Mountainside or South Side of Westfield (Scotch Plains, Cranford: sales, new house, neighbourhoods)

[aashna]

We have been looking for homes for a while now and are having trouble deciding.
1. Our budget is ~1.2 mil.
2. We want new construction (had a historic home for a while, been there, done that)
3. We have a 2 year old, so need a town/neighbourhoods that are family oriented.
4. We would like our child to go to public school system.
5. For the same price we can get a new house in a cul de sac in Mountainside vs. a new house in the south side of Westfield. The homes are comparable, but the westfield home is clearly a tear down so sticks out like a sore thumb on the street....with a few more around there.

We are leaning towards Mountainside. Any advice on resale value of homes, school systems, people perceptions etc. would be appreciated.

[Sergio M]

Mountainside taxes are *low*, sales there have been slow though. Try looking into Cranford if that is an option. There are a few good deals out there and you'll get more house for your money.

[DebsPSU]

What about Scotch Plains, next door to Mountainside?

[aashna]

Well, we are really down to two homes. One is in Mountainside in a cul de sac and the other on the south side of Westfield. We like mountainside, but can't grapple around the school system. The high school is shared with Berkeley heights, and we know its good. But very little information is around for the elementary and middle school systems. Any thoughts?

On rankings and scores, the schools on the south side of Westfield are worst or at par with the mountainside schools (of course, relatively, they are all good). Any thoughts?

[mczabe]

I honestly think that you can't go wrong either place. Pick the house you like better.