Bronx to Jersey (Jersey City, Linden, Montclair: condo, home, neighborhood)

[brainburst]

I'm spoiled, I admit it. I live in the North West Bronx on the border of Kingsbridge and Riverdale, just 1 block south of Van Cortlandt Park. Believe it or not this is the greenest part of the city (look at the NW bronx on Google maps)

We'd love to buy a home in this area but can't afford it (prices for a decent place start @ 650k)
Is there an equivalent place in any part of Jersey that has all of the following?:

Walking distance to lots of greenspace:
Walking distance to great Restaurants (3 decent Japanese restaurants, Thai, Chinese, great steakhouse, very good Mexican of course Italian.)
Walking distance to Live music
Cultural options not too far away. (Here we've got Bronx Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Wave hill museums etc.)
Lots of public transport options.
Lower crime.
Genuinely diverse but not impoverished.
Not boring.
Walkable. We don't want to depend on a car.

If so, let me know where it is. If not...how do you people live?

[Alex07860]

Would you like fries w/ that too?

[dhanu86]

almost, what if there's only 2 japanese restaurants walking distance and no greenspace?

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by brainburst

I'm spoiled, I admit it. I live in the North West Bronx on the border of Kingsbridge and Riverdale, just 1 block south of Van Cortlandt Park. Believe it or not this is the greenest part of the city (look at the NW bronx on Google maps)

We'd love to buy a home in this area but can't afford it (prices for a decent place start @ 650k)
Is there an equivalent place in any part of Jersey that has all of the following?:

Walking distance to lots of greenspace:
Walking distance to great Restaurants (3 decent Japanese restaurants, Thai, Chinese, great steakhouse, very good Mexican of course Italian.)
Walking distance to Live music
Cultural options not too far away. (Here we've got Bronx Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Wave hill museums etc.)
Lots of public transport options.
Lower crime.
Genuinely diverse but not impoverished.
Not boring.
Walkable. We don't want to depend on a car.

If so, let me know where it is. If not...how do you people live?

Hoboken or Montclair come to mind... Hoboken is probably just as expensive as the Bronx though.

[jenn76]

There is no place like that, especially if your budget is less than $650k.

[Liz555]

Maybe Morristown. They have just about everything you want right in the town BUT it's on a MUCH smaller scale than what you're use to. There are hiking paths (Patriots Path) parks, restaurants, a Performing Arts Theatre, stores, Public Trans. Most of the town is pretty safe, only one "shady" area I'd say (please correct me if I'm wrong) & culturally diverse...PLUS, if you ever do get a car, the surrounding towns have MANY beautiful parks & wide open spaces. Not far is a botanical garden on the border of Morristown & Cedar Knolls I believe. There are TONS of farmers markets which have petting zoo's attached (you'd have to go to Turtle Back Zoo for more than that which you'd need a car to get to) in the general area... if you'd like more info pm me

[brainburst]

I didn't mean literally 3 decent Japanese restaurants etc, but good eats y' know?
In other words:

Is there any place in Jersey where we won't feel trapped without a car?
Where we will be within walking distance to trees, eats, arts? (Or within short walking distance to a short ride on public transportation to get us there.)
Lower crime, Low to moderate taxes
Commuting distance within 1.5 hours door to door to NYC?
Affordable? $350-400K

Thanks for previous suggestions. I'll be sure to check them out!

[BrianG]

Check out Rahway
It is only 4.1 miles total so you can walk anywhere
There is a lot going on downtown you can
read about on the attached links

Rahway is also a Tree city usa town
You have Milton Lake and Rahway river park
We are bordered by Linden,Clark,Carteret and Woodbridge

Rahway Rising: Cuppy's is coming, Cuppy's is coming

Rahway New Jersey Home Page

[tommyc_37]

Brainburst, check out Hoboken and Historic Downtown Jersey City. You can't buy a full brownstone for $650k, but you can buy a sizeable 2-bedroom condo in a nice brownstone neighborhood. No need for a vehicle whatsoever, and you have 24 hour access to Manhattan. In fact, Manhattan from Hoboken/JC via the PATH is much more accessible than your current neighborhood.

If you want something a bit more suburban...check out Ridgewood, in Bergen County.

[judithexit]

[quote=brainburst;4220617]I'm spoiled, I admit it. I live in the North West Bronx on the border of Kingsbridge and Riverdale, just 1 block south of Van Cortlandt Park. Believe it or not this is the greenest part of the city (look at the NW bronx on Google maps)

We'd love to buy a home in this area but can't afford it (prices for a decent place start @ 650k)
Is there an equivalent place in any part of Jersey that has all of the following?:

Walking distance to lots of greenspace:
Walking distance to great Restaurants (3 decent Japanese restaurants, Thai, Chinese, great steakhouse, very good Mexican of course Italian.)
Walking distance to Live music
Cultural options not too far away. (Here we've got Bronx Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Wave hill museums etc.)
Lots of public transport options.
Lower crime.
Genuinely diverse but not impoverished.
Not boring.
Walkable. We don't want to depend on a car.

If so, let me know where it is. If not...how do you people live? [/quo
I think downtown woodbridge is good it has thai,chinese,Italian, transportation