Best Towns in NJ (Trenton, Westfield: broker, live, prices)

[Catherinelady]

I like Madison, Rockaway Twp., Chester (all in Morris County area) and Blairstown in Warren county and also Moorestown in Cherry Hill area.

[BrianG]

I like the Inman Hgts section of Rahway,also Clark,Colonia,Cranford and of Course Westfield

[rebaki]

What would you say are the best towns for under a 45 minute commute to NYC? I have checked out Westfield and it appears very nice. What about Cranford and Garwood?

[JerZ]

Okay...I haven't read the posts yet because there are pages and pages of them! When I get some time, I'm going to do so, out of curiosity! I apologize in advance if anyone has already made the following points...:

Of the towns you listed, I would pick WESTFIELD. I used to date someone who lived there. Cute, cute, cute, cute little town. But not at all "backwater" or remote. Beautiful trees, cute older houses. There's a train right there (literally) that takes you into the city if you choose to commute, so you can make the big bucks and afford your Westfield home. Yet it's not as expensive as Ramsey...I used to work there...more on that in a minute. Westfield has very nice parks, two of them that I remember. Once you're in town, you can walk anywhere. Just a nice place to live.

Ramsey: Yes, Ramsey is very nice. Nice town-social life, too ("First Night" that the whole town comes out for in December...etc.). But sh*t...it is NOT worth the cost of living there. No way. Yes, it looks pretty clean. The houses are in no way superior to any other homes in comparable northern NJ towns (this excludes the city areas) and just are not worth the price, and the taxes, MY GOD. Ouch. They're also super-building there...or at least they were when I left in 2005. Overcrowded to the max.

Live in Westfield; visit Ramsey to grab a Starbucks and go to the pumpkin nurseries in the fall.

ETA: Just wanted to clarify that I didn't want to give the impression that it's significantly cheaper to buy in Westfield than Ramsey...no matter where you settle in northern NJ, unless you go to Newark or Passaic (I would not recommend this), you're going to get hit fairly hard price-wise. But...if you check out realtor sites you will find a slight price drop in homes once you get to Westfield, and cheaper taxes generally. As far as cost of living (food...clothing...) it's probably about the same.

[JerZ]

Originally Posted by Nikon35

Best town in NJ would be Caldwell...

Caldwell is indeed a nice town. I have to second that. It's a little busy with all those highways intersecting. Also, all along that Rte. 46 strip (that's 46 there, right? God, my memory is going) is super-busy and you have to actually get on it to get anywhere...which is a bit of a pain in the butt. But once you get away from that, it's very neighborhood-ish. It wouldn't be my first pick but would run a close second.

[carolinajack]

lambertville

frenchtown

Princetown

Haddonfield

Cape May

Moorestown

Island Beach State Park

[CrazyJerzyKidUNO]

I would probably vote North Bergen for the greatest town in NJ. It is farley safe and living there is just like living in Queens. Also next to it is Union City and Jersey City where there is always something to do there. Schools are great too.

[tenyearsgone]

i'd have to agree with Westfield, Union County being a good town..

and also Englewood, Bergen County

and Warren Township in Somerset County

and Far Hills in Somerset County

[songgirl]

Sparta. It hasn't changed much at all since I grew up there 30 years ago.

[kort677]

Originally Posted by tenyearsgone

i'd have to agree with Westfield, Union County being a good town..

and also Englewood, Bergen County

and Warren Township in Somerset County

and Far Hills in Somerset County

englewood?????
have you been there lately?? the west side is a ghetto