Kenilworth? (Linden, Belleville, Cranford: best town, affordable house, good schools)

[NJbound]

Hi everyone!

We're going to be relocating to the East coast from suburban Detroit Michigan. My husband will be working in Manhattan and I am a stay at home mom to our 2 1/2 yr old.

We spent last week checking out some areas in CT and NJ and are feeling very frustrated with what we can get with $400K (obviously very little there, here it would get us a huge gorgeous home).

Can anyone tell me more about Kenilworth NJ? We looked in Springfield and Chatam and just barely saw Kenilworth before we headed to the airport.

On quick glimpse it looked like a "up and coming" type area, seemed like lots of older residents/homes but also many brand new homes being built (only ones we saw in NJ actually) and many remodels happening. Along with a fair amount of childrens playsets in yards.

My husband and I are in our early 30's, he is Jewish and I'm not. We're caucasian, and we have a 2 1/2 yr old.

Would you say Kenilworth would be a good match for us? How is the commute to Manhattan (I believe my husbands new office is about 2 blocks from Grand Central)... I don't think there is a train correct? would he commute via bus & how difficult/long is that?

Thanks for any assistance!
C. Daitch

[NJbound]

Someone? Anyone? Please give me some feedback about this city

[AKD]

Hi-

It sounds like it'd be a good match for you.
Kenilworth is a good area - Working class people, friendly atmosphere.

The commute to Manhattan shouldn't be bad at all - There's no train station in Kenilworth, but there is one in Roselle Park (the next town over) as well as in Linden (a few towns over - not far), and those will bring you into Manhattan.
(If your husband wants to look into different commutes into the city, he can check out www.njtransit.com, as well as www.panynj.com.) The commute is not difficult at all. Your best bet would be to drop him off at the train station in the morning - He'd take the train to NY Penn Station & from there take a train that goes directly to Grand Central.

Hope this helps!
Allison

[NJbound]

Hi Allison

Thank you for the response and the info including the links we'll be sure to check them out

[kamit]

Me and my wife are Indian's and we were also looking for a house in the similar price range. Both of us work in Manhattan. We think we can settle down in Belleville.

I don't want to advertise for any body, however you can checkout homes from Centex homes in Belleville -

http://www.centexhomes.com/New-Jersey/N45557.asp

Good luck in your house hunt.

Regards,
Amit Khandelwal

[babs1969]

If you are looking for an affordable house and also in a nice community Kenilworth is the right place. It is still with the concept that it takes a village to raise the children. Good schools all within 1 mile. Stores right in town cover most necessities. The people are fairly down to earth hard working individuals and yet everyone comes out for the parades still. Hope you find your place whereever you end up and good luck to you and yours.
Barbara (formly Murphy from Kenilwoth)

[Viralmd]

There is NO train that goes directly from Penn Station to Grand Central.

You have to either 1) walk up to 42nd street and take the shuttle or
2) take the Broadway 1 line up to 42nd street and take the shuttle.

[Older&Wiser]

Kenilworth is a great town but also look at Garwood and Cranford which are the next two in line going southwest. They both have almost the same price housing and good schools. Cranford was just voted as the 12th best town in the state to live in. It just built a parking deck next to the train station (NJ Transit - Raritan Valley Line) Any of the 3 are great choices.