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My husband and I are considering moving to Basking Ridge from Staten Island. We also have 2 children, 5 & 7. Our max budget is 800k and we would like to pay no more than 15k in taxes. My questions are the following: how are the people in basking ridge? I heard that there are many people from Brooklyn/Queens, is this true? We heard the schools are excellent, some feedback on the school would be appreciated as well. How is the commute into Manhattan(midtown).
Really good schools but a pretty long, terrible commute that will take years off your life. Basking Ridge is a section of Bernards Township, which is the district the kids would be enrolled in.
Any reason you must be in Basking Ridge.... 800K could go far in a town further east with a better commute.
You're probably talking a minimum of a 90 minute door-to-desk commute every day. Could be closer to 2 hours if there are train/bus delays or if you don't work very close to New York Penn or the Port Authority.
My husband and I are considering moving to Basking Ridge from Staten Island. We also have 2 children, 5 & 7. Our max budget is 800k and we would like to pay no more than 15k in taxes. My questions are the following: how are the people in basking ridge? I heard that there are many people from Brooklyn/Queens, is this true? We heard the schools are excellent, some feedback on the school would be appreciated as well. How is the commute into Manhattan(midtown).
Thank you!
This area is high end and the residents are highly educated and sophisticated for the most part. The lifestyle is very upscale and pleasant. The schools are top of the line and competitive, so you could expect thorough preparation for college and beyond for your kids. It would be a long commute, but not impossible.
$800,000 is tight there and you will be looking at smaller and more modest homes. But if you are OK being a smaller fish in a big pond, it will be an enjoyable place to live.
I live a lot closer in Cranford and I have to tell you that I would hate my commute every day if I had to go to Brooklyn or Queens. Have you considered Long Island? It would certainly cut down on the number of rivers you'd have to cross every day.
I think that 800,000 will probably find you with a nice older home that could be a bit dated but will have land. Basking Ridge schools are some of the best in the state. The high school consistently rates in the top and your children will get a great education.
The commute will be very long. When I worked in the flat-iron district it took about an hour on the express train (from Lyons station) and then half an hour on foot to my office. It took a lot out of me, but I was able to do a ton of work on the train ride. The nice thing about Basking Ridge is you will find a seat in the morning! Some people prefer the bus though.
The thing I like about Basking Ridge is there isn't many chain restaurants and fast food. Sure, you can drive a bit and go to McDonald's but it's not in your face every day. On the other hand, if you like being close to name brand stores then it might be too far out there for you.
Thank you for the feedback. My husband and I really liked the feel of Basking Ridge which is why we're considering this area. However, we are open to any other suggestions. At this point we want a little more house and property. We're tired of how crowded Staten Island is and can't stand being on top of our neighbors. We have considered Long Island. The problem is the LIRR is my husband's only option into Manhattan. We're very easy going people and not your typical Staten Islanders and we are really just looking for a town that suits, our children, us and a commute that won't add anymore stress to my husband's day. With that being said, what are your thoughts on Cedar Knolls, Whippany?
Cedar Knolls and Whippany form Hanover Township. Hanover does not have a train station, but there are a few nearby. The train ride is a bit shorter than from Basking Ridge and midtown direct trains run more frequently on the Morristown Line versus the Gladstone Branch. Hanover has lower taxes, and you can get a very nice home (even new construction) for $800k. The schools are good but don't rank as highly as Basking Ridge. Although the demographics are similar, Basking Ridge is more upscale. But personally, I don't see the appeal of Basking Ridge, especially for a midtown commuter.
Thank you for the feedback. My husband and I really liked the feel of Basking Ridge which is why we're considering this area. However, we are open to any other suggestions. At this point we want a little more house and property. We're tired of how crowded Staten Island is and can't stand being on top of our neighbors. We have considered Long Island. The problem is the LIRR is my husband's only option into Manhattan. We're very easy going people and not your typical Staten Islanders and we are really just looking for a town that suits, our children, us and a commute that won't add anymore stress to my husband's day. With that being said, what are your thoughts on Cedar Knolls, Whippany?
Well you won't have to worry about being on top of each other in basking ridge unless you are in the hills. Even then it's not bad.
I don't really know much about cedar knolls or whippany but I did work in cedar knolls for a period of time and it seemed fine but not really a small town feel. You'd also have to take a bus to nyc as I don't think the train stops in that area. Some stations can be really hard to get a parking pass for.
Does your husband have coworkers in NJ to ask? How long is his commute now?
Have you looked at Chatham? It's a bit less of a commute than basking ridge and I think it has more express trains.
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