Where to move? Living in Maplewood now, working in Bergen (Teaneck: to rent, to buy)

[zemblabla]

My husband and I have been staying with family in Maplewood for the past year. I grew up in Maplewood/South Orange, and my husband is from the rural midwest. Maplewood is definitely too expensive for us to stay in once we move out (Looking to rent for now, spend < 1800/mo, eventually planning to buy). I love this area but my husband feels it's too dense and traffic is too bad. So my grand plan of moving to Bergen County has been nipped in the bud I work in Ridgewood, and he currently works in Central Jersey but is in the middle of a job hunt.

Where should we go? We don't have kids yet but they're on the horizon.

Some factors:
Decent schools (not top priority yet, but will be eventually)
Diversity a big plus
Less crazy than Essex County (if possible)
Conservative Jewish synagogue nearby a must
OK commute to Ridgewood (I'm currently traveling about 45 min each way, and that is manageable)
Downtown would be nice but not necessary
Property taxes not totally insane (planning on renting first so not immediate concern, but if we like the area we'll probably buy in the future)

So far, we've come up with Parsippany/Troy Hills, but there's no downtown to speak of. Cranford's a possibility, but not very diverse. Any other suggestions?

[ansky]

If your husband is in the middle of a job hunt wouldn't it make sense to just wait and see where he ends up before you buy a place?

[HudsonCoNJ]

Teaneck checks off most of your list

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by HudsonCoNJ

Teaneck checks off most of your list

This is a good suggestion even though it is Bergen County, but you are not going to avoid the traffic and density anywhere in northern New Jersey. I think your husband is going to have to accept that.

You might try Sussex County. My sister lives in Hamburg and commutes by car to Paramus, but you are not going to avoid traffic there, either.

Another suggestion is to cross the border and look at Rockland County towns. Ridgewood is only about 10 - 12 miles from the border.

[foodyum]

Norwood, northvale, closter, Harrington park. Not so conjested and a fairly calm environment. Conservative temple in closter.

[EdGuitar]

Sounds to me that traffic and property taxes are two monsters you won't be able to overcome. Having said that, there are plenty of other options that does not necessarily involves living in Bergen and Essex county. If you have considered Cranford, then there is a possibility that Metuchen and Highland Park may fit your budget and criteria. Central Jersey is not as over rated; property taxes are doable and in some instances commute is way better than any town in Bergen or Essex.

I live in Central Jersey and one of the reasons I chose Woodbridge is because I can easily expand my job search without having to worry about commute. In other words, I can search for jobs that entails to drive or take the NJT...just my 2 cents.