Safe North NJ Towns...Are Maplewood, South Orange and East Rutherford?? (Newark: real estate, apartment complexes)

[kebuzzi]

I grew up in Princeton, NJ and moved to Manhattan about 3 years ago. I'm itching to get back to NJ! I work in midtown and am looking for a safe town to buy a house or condo in NJ with a door to door commuting distance of no more than 1 hr. Maplewood and South Orange look nice, but they are so close to really bad areas like Irvington and Newark that it frightens me. Does anyone know how safe it is here? Also, East Rutherford taxes are very attractive...does anyone know what it's like living there? Thanks in advance for any help!!

[zombiemommie]

Well, the Sunday times focused on South Orange in the Real Estate section just this past Sunday. It should be online or maybe somebody has it. East Rutherford is "safe" but its not nearly as nice as South Orange, to me it has a more "working class" look to it, smaller shabbier houses, etc. I don't know anything about Maplewood.

[IntheBurbs]

If taxes are a concern, East Rutherford and Carlstadt are both good options - however, I can say I agree with the previous poster that these towns are a big more "working class." Rutherford is a wonderful town for commuting and has a lovely downtown area as well, but the taxes are average for the area, and therefore not especially low. But it offers both bus and train to NYC. Other suggestions would be Passaic County - Clifton. Essex County - Nutley or Bloomfield. All of these are excellent options for a commuter. South Orange is very nice but pricy.

[AnesthesiaMD]

South Orange and Maplewood are both really nice towns. They do border some towns that are not very nice though. If you choose your location carefully in either town, you will be very happy with your choice. Maplewood is a little more bohemian while South Orange has more of a college feel to it (but not like Princeton). Property taxes are high though.

[borat s]

Originally Posted by zombiemommie

Well, the Sunday times focused on South Orange in the Real Estate section just this past Sunday. It should be online or maybe somebody has it. East Rutherford is "safe" but its not nearly as nice as South Orange, to me it has a more "working class" look to it, smaller shabbier houses, etc. I don't know anything about Maplewood.

I live in East Rutherford and went to high school here. Its an ok town. There is little crime except for the occassional stolen car there is no violent crime here. It is very much a working class town filled with 2 family homes and apartment buildings but builders have been putting in some nice condos and new apartment complexes and are trying to take advantage of the cleaned up train station area on the East Rutherford side. I would rate it a C+ currently with the chance of moving up to a B. High school is not that great, elementary and middle school are pretty good. Hope this helps. Any questions feel free to message me.

[Bronco17]

I lived in East Rutherford for a few months while I moved. It's ok. Maplewood is also fine, as long as you're not too close to the border with Irvington.

[sothurn]

South Orange and Maplewood are pretty much the same deal. The farther west (away from Irvington/Newark) you are, the more expensive the homes. Crime is low. Property taxes are high in both towns, but they are both very lovely places to live.

[Giantone]

South Orange ....not so much.Millburn ,Summit,Chatum,New Providence yes.