Moving for job in downtown Manhatten, help... (Newark, Union: how much, new home)

[Steve_]

Live in suburbs and now work in Boston. Taking a job in downtown Manhatten and need to figure out where I should be looking -- my first thought is CT. Relevant info:

- Buy a house
- Suburbanite, would like a friendly (not snobby) town
- 3 kids, aged 8-13. Schools and sports are important (esp soccer)
- Consider house up to $1.5mm, but would like to keep it under $1mm
- Want a reasonable commute to downtown NYC
- Lots of air travel, so airport proximity a secondary factor

Am I better off looking in NJ? Prefer to be in CT as closer to relatives in Mass and RI.

THANKS!

[CuCullin]

Its going to be about a 45 minute ride from CT or NJ for a reasonably close suburban town. Price gives you plenty of options; since you'd prefer CT, I'd say go with CT.

[AJGIANTS]

Originally Posted by Steve_

Live in suburbs and now work in Boston. Taking a job in downtown Manhattan and need to figure out where I should be looking -- my first thought is CT. Relevant info:

- Buy a house
- Suburbanite, would like a friendly (not snobby) town
- 3 kids, aged 8-13. Schools and sports are important (esp soccer)
- Consider house up to $1.5mm, but would like to keep it under $1mm
- Want a reasonable commute to downtown NYC
- Lots of air travel, so airport proximity a secondary factor

Am I better off looking in NJ? Prefer to be in CT as closer to relatives in Mass and RI.

THANKS!

Connecticut is really not convenient to the airports though. I suggest Bergen County New Jersey.
-20 minutes south on the turnpike to Newark Liberty.
-Take NJ transit trains to Hoboken then the ferry or PATH train to lower Manhattan. Bergen is close to the Hudson river crossings so you can hit I 95 to go see your relatives.

[Carbro]

Can you be a little more specific as to the location of your new job? Some downtown areas are less convenient to some subway lines. It makes a difference whether you enter Manhattan from the on the East Side at Grand Central (from Connecticut or Westchester) or the West Side into Penn Station (from NJ or LI). Most suburban areas also have bus service into Port Authority, on the West Side.

[Sergio M]

I work with a lot of commuters that travel into the city. Many of them are moving here to Union County. Towns like Cranford and Westfield have a lot to offer. These towns have a common thread as they both have good schools and are near all major travel routes. There is a developer that is going to be putting up a few new homes in your price range. He does great work and may be willing to customize somewhat.

[HelgaB]

I recently closed on a home in Far Hills for a client who had similar requirements - he had to commute to Iselin, NJ, as well as Manhattan and Newark Airport. Check Mendham/Chester, Far Hills, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Peapack/Gladstone - they all are very family oriented and friendly towns that offer an excellent combination of virtually non-existent crime, superb schools, large lots and preserved environment. The commute to the Newark Airport is about 40 minutes and a train trip to downtown Manhattan is about an hour and half. You can get an excellent home in your price range on a much larger lot and in much less polluted area than in Bergen, Union or Essex counties.

[Steve_]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

Its going to be about a 45 minute ride from CT or NJ for a reasonably close suburban town. Price gives you plenty of options; since you'd prefer CT, I'd say go with CT.

Thanks, however I'm hearing that CT is basically a double commute to downtown. CT to Grand Central and then subway. Pushing close to 2 hours. Is this true?

[Steve_]

Originally Posted by Carbro

Can you be a little more specific as to the location of your new job? Some downtown areas are less convenient to some subway lines. It makes a difference whether you enter Manhattan from the on the East Side at Grand Central (from Connecticut or Westchester) or the West Side into Penn Station (from NJ or LI). Most suburban areas also have bus service into Port Authority, on the West Side.

Downtown, more specifically near the World Trade Center site. In fact the ferry from NJ (not sure which one or if there is more than one) lands right near the building on Old Slip I'd be working in.

[hrjersey]

I agree that NJ is going to be more convenient to an airport. I don't know much about Bergen County but the following towns I think fit what you are looking for and all are about 20 minutes to Newark Liberty Int'l and all are commuter towns with regular service into the city.

This are my personal picks.

Westfield in Union County is a very nice town, good schools and has trains and buses to NY
Millburn/Short Hills very good towns. Great schools and also has train service to the city.
Livingston very good town. Great schools and buses to the city.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by Steve_

Thanks, however I'm hearing that CT is basically a double commute to downtown. CT to Grand Central and then subway. Pushing close to 2 hours. Is this true?

Depends on where you're at in CT, like anywhere else. You'll hit the same from other locations - from Westfield, for example, your best bet would be the raritan valley line to Newark (about 25 minutes) plus path train to WTC (about another 25).

However, even Westfield doesn't have the open space that you can get in CT.

Coming from Westport, you're about 50 minutes to grand central, then another 20 minutes or so on the subway, iirc.

You can get a shorter commute in NJ, but you'll be further from family. Your price range gets you into the more expensive NJ communities, but remember - taxes are more, so overall costs can be higher.

In the end, it comes down to whats most important for you - the daily commute and how much you can take, proximity to family, proximity to the airport, etc.