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Hi --we're looking to move there as well --are you still as happy there? any other thoughts on the town? is there a "good" or "not so good" part of town -thanks
Hi-
We live in Scotch Plains which is next door to Westfield. Westfield is GREAT. It's what I feel is the perfect "American town". There are many great mom and pop restaurants as well as stores like Banana Republic, Gap, etc., located downtown. It is also close to Route 22 and any chain restaurant and store you could ever want. It's a perfect area...you can't go wrong.
I would take Rye, NY!! Usually I would always side with NJ, but Rye has such a New England country feel to it. Rye is perfect you could have you little Country French Provincial home, and then have great shopping and eating ! Its charming, near water, near CT and so charming and can get into action quick but its quiet at the same time. Its a much better choice then Westfield. Its a better choice in my opinion! People in Rye are outdoors alot and I think overall probably happier than NJ. Why do I say that, because they are loaded and old money, not really too many new money!!! Its perfect....... Westfield is a town, Rye is a style!!!
you know I just looked at the homes for sale in Rye and this is the area!! This is a great area, New England at its best. So country and near water and harbors its perfect, beautiful and Westfield could not hold a candle to rye, NY!! I mean look at the homes, style and differences they are huge. Rye is so quaint and wooded, its like going back in time !! Now its expensive I mean bucks, but worth it. If you like country style, new england style, boats , water this is the place if you have the money. If you like cookie cutter developments, no water, brick main street, Westfield is for you! As far as people, thats a tough one. I would say walk around the downtowns and stores and see how your treated. I think basically Rye is so outdoor type living that people are kinda friendly. I dont know this for a fact but they certainly are not worried about money or taxes they have tons of money so maybe they are happier!! I noticed more stressed out about money the more people are disgrunted. In Rye its like lala land!!! Its martha stewart type living!
Last edited by stevemorse; 10-04-2008 at 02:08 PM..
I spent my teenage years and then some in Westchester, NY, so I'm familiar with the towns on the Sound, including New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Rye, Port Chester. Rye was probably the best of them, with Port Chester the worst. This was a good thirty years ago, though. As a kid, I used to go to Rye Playland, now owned by the government. I doubt things have changed too much in Rye, at least in terms of the relative expense...and the snoot factor.
For the past 25 years I have lived very close to Westfield, NJ in Cranford.
Rye is a very nice town, right on the Sound, but obviously very expensive. The cost of housing and everyday living is quite a bit higher in Rye. In some ways it's a case of you get what you pay for. I'm not sure one can really compare the two towns. I think it would be somewhat akin to comparing a nice inland town in California to La Jolla. Rye is very upscale, very pricey. Btw, it's not in New England, though, to be precise.
The OP didn't give any details on what he/she was looking to spend or what kind of lifestyle they were seeking, So it's hard to answer this question in a helpful way. But in terms of general value, Westfield is a better choice. The quality of life in Westfield is very high, with good schools, shopping, downtown area, etc. While people sometimes complain about daily traffic congestion in the Westfield area, Westchester has been congested since I was a kid.
Crime is relatively very low in both towns. If there is a "bad" part of Westfield per se, I'm not aware of it, other than one particular small street I would avoid. But if you're also considering Rye, there is no chance you will end up on that street.
So while it's probably an unfair comparison, the best I can say is that Rye is a better choice if you have lots of cash and expendable income and are seeking a very affluent community with water-based amenities. Westfield is a better choice if you want a similar experience without the immediate access to beach and marinas, on a less expensive scale (not that it's inexpensive, though).
In a cost-no-object scenario, I'd likely take Rye, but unless I could comfortably afford to live that day-to-day lifestyle, I'd take Westfield in this somewhat unbalanced comparison.
I spent my teenage years and then some in Westchester, NY, so I'm familiar with the towns on the Sound, including New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Rye, Port Chester. Rye was probably the best of them, with Port Chester the worst. This was a good thirty years ago, though. As a kid, I used to go to Rye Playland, now owned by the government. I doubt things have changed too much in Rye, at least in terms of the relative expense...and the snoot factor.
For the past 25 years I have lived very close to Westfield, NJ in Cranford.
Rye is a very nice town, right on the Sound, but obviously very expensive. The cost of housing and everyday living is quite a bit higher in Rye. In some ways it's a case of you get what you pay for. I'm not sure one can really compare the two towns. I think it would be somewhat akin to comparing a nice inland town in California to La Jolla. Rye is very upscale, very pricey. Btw, it's not in New England, though, to be precise.
The OP didn't give any details on what he/she was looking to spend or what kind of lifestyle they were seeking, So it's hard to answer this question in a helpful way. But in terms of general value, Westfield is a better choice. The quality of life in Westfield is very high, with good schools, shopping, downtown area, etc. While people sometimes complain about daily traffic congestion in the Westfield area, Westchester has been congested since I was a kid.
Crime is relatively very low in both towns. If there is a "bad" part of Westfield per se, I'm not aware of it, other than one particular small street I would avoid. But if you're considering Rye, there is no chance you will end up on that street.
So while it's probably an unfair comparison, the best I can say is that Rye is a better choice if you have lots of cash and expendable income and are seeking a very affluent community with water-based amenities. Westfield is a better choice if you want a similar experience without the immediate access to beach and marinas, on a less expensive scale (not that it's inexpensive, though).
In a cost-no-object scenario, I'd likely take Rye, but unless I could comfortably afford to live that day-to-day lifestyle, I'd take Westfield in this somewhat unbalanced comparison.
I agree with you, I would take Rye over Westfield if I had the money. I know it is not new england but very new england like except for population amount.
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