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We are relocating from the UK to NJ shortly. My OH will be working close to Penn NYC, so we have been looking at areas in NJ to live. Our big issue is that I don't drive - but we will have a car and as in the UK will do any grocery shopping etc at the weekends. We also have a 12 yr old and a dog too. We came over in March and had a look at several towns. The ones that seemed to be the best fit for us in terms of transport, schools shops etc. were Summit, Ridgewood, Westfield and Madison.
All of these towns have a YMCA, that I would been keen to join (I am a yoga teacher) as well as offering opportunities to volunteer. Alternatively, I could also volunteer at my daugher's middle school which is something that I have done in the UK. So, I can keep myself busy during the day without having to travel far and wide. I also need to be able to take our dog for a walk each day too!
I would like hear from anyone who has lived in these towns as to which town may be better for us. Like I say, we have visited them all, but as you know a short visit and actually living there are two different things. I am also aware that the winter can be very cold, but more of a concern would be snow (although my OH can work from home if weather is dire so would be able to drive our daughter to school if that's even possible!)
Many thanks and keep up the good work - this forum has been extremely helpful
We are relocating from the UK to NJ shortly. My OH will be working close to Penn NYC, so we have been looking at areas in NJ to live. Our big issue is that I don't drive - but we will have a car and as in the UK will do any grocery shopping etc at the weekends. We also have a 12 yr old and a dog too. We came over in March and had a look at several towns. The ones that seemed to be the best fit for us in terms of transport, schools shops etc. were Summit, Ridgewood, Westfield and Madison.
All of these towns have a YMCA, that I would been keen to join (I am a yoga teacher) as well as offering opportunities to volunteer. Alternatively, I could also volunteer at my daugher's middle school which is something that I have done in the UK. So, I can keep myself busy during the day without having to travel far and wide. I also need to be able to take our dog for a walk each day too!
I would like hear from anyone who has lived in these towns as to which town may be better for us. Like I say, we have visited them all, but as you know a short visit and actually living there are two different things. I am also aware that the winter can be very cold, but more of a concern would be snow (although my OH can work from home if weather is dire so would be able to drive our daughter to school if that's even possible!)
Many thanks and keep up the good work - this forum has been extremely helpful
Those are all beautiful towns with nice downtowns and great schools. Did you see the "sticky" at the top of the New Jersey forum?
I thought abour Washington Town Center in Robbinsville but up to now I still don't know if the place has mass transit for commuters to NYC. If Toll Brothers and Avalon can offer shuttle service to the nearest NJT train stop, why wouldn't WTC?
I thought abour Washington Town Center in Robbinsville but up to now I still don't know if the place has mass transit for commuters to NYC. If Toll Brothers and Avalon can offer shuttle service to the nearest NJT train stop, why wouldn't WTC?
Wouldn't that be a long commute?
OP, I was a member of the Madison YMCA as a kid and it was great! However, I'm sure all of those towns have great ones.
It's a longer commute than Summit, but offers more space, newer housing stock and a newly developed town center with amenities. I don't think WTC is unbearable. I have many co-workers who live in Manalapan, Katonah and Yorktown who trade a longer commute for better accomodations. The main problem I forsee is the possible lack of mass transit options. See comment about shuttle. I don't know if WTC offers such.
Thank you all for the replies. I didn't fill in the sticky as we have already researched areas with reagrds to all the points made in the sticky and by searching this forum, with the result being that we have pretty much decided on one of the four towns listed. I was really interested to hear how folk thought I would get along without the use of a car during the day in any of those towns and whether one town stood out as being the best for walking around in. When we visited them they all seemed to have trains, shops, school and YMCA all within walking distance of each other. I have no idea what these areas are like in the winter though. I know that there can be quite a lot of snow and wondered how efficiently the snow gets cleared etc...
Thank you all for the replies. I didn't fill in the sticky as we have already researched areas with reagrds to all the points made in the sticky and by searching this forum, with the result being that we have pretty much decided on one of the four towns listed. I was really interested to hear how folk thought I would get along without the use of a car during the day in any of those towns and whether one town stood out as being the best for walking around in. When we visited them they all seemed to have trains, shops, school and YMCA all within walking distance of each other. I have no idea what these areas are like in the winter though. I know that there can be quite a lot of snow and wondered how efficiently the snow gets cleared etc...
Many thanks for any information.
I would add Morristown to your list. It has a very walkable downtown and a train station that is just under 1 hour to Penn Station. If your OH is working close to Penn then Motown is a very viable option and it affords you that downtown experience that you're seeking. Plus, it is a very dog friendly community. Morristown is home to the seeing-eye dog train school. I think the seeing-eye dog concept may have actually started in Motown. There is a statue in the town square erected in honor of the founder of the seeing-eye dog school.
Montclair is 45 min to penn station and,with 4 village areas and 5 train stops, very walkable. My kids have walked to school and the convenience store alone since they were 8 and 9. We have many Brit expats here (there is a Cornish pie shop and a Brick Lane curry shop). I'm not sure what you've heard about the snow, but, with the exception of a few winters back, it's little more than an occasional inconvenience. Most years, you'll look forward to a good snowfall. I'd be happy to be more of a resource for Montclair if you are interested.
Montclair is 45 min to penn station and,with 4 village areas and 5 train stops, very walkable. My kids have walked to school and the convenience store alone since they were 8 and 9.
The HS? Well, anywhere within a mile radius of Chestnut and Park, I guess. Kids walk from very expensive neighborhoods on Upper Mtn and Erwin Park and also from less expensive neighborhoods closer to downtown. Walnut train station area and Watchung train station areas are "walk to HS".
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