Any thoughts on Union Township?

[TylerJAX]

It's one of those towns whose future is up in the air right now imo. The main problem with the town is its high school. I suspect that a lot of kids from Irvington are going there "illegally" and they're bringing a lot of baggage with them.

[E-TOWN-R.I.P.]

Originally Posted by TylerJAX

It's one of those towns whose future is up in the air right now imo. The main problem with the town is its high school. I suspect that a lot of kids from Irvington are going there "illegally" and they're bringing a lot of baggage with them.

I agree, I also think Union’s on a downslide. It hasn’t fallen as far as, say, a West Orange, but it was never an elite town like West Orange once was. Nor has it declined as dramatically as Elizabeth, Linden, or some of its other Union County neighbors, but it’s definitely not the town it was a decade or so back. Bad schools, worse traffic, the Irvington element and a smattering of illegals has changed Union from a suburb to simply a middle class town.

[Busch Boy]

Originally Posted by E-TOWN-R.I.P.

I agree, I also think Union’s on a downslide. It hasn’t fallen as far as, say, a West Orange, but it was never an elite town like West Orange once was. Nor has it declined as dramatically as Elizabeth, Linden, or some of its other Union County neighbors, but it’s definitely not the town it was a decade or so back. Bad schools, worse traffic, the Irvington element and a smattering of illegals has changed Union from a suburb to simply a middle class town.

My friend (who lives in Union) told me that the part of town close to Irvington is bad and that she lives in the best part of town (the part that borders Springfield). I haven't paid her a visit yet, so I haven't had a chance to see her part of town for myself. I have visited other parts of Union and it seemed like an ordinary middle class/blue-collar suburb to me.

Also, most of West Orange is still good. Another one of my good friends lives on the west side of town (by Livingston and Millburn) and it's very nice.

[surfnbklyn]

Originally Posted by njmomto2

Well I lived in Irvington until 6th grade when we moved to Union, so Union is a step up from Irvington, Newark, East Orange, and Elizabeth but not that big of a step up!

It's a huge step up from the towns you mentioned. Union has deep pride in the look of our town. I feel completely safe in this town and have no fear at night. Yes, it is a crowded town but the average lot size is not that bad. The streets are not crowded with cars parking on the block. Yes, Morris Avenue is hectic but it is hectic from Springfield (Main Street) all the way into Elizabeth. By the way it was recently voted 22nd safest place in the U.S.

[E-TOWN-R.I.P.]

Originally Posted by Busch Boy

My friend (who lives in Union) told me that the part of town close to Irvington is bad and that she lives in the best part of town (the part that borders Springfield). I haven't paid her a visit yet, so I haven't had a chance to see her part of town for myself. I have visited other parts of Union and it seemed like an ordinary middle class/blue-collar suburb to me.

Also, most of West Orange is still good. Another one of my good friends lives on the west side of town (by Livingston and Millburn) and it's very nice.

Yeah, well she lives in the best section of West Orange. The rest, while still good, has declined rapidly. Insane property taxes, bad schools, and an influx of illegals has turned West Orange into a suburb when it was once an elite town. If this trend continues, soon it will decline to simply middle class status (which many sections are already).