What the heck is so great about Montclair? (private school, taxes)
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We all loved Montclair in the '50s and '60s. My childhood homes' taxes there pull in $22k and $36k today.
With those taxes today - during blizzards - many side streets go unplowed.
And almost every day, residents see people stroll up their driveways in broad daylight, trying the car door handles. Then, if locked, a quick jaunt back down to a waiting vehicle and speed away.
Am I thinking of moving back ? Nope - NEVER.
Montclair has a serious car theft issue that seems only to be getting worse.
Much like Manhattan, Staten Island, and other close areas it is proximity to Port Newark that is behind huge amounts of these car thefts, especially high end luxury. Things are stolen, taken down to port, packed into shipping container and that's that.
There is growing awareness this national problem needs more federal assistance.
It would also help if people stopped leaving doors to their homes unlocked and keys inside motor vehicles.
The schools are also bad in comparison to other towns. The people with means in the town are sending their kids to private schools, which also hurting their schools records.
Sure there are some old nice homes, with great Manhattan views in Montclair but its for the wealthy only. Montclair has been living on New York Times hype for a few decades now, and its one of the few town New Yorkers looking to move into the Suburbs have some name recognition with. I can't imagine many native people from NJ moving to Montclair.
The schools are also bad in comparison to other towns. The people with means in the town are sending their kids to private schools, which also hurting their schools records.
Sure there are some old nice homes, with great Manhattan views in Montclair but its for the wealthy only. Montclair has been living on New York Times hype for a few decades now, and its one of the few town New Yorkers looking to move into the Suburbs have some name recognition with. I can't imagine many native people from NJ moving to Montclair.
This really only applies to a certain demographic of New Yorkers; largely white but some minorities but always liberal progressive (with a bit of socialist) democrats.
Montclair has long had nickname "Park Slope West". That should tell you something...
For certain New Yorkers; largely from Manhattan (UWS, UES, Tribeca, Soho, West Village, Chelsea), Brooklyn (Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, and other close areas), Montclair, NJ ticks all right boxes. It has to their mind perfect blend of suburban and urban sensibilities.
Know of at least two gay couples who moved to Montclair from UES of Manhattan before their children began school. They wanted the space and everything else that comes with living in suburbs, but also wanted "inclusion" and "diversity" especially in schools and other things for their kids. They did not want their children growing up in a "white privilege" environment be that middle class or above. There are only a few places in NJ that have same sort of LGBT/race/socio-economic/creed, etc... inclusion as Montclair.
Montclair's relatively easy and fast access to Manhattan (via car or public transportation) helps seal the deal.
This really only applies to a certain demographic of New Yorkers; largely white but some minorities but always liberal progressive (with a bit of socialist) democrats.
Montclair has long had nickname "Park Slope West". That should tell you something...
For certain New Yorkers; largely from Manhattan (UWS, UES, Tribeca, Soho, West Village, Chelsea), Brooklyn (Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, and other close areas), Montclair, NJ ticks all right boxes. It has to their mind perfect blend of suburban and urban sensibilities.
Know of at least two gay couples who moved to Montclair from UES of Manhattan before their children began school. They wanted the space and everything else that comes with living in suburbs, but also wanted "inclusion" and "diversity" especially in schools and other things for their kids. They did not want their children growing up in a "white privilege" environment be that middle class or above. There are only a few places in NJ that have same sort of LGBT/race/socio-economic/creed, etc... inclusion as Montclair.
Montclair's relatively easy and fast access to Manhattan (via car or public transportation) helps seal the deal.
Maybe it does and youre right, its the super elite white liberals they advertise too. The thing that upsets me with Montclair is the Congressional redistricting that happened a few years ago. District 11 which has always been Red and covers Morris County, and parts of Sussex and the rural parts of Passaic made a line and a far reach all the way out to cover Montclair (its strange reach on the map). They were able to flip the Congressional seat this way. Theres the reason the NYT and other groups are pushing certain groups to move there.
Morristown and Ridgewood are the only northern NJ towns I’ve been to that have a similar vibe to Montclair. Can’t comment on the taxes because these places have always been too expensive for me to take a serious look at.
There are quite a few other NJ towns with vibrant downtowns. They do have slightly different vibes but Morristown, Rutherford, New Brunswick, Glen Rock are also nice to visit. There are also a few shore towns but I am not familiar with them...
Lovely nearby Essex Fells might be said to have a similar vibrant downtown, but it doesn't even have a downtown.
Roseland Ave has some beautiful homes to drive through in Essex Fells which is kind of like a downtown but for homes. Caldwell has a nice downtown (wouldn't necessarily recommend going out of your way to visit) but its practically connected to Essex Fells.
There are quite a few other NJ towns with vibrant downtowns. They do have slightly different vibes but Morristown, Rutherford, New Brunswick, Glen Rock are also nice to visit. There are also a few shore towns but I am not familiar with them...
Rutherford and Glen Rock, while nice, are much smaller than the three I mentioned. I’m not really familiar with New Brunswick
Morristown and Ridgewood are the only northern NJ towns I’ve been to that have a similar vibe to Montclair. Can’t comment on the taxes because these places have always been too expensive for me to take a serious look at.
I worked there many years ago, first time I ever heard "organic" was there in early 90's.
Last edited by masterchef1; 07-13-2023 at 07:16 AM..
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- during blizzards - many side streets go unplowed. 
which is kind of like a downtown but for homes. Caldwell has a nice downtown (wouldn't necessarily recommend going out of your way to visit) but its practically connected to Essex Fells.
