Schools, taxes, commute, small towns (Newark, Edison: for sale, houses, buying) - City-Data Forum

FilmCarp · 12-07-2010, 08:55 AM

Hi folks, I have been searching this forum and not really finding what I need, so here goes:

My wife and I live in the south ward of Newark, in a beautiful old house. The problem is we now have a 4 year old, and we can't use the public schools here. Both of us work odd hours in Brooklyn, so we will miss the easy commute from here. We are willing to pay taxes for services, and have been looking in Maplewood for a place in the 40ok-500k range. Most taxes seem to be around 10k.
What we really want is a modest hose with a nice garage for my shop, walking distance to good schools with a mix of students. That means neither all white like us, or all black or all latino.
For our commute, northeast corridor trains or access to the Holland tunnel works best. We are considering Staten Island, but not energetically.
I would love some input, preferably from people who live in the town they are writing about and have children. I saw one thread where someone bashed a town because they had once ridden a bus through part of it. That doesn't strike me as informed.
Thanks in advance, and fire away.

Whoelsebutcharles · 12-07-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FilmCarp

Hi folks, I have been searching this forum and not really finding what I need, so here goes:

My wife and I live in the south ward of Newark, in a beautiful old house. The problem is we now have a 4 year old, and we can't use the public schools here. Both of us work odd hours in Brooklyn, so we will miss the easy commute from here. We are willing to pay taxes for services, and have been looking in Maplewood for a place in the 40ok-500k range. Most taxes seem to be around 10k.
What we really want is a modest hose with a nice garage for my shop, walking distance to good schools with a mix of students. That means neither all white like us, or all black or all latino.
For our commute, northeast corridor trains or access to the Holland tunnel works best. We are considering Staten Island, but not energetically.
I would love some input, preferably from people who live in the town they are writing about and have children. I saw one thread where someone bashed a town because they had once ridden a bus through part of it. That doesn't strike me as informed.
Thanks in advance, and fire away.

How far are you willing to commute? Maplewood is OK, but has many sections that are in decline from what I can tell from reading recent posts on it. I'd say try to get out of Essex County as the homes are overpriced and the taxes in any decent town are through the roof.

I grew up in Staten Island, in Annadale near the garbage dump, you DO NOT want to live there if you intend to use the public schools. And it is easily ten times worse now than it was when we left in 1994.

For a commute to Brooklyn from NJ you probably want to consider Middlesex or Union County areas, but either way your tolls combined driving would be at least $19, with the $8 for either the Outerbridge or Goethals Bridges, then the Verrazano Bridge is another $11. From what I can tell that is as cheap as you will get it in NJ since the mass transit rates are even more ridiculous. Albany St. train station in downtown New Brunswick to Manhattan is $27 one way.

You will use the Outerbridge from Middlesex, or the Goethals from Union. Houses in the (decent) Union Co towns are priced higher typically than Middlesex, so your options will open up quite a bit here. I live in North Brunswick, which does seem to fit the criteria you are looking for: decent house for $400K, nice mix of diversity of all types (incl. South Asians as well, not just black and white), good schools, taxes won't be anything close to $10K since lots of business/retail properties in the area too. Instant access to Rts 1, 130 and 27 with 18, the Turnpike and 287 close by too. Close second would be South Brunswick, only because it is a little further away from where you need to be. Allow 45 min to an hour from here, probably more depending on the time of day you commute.

If you want to be closer, other towns to consider would be Edison, Woodbridge (some houses here have been for sale for quite awhile), or Clark, Union, Kenilworth or Springfield in Union County would be decent places to start looking.

FilmCarp · 12-07-2010, 05:21 PM

Thanks,
I might research Union some more. We do most of our shopping on 22 anyway. I used to live in New Brunswick, and I have nothing against it except I really don't want to grow my commute much more. That's the big secret about Newark. I am very close to the city.

Obrero · 12-07-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FilmCarp

Thanks,
I might research Union some more. We do most of our shopping on 22 anyway. I used to live in New Brunswick, and I have nothing against it except I really don't want to grow my commute much more. That's the big secret about Newark. I am very close to the city.

Why not just stay there and use a private school....

FilmCarp · 12-07-2010, 07:17 PM

That is another back burner possibility, except that I don't like the direction the city is going. I also think the privates can get expensive, and because of my own upbringing in the Catholic schools I don't want to send him to one of those. I don't want to offend anyone, I am just trying to be honest.

sonofagunk · 12-08-2010, 05:00 AM

Did I miss why you wouldn't consider Brooklyn? There are areas with good schools, and since you both work odd hours, I really can't see public transportation from NJ being a good option. Even for the best times, you are talking over an hour just to get to Penn Station (in true commute time. Including getting to the train, getting there a few minutes early so you do not miss it, parking, etc)

Anyone know how close the recent murders in Irvington were to the Maplewood border?

FilmCarp · 12-08-2010, 06:33 AM

We looked at the boroughs first. Brooklyn is very expensive in the areas where the schools are good. In addition, if the schools are overcrowded they will bus your child to a different district, defeating the purpose of buying there. Even Redhook, where I work, has gone through the roof and there is no subway service, just one bus.
As for murders and your indirect reference that Maplewood is too close to Irvington, I live in Newark now, and Maplewood has several sections. Some are better than others.

Thanks for the response.

bradykp · 12-08-2010, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FilmCarp

That is another back burner possibility, except that I don't like the direction the city is going. I also think the privates can get expensive, and because of my own upbringing in the Catholic schools I don't want to send him to one of those. I don't want to offend anyone, I am just trying to be honest.

interesting. i would certainly do the private school route if you like where you are. newark seems to have made a lot of progress, but you'd know better than I on that. I grew up in the catholic school system and would love to give the same to my children, but i like that in NJ, although taxes are high, the public schools are typically a fantastic option (especially compared to many areas near where i grew up).

Whoelsebutcharles · 12-08-2010, 11:58 AM

Hasn't anyone heard the recent news report? Around 170 Newark cops were just laid off and then there were three murders in less than 24 hours.

If I were the OP I seriously would bounce, esp with a little kid at home.

FilmCarp · 12-08-2010, 12:08 PM

Please refer to my OP. I am looking for input from people with kids in towns that can tell me about them. I got your initial input, which I appreciate, but this last post is not at all relevant. You don't know where I live in Newark, or what the deal is here.