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We are a photographer and art director in our early 30's looking to buy a house in northern nj with our new baby boy. Our budget is about 550-600k, we need an easy commute to the Bronx and NYC, and are hoping to live somewhere that appreciates the arts and is a nice down to earth place to live and raise a family that also loves to be outdoors and go hiking etc.
we are starting to look into bergen county but don't know much about it. We started in Essex county but didn't find the right match ( Montclair was suggested a lot but dont like the magnet school system there).
- Longer commute than Bergen, but won't be too bad for the Bronx.
- More bang for your buck than Jersey
- More artsy than Jersey (imo)
- You're paying New York taxes anyway for working in the city
- Best access to hiking/nature locations in the area
If Montclair doesn't appeal to you, have you checked out South Orange or Maplewood?
Both are similar to Montclair in that they have very artsy feels to them (South Orange seems to be popular with jazz musicians), both are very short train rides into New York, and both border the South Mountain reservation, with lots of hiking and outdoor options.
Hi-
My wife and I just settled on Rutherford for us and our young son. We are in our mid 30's and she is a creative director and has been very concerned about finding a town that will fit our similar needs. We are hoping that we can make Rutherford work the schools are good not amazing, but good. The small town feel is nice and the commute is really good we are hoping to preach the virtues of the town to everyone we know with similar interests and turn it into what we want. So I think you guys should move to Rutherford your budget will get you a nice place in town.
If you think that you will be mostly driving into the city and the bronx, often during off peak hours, than Bergen County is a great choice. The towns that hug the Hudson River offer great hiking options at Palisades Interstate Park and many having their own Nature Center for more easy walks. Tenafly has the JCC and 2 new art schools geared for children and a nature center, Demarest has the OCC art school (which has open studio time/ figure drawing on Saturdays) and also a nature center, I believe Closter also has some art schools - probably more Korean-inspired and their own nature center as well.
All of these towns attract people who are in the arts because of the easy access into NY.
I would also look at Cresskill, Haworth and Harrington Park.
I agree with South Orange and Maplewood for attractive, artistic communities like Montclair without the magnet school system. The beautiful and expansive South Mountain Reservation is nearby for hiking. There are about 30 properties currently on the MLS in your price range which might work for you.
I am a local realtor. Please direct message me if you'd like more information.
Livingston, which is in Essex County, has the Riker Hill Art Park, though I think you're looking for more of an overall artsy community. The town demographics, if I were to categorize it, would fall more in line with "suburban families with particular interests in ensuring quality education for their children." But you wouldn't be too far from Montclair or any other quaint towns with a nice downtown.
Price point may be just right for a comfortable house for your family of three.
There are a lot of NYC commuters, but the commute to the Bronx would be a challenge.
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Art, outdoors and great schools
