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I've read some great posts here which have helped us find out about the area but would love some advice about an area that would suit us.
We are moving out to New Jersey before the end of the year so my wife can take a job in Parsippany and I can look for a job once we are out there.
We're looking to rent for at least a year to get to know the areas better but want to find a good neighborhood to really get a feel for the area. Some key facts:
Budget - under 3000 a month (I hope!)
House - multi-family, townhome or single family home with 2 beds and outside space a plus
Also - Walkable to a nice/vibrant/lively downtown area is a must for me as this is something we've always had living in York in the UK, parking for 2 cars, short commute to Parsippany
Schools aren't important to us at all so it would be nice to find somewhere that isn't charging us too much for a school system we're not using!
From the forums and a very short trip to the area Morristown and Montclaire both look nice but are there other/better areas we should consider?
Morristown and Montclair both have the kind of downtown that you describe. However, the commute from Montclair isn' really short; more like 30 minutes if you're not travelling in rush hour (and depending on exact location in Parsippany -- it's relatively large and is bisected by major highways with congestion, so getting to the far west parts could add significant time), and probably closer to 40-45 minutes.
Morristown is closer, and I think you can get something in your price range. The schools have mixed reviews, but taxes are relatively decent and you won't be paying a premium to be in the school district.
For a smaller downtown that's even closer to Parsippany, you could also take a look at Denville.
(by the way, visited York a few years ago -- what a great and beautiful, one of my all-time favorite places that I have visited)
Walkable downtown is going to be your biggest sticking point, as Parsippany is pretty far out in the suburbs. Morristown and Montclair are both great choices, as you've already discovered. Maplewood and South Orange are similar to Montclair and have a lot of what you're looking for as well. They have walkable downtowns and are a bit cheaper than other, similar towns due to having a decent but not top-of-the-line school system. (Compare Madison, Chatham, Millburn or Ridgewood, which also have everything you want but are pricier because their schools are among the best in the country.)
Morristown is the choice closest to Parsippany, however, and I don't see much reason not to choose Morristown.
None of those places is going to be quite like York in terms of walkable downtowns, but they're the best you'll find in suburban New Jersey.
You'll like Morristown for the reasons people mentioned. Plus being English you'll learn that Gen. George Washington and his troops almost froze & starved to death in 1780 at Jockey Hollow. Some men roasted their old shoes or ate tree bark it got so bad.
You'll like Morristown for the reasons people mentioned. Plus being English you'll learn that Gen. George Washington and his troops almost froze & starved to death in 1780 at Jockey Hollow. Some men roasted their old shoes or ate tree bark to eat it got so bad.
Well...actually, George & Martha were warm & well-fed, as they stayed with the well-to-do Ford family in their very comfortable home, several miles from Jockey Hollow.
However, the troops--who didn't have the luxury of those nice accommodations--did suffer miserably. While Valley Forge is better-known by most folks, the winter at Jockey Hollow was undoubtedly worse for the troops.
Public transportation choices for Parsippany seem few. www.njtransit.com
Looks like the 79 bus goes from Parsippany to Newark Penn Station, & the 871 bus goes from Morristown to Hanover to Parsippany, Montville, Boonton, Wayne.
Maplewood, South Orange and Denville will go on our list of places to check-out
My wife will be commuting to north west of Parsippany just off the 80 so this might make Montclair a bit far but will be fine from Morristown as we'll both be driving
We've already looked at Madison and found it a bit sleepy but will give Summit a look too though it may stretch our price range!
Very sad to be leaving York but it seems like there are some great choices out here too!
You can even look at towns like Ringwood (very scenic & country for NJ) or Oakland which are north of Parsippany on 287. Just watch out for flood zones in Oakland. I'd even consider towns like Wyckoff or Allendale. I did the commute from there to Parsippany in around 40-45 mins.
So it seems the company may be changing their minds and moving us to to Montvale, would Ridgewood be a similar choice to Morristown in that area. Thanks for the additional help, now we'll have options wherever they end up sending us!
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