Is Westfield THAT much better than neighboring towns? (Scotch Plains, Cranford: real estate, property taxes)

[Rollersk8]

Hi all, hope you can help. We're shopping for a house and for what we can get in Westfield it seems we can get a lot more house in Cranford or Scotch Plains. Here's an example of what we're seeing.

Westfield
3 bedroom, 1 1/2 baths. Walking distance to town and train. Old everything.
Asking $579,000, $10,000 in taxes

Cranford
5 bedroom, 2 bath, Walking distance to town and train. Everything updated.
Asking $599,000 $9,000 in taxes

Can anyone tell me a really compelling reason to buy in Westfield over one of these other towns, given our budget for a house? We could get something there but we're not sure if it's worth the expense for us if we can just drive there when we want to shop, and Cranford's and Scoth Plains's schools seem to be very good and those seem to be very nice towns too.

[juliann1977]

Based on the info. you posted, I would definitely go for the house in Cranford. Westfield is a great town, and when we were looking to move, we did some real estate searches there. But we had the same thought, as what we could get in Westfield in our target range (700-800k) just wasn't nearly as much as in a lot of really nice towns.

[syncmaster]

Westfield gives you bragging rights. How much is that worth to you?

[tandcookies]

We lived in Cranford for about 8 years. It is a great town that really caters to its people. The schools and police are wonderful. There are always activities going on which are geared towards families. The people are very friendly and community minded.

Like the people in Westfield are proud to be from Westfield, the people who live in Cranford are proud of Cranford.

I agree with the previous poster as you will get a lot from Cranford without the Westfield snobbishness.

[tandcookies]

Oh and our absolute favorite restaurant in Cranford is The Garlic Rose Bistro. I miss it. :-(
Garlic Rose Bistro. Select One: Madison, Catering or Cranford

[NancyM]

I grew up in Westfield. Lived there from 1962 thru 1979. I still have friends that live on my street. It is a high class town. It's not just bragging rights. Westfield is sort of a yuppy town now, it didn't used to be...it was a great town to grow up in. Having said that, I'm shocked the taxes are as high in Cranford, since in my opinion, it's not nearly as nice as Westfield. Hope I don't offend any Cranford people but I would pick Scotch Plains over Cranford if I had to make a choice. Cranford wasn't known for being a very nice place when I was growing up. It may have changed but I doubt it. I've driven thru a couple of times over the last few yrs. Sorry, hope I don't offend the couple that lived in Cranford. Is just that to me, cranford is not nearly as pretty visually as Westfield is. Westfield is just a whole lot cleaner and prettier.

[emanon]

Westfield is considered at the very top of communities in that area. You always pay more for prefferd location. Don't the seats at the front of the theatre cost more than those in the rear? Same show but a better view. Westfield has a better view. Houses in Westfield will always be worth more.Location, location,location.

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by syncmaster

Westfield gives you bragging rights. How much is that worth to you?

Yes it does. It is called having a "Clout" address.

But a better choice would be to look outside Jersey borders. For that same $600,000 I can show you more like a 10,000 sq ft home with 8 bedrooms and 8 baths on 25 acres with 400' of bulkheaded prime lake front in the heart of ____________name it.

Oh and the property taxes are $500.00

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

Yes it does. It is called having a "Clout" address.

But a better choice would be to look outside Jersey borders. For that same $600,000 I can show you more like a 10,000 sq ft home with 8 bedrooms and 8 baths on 25 acres with 400' of bulkheaded prime lake front in the heart of ____________name it.

Oh and the property taxes are $500.00

THIS I've got to see.

[Dagrecco1982]

Most of the towns that surround Westfield are great: Garwood, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, New Providence, Summit, Cranford, Springfield. All are great towns.