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Old 06-04-2013, 10:48 PM
 
Location: Inman Park
163 posts, read 428,839 times
Reputation: 114

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I am from Cedar Knolls, which is right next to Morristown and Madison. I couldn't drive for a few years due to medical issues, and what I can tell you is this: Morristown and Madison are both excellent for getting around without a car.

Morris County runs some bus service in the towns in the area, including these two. They're not always wholly convenient, but it's more the idea of understanding when they run and then tailoring your travel schedule to it. You can get to Parsippany, you can take the bus to the Short Hills Mall (you can do some combo of bus and train for the mall as well). Also, I worked in NYC, so, clearly, from either of these two places, getting the train into the city is easy.

They are both very walkable towns, though I'd probably give the edge to Morristown, based on the fact that Madison has a smaller downtown. Both have plenty of restaurants, stores, bars, and grocery within walking of the core, and they are both safe. Schoolwise, Madison has the edge in the high school, at the very least, but given you're only here for a couple of years, I'd pick either.

Good luck!
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Old 06-06-2013, 08:46 PM
 
Location: Madison, NJ
41 posts, read 170,210 times
Reputation: 26
We looked in three of the four towns you mentioned and wound up in Madison - and love it. More quaint than Summit and Westfield, but a great friendly feel and plenty to do. We belong to the YMCA and find it wonderful for our toddler especially.
The town pool can't be beat in summer time, huge with water slides, snack bar, etc. About 500$ per family to join. Of the four towns, all good schools but Madison has the best according to NJ Monthly.

We also loved Summit but taxes and home prices are a bit higher in the areas that are as nice as Madison (it does have some ares that are more affordable but not as picturesque.) We also initially liked Westfield - huge walkable downtown with lots of fun restaurants but no direct train to NYC. Also a much different feel - Madison is much more of an old fashioned mom and pop downtown sort of feel, no chain stores like Gap etc, Westfield is more commercial. Also MUCH more traffic. I'm a realtor and show houses there often as many people consider the same towns, and driving around there is rough. They also have a fun pool I'm told. Madison/Summit has the short hills mall not 10 minutes away - easily the classiest mall in NJ with all the stores you would want.

We didn't consider Ridgewood because of longer commute and higher taxes - and just really preferred the southern areas, close to highways, beach, etc.

Did you look into Chatham? I know coming from UK you don't have a ton of time to tour homes, but sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right home in the right neighborhood, and being open to a few towns. You have already narrowed it down to four great places.

Hope this helps!
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Old 06-07-2013, 08:40 PM
 
1,392 posts, read 2,091,117 times
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Did anybody mention New Brunswick/Rutgers area? Because of the university, they've got the shuttle buses running all the time. I dunno have safe the area is, though, and I dunno how nice it is.
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