Watchung has 2 schools, Bayberry K-4, Valley View (middle school 5-8) with as you said, the high school which is in Warren according to the address. From what I see on their web site, they don't appear to have their own K-8 school. Pretty sure the kids were bussed back then.

[emanon]

Watchung has many stately older large homes and a few Ultra Mc Mansions. Was the place to live when Warren was just a farm town. Warren is the McMansion capitol of Somerset county. Probably more M-Benz, Lexus SUV than any place in NJ.If your into landscape competition Warren is the place to be.
Millington and Basking Ridge are beautiful well established older towns with some great neighborhoods. I think a little less crowded with "New" money.
Train direct to NYC is a plus.
You can't go wrong with any of those towns.

[nyc12345]

Many thanks to everyone - I'm starting to get a feel for the subtle differences of the towns. Here are some of the notes I've gathered over the last month.

Out of the 4 towns:
. Basking Ridge is the most upscale, the best overall school district (especially high school), and nicest looking. The obvious downside is you get less for your $$ comparatively.
. Watchung is beautiful and more intimate, lower schools potentially better than Basking Ridge (Bayberry and Valley View). The downside is there aren't many homes for sale and newer ones are very expensive. There is no train (closest station Berkeley Heights?) but it has the advantage of being closest to NYC(exit 40 -).
. Warren has A LOT of nice new homes (yes McMansions) and older colonials on red hill for sale at reasonable prices. Overall good schools and pleasant surroundings, low taxes.
. Millington .... I've been hearing a lot of bad words about this town. Worst schools out of the 4 towns; lowest median income. Most houses are older split-levels from 50's, but there are some beautiful neighborhoods developed in the 90's. Also as part of Morris County taxes are the highest!! Unfortunately I love one of the houses in this town despite all its shortcomings. Sigh.

[emanon]

The one thing that realtors say that is absolutly true is location is most important. I think most buyers want the most house for the money which could be a big mistake. Buy the best house you can find in the town you like best. You can always improve the house but a bad location you are stuck with forever.
E

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by nyc12345

.Millington .... I've been hearing a lot of bad words about this town. Worst schools out of the 4 towns; lowest median income. Most houses are older split-levels from 50's, but there are some beautiful neighborhoods developed in the 90's. Also as part of Morris County taxes are the highest!! Unfortunately I love one of the houses in this town despite all its shortcomings. Sigh.

Curious - what "bad words"? Unsafe, crappy schools? Or bad compared to the other 3, which are some of the wealthiest towns in NJ, and rank up the nationally?

Median income - are you talking maybe $100K -vs- $130 in the other places? Is that really a big deal?

Worst schools? Worst is a strong word. Are they really bad? Or is it a matter of 1200 SAT -vs- 1250 SAT's? I find it hard to believe those schools are really "worse" than BR.

It's easy to have your judgement clouded when you're seriously looking at some very nice, wealthy areas, where a place that would be the best in another state suddenly seems less than adequate. All of them are best of the best - if you decide to go with Millington, I swear, your kids will be well educated (especially if you are involved), I promise.

To me, your decision should be based on commute, location. Median income in all are HIGH, crime is LOW, schools are GREAT.

[nyc12345]

Thanks for alll your thoughts! Yes "worst" is only relative to the 4 towns mentioned above.

Of the realtors and friends surveyed Millington schools are "blah", but of course people tend to speak favorably for their place of residence. Millington goes to the same Watchung Hills Regional High as Warren and Watchung so it's a moot point. Its elementary however only has a 2.8% advanced proficiency in NJASK language arts literacy. Schooldigger ranks Bayberry 6th in NJ and Millington 302nd.

The other issue is the housing stock in the communities. An $800K house is in the low-middle end of houses in Basking Ridge, Warren and Watchung, whereas it would be the top 10% in Millington.

One thing you're right about though - the median income for Millington is over $100K. The figure I had previously was $84K was for Long Hill Township.