Hopatcong (Paterson, Wayne, Morristown: houses, elementary schools, live)

[cnahstoll]

I am getting ready to move to New Jersey and will be working in Wayne. I have been doing some househunting on the internet and most of the houses that I have found that my wife and I like are in the Hopatcong area. Just wanted to get some opinions of the area and about the drive to Wayne for work each day. Also wondering about pre-K schools and elementary schools. thanks for any help.

[sues1]

I lived in Hopatcong 20 yrs ago, and i still go back there every now and then, i liked it, it was getting crowded when i left and the houses there are small, alot of them used to be bungalows when people came up from the city for the summer. My boys went to Durban ave elementary school and it was pretty decent then.

[proboscis]

traffic is tough, there is pretty much only one way out of the town.

[cnahstoll]

Yeah I figured I would have to hop on I-80 to head towards Wayne, just wondering what the average morning drive would be. Thanks for the info so far.

[Marc Paolella]

Figure 1 hour to Wayne from Hopatcong if you leave anytime from 6:45 to 8:30. If you can leave at 6:15 or earlier, you'll breeze in in about 30 minutes. It seems that 6:15 is the magic number for the Roxbury exits. Before that you cruise, after that you crawl.

-Marc

[Obrero]

Schools in Hopatcong are very weak. I would suggest looking elsewhere if schools are a priority for you....a nearby suggestion would be Byram.

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by Marc Paolella

Figure 1 hour to Wayne from Hopatcong if you leave anytime from 6:45 to 8:30. If you can leave at 6:15 or earlier, you'll breeze in in about 30 minutes. It seems that 6:15 is the magic number for the Roxbury exits. Before that you cruise, after that you crawl.

-Marc

I think that's a little extreme - if you leave 7:30 on, yes, I'd agree. We live about 20 minutes west of Hopatcong and my husband works in Paterson, he leaves at 6:30am (about a 10-15 drive TO 80) and it takes him an hour. Recently, it's only been about 45 minutes.

[Calico696]

Originally Posted by tahiti

I think that's a little extreme - if you leave 7:30 on, yes, I'd agree. We live about 20 minutes west of Hopatcong and my husband works in Paterson, he leaves at 6:30am (about a 10-15 drive TO 80) and it takes him an hour. Recently, it's only been about 45 minutes.

Wow lucky for him. It used to take me at least an hour to get from Hackettstown to Morristown leaving at 6:30.

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by Calico696

Wow lucky for him. It used to take me at least an hour to get from Hackettstown to Morristown leaving at 6:30.

do you take 24 or 80/287? on 80, the worst part is until rockaway, then it clears up.

[Marc Paolella]

Originally Posted by tahiti

do you take 24 or 80/287? on 80, the worst part is until rockaway, then it clears up.

It doesn't clear up past Rockaway. Denville and Parsippany are a guaranteed migraine. Once you are past Parsippany, it does clear up.