Rumson, NJ vs Colts Neck, NJ (Red Bank, Lincroft: cul-de-sac, how much, house)

[PriyaQuinn]

All the replies have been very informative. Thank you so much. I am looking forward to visit the area in May. At this point, it seems it would be better to rent, to get the feel of the towns, before purchasing. Maybe pick a town to rent in, where we think we would be most likely to buy (I am thinking out loud).
Anyway, thank you all!

[juliann1977]

All the replies have been very informative. Thank you so much. I am looking forward to visit the area in May. At this point, it seems it would be better to rent, to get the feel of the towns, before purchasing. Maybe pick a town to rent in, where we think we would be most likely to buy (I am thinking out loud).
Anyway, thank you all!

Very good idea, though keep in mind there isn't a big rental market in either Colts Neck or Rumson--your options would be limited to someone renting out his/her house. Holmdel would probably have the most rental options, as it is the biggest town and has a lot of townhouses in additon to the many single family homes. I think there are a few apt. complexes as well. Good luck!

[judithexit]

Originally Posted by b75

I wouldn't characterize Holmdel as more rural then Colts Neck at all. And the school district in Colts Neck is relatively new and while I'm sure pretty good - I would say at this point if school district is your focus, go with Holmdel. If you don't like rural, I'd move Colts Neck down on the list and bump Holmdel into its place. Just my two cents. Hope that helps.

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[Summer16]

I concur with what has been posted. Both are wonderful towns to live in.

Rumson is more of an on the water town, beautiful homes right on the river.

Colts Neck makes me think more of sprawling horse farms (although as the years go on this will change more and more).

Both have gorgeous homes, good schools. Just a matter of atmosphere (but both are nice, just more of what you prefer).

[Carbro]

I grew up in Rumson and absolutely hated it, but I don't see that Colts Neck would be any better. Rumson does have one advantage over other places -- proximity to the beach.

There was such emphasis on conformity, and for this square peg, it was totally stifling. People were incredibly judgmental. There was so little social diversity. When I took days off for Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashannah, the kids (and even some teachers) were bug-eyed. "What's that???"

My parents settled in Monmouth County both for my dad's work (homebuilder, some of his houses are in Colts Neck) and as a "nice place" to raise a family. They divorced during my senior year of high school, and my sister spent her teens in diverse and tolerant New York, becoming independent at a much younger age that I, in that car-dependent culture, could.

One of the reasons why college admissions figures for my graduating class ('68) was so impressive was that many of the low-achievers who were not college bound were actually encouraged to drop out before graduation. If someone tries to tell you that X% of graduates go on to college, demand to know how many of the entering freshman did.

Things have improved somewhat in the years since I left (I often visit family in the area), but if I had a kid, I would never impose a place like Rumson on her/him.

[MeeBee]

I am shocked by carbos reply! Its too bad you experienced it that way. I think Rumson is a great town for kids! I lived there for 5 yrs and still own a home there. The schools are excellent, it is so safe, we hardly locked our doors, you can walk to the river, beach, town, catch a bus to NY. Yes, its a tad snobby, but for the most part, people are friendly, professional folks. I think Rumson beats Colts Neck for sure. The houses are priced higher for a reason....its a great, special place to live!

[Data95]

My child attends Colts Neck HS. It is great. More like a college. Great Principal and staff. The entire Freehold Regional High School District is great. If your child is an excellent student he/she can take advantage of one of the specialized programs at any of the High Schools.
The Specialized Learning Centers include the areas of business administration at Marlboro; humanities at Howell; global issues at Freehold Township; medical sciences at Freehold; science and engineering at Manalapan; and law and public service at Colts Neck.
The District also offers a culinary arts/hospitality management academy and a computer science academy at Freehold High School; a fine and performing arts academy at Howell; a Navy JROTC character and leadership development academy at Colts Neck High School; automotive technology and law enforcement and public safety academies at Manalapan High School; and an animal and botanical sciences academy at Freehold Township High School.

[zombiemommie]

I live in the "two river area" in the town next to Rumson, I've lived here for 10 years. Best friends of ours live in Colts Neck. I would vote Rumson 10000x over Colts Neck. Colts Neck is being taken over by ostentatious gaudy Mc.Mansions with people from Staten Island and New York. Rumson has a much more genteel feel to it. There are TONS of small children in Rumson. The Rumson schools are AWESOME. Rumson has various areas, from upper-middle class all the way to "not in a million years can you even afford it" homes. Although Rumson can be pretentious sometimes, I find it way, WAY more inhabitable to Colts Neck.

Colts Neck is a huge sprawl. I don't know how you'd ever really get to know people there, unless you get majorly involved in some kind of clubs, join a country club, or get active in the PTA. There is not a real town center, and there is not a sense of community, per se. Its beautiful, don't get me wrong, but many new moms feel lonely there. Rumson, by contrast, has many small parks, a very active "Two River" Newcomer's Club with lots of activities for younger families, a small elementary, middle and High School (compared to any of the above communities, Holmdel, etc etc).

I've met many, many people from Rumson and the surrounding towns who grew up here (Rumson, Little Silver, Fair Haven) who come back to raise their families. There is no better recommendation than that.

Other features of Rumson - it is right next to the beach, has two beautiful rivers, tons of parks, and just a wonderful, genteel feeling to it. I don't get that AT ALL in Colts Neck. You won't get anywhere near the amount of house/land in Rumson vs. Colts Neck, but the appeal of the area more than make up for it, IMHO. You should check out Little Silver and Fair Haven as well. WONDEFUL communities.

Mind you, I don't live IN Rumson, and I don't want to either, because I love my town. But I do love it and admire it.

[biscman]

Take a look at Tinton Falls too, the northern end off Sycamore Ave.

[RabbleRouser]

Rumson is an "old money" town. There is really nothing here to speak of.

We have a very small down town with ok restaurants, an over priced market, good schools, nice parks, and its just over the bridge to Sea Bright and the ocean.

We could be any "rural small town" based with the exception that the average house last year sold for $2.4 MIL

However, we do have nice little neighborhoods that are affordable (by Rumson standards), and people are friendly enough to stop and say hi when you are out raking leaves in your yard

The big pluses to Rumson are the ocean, small town feeling, and proxmity to Red Bank for shopping, restaurants and the train. We roll up the streets here at 5 pm (joking) - it isn't exactly the mecca of nightlife.

I think Carbro is having '60's flashbacks. LOL

Carbro, you could have lived just about anywhere "rural" in the 1960's and very few people would have known what Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashannah was. The same thing could be said about about Ash Wednesday in a primarly Protestant area.

Today I believe that most NJ schools get Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashannah off. Times have changed. We globalized!