Best and Worst NJ county? (Newark, Elizabeth: lease, move, commuting)

[Miami305Kid]

I've lived in three, Essex, Middlesex, and Somerset.

Essex pros: Close to NYC, good Italian food
Essex cons: Close to Newark, racial divide between east and west

Middlesex pros: Close to the shore, was happiest there
Middlesex cons: none really

Somerset pros: Richest NJ county per capita
Somerset cons: Further from NYC and the shore

What's your favorite NJ country? Lease favorite?

[JerseyLover21]

My favorite county is by far Monmouth County...I grew up there so it may be a sense of nostalgia, but I just think it's a really great county. Aside from places like Asbury Park and Keansburg, most of the towns are all very nice, and it contains IMO some of the nicest towns in all of NJ - Holmdel, Marlboro, Rumson, Colts Neck, and Manalapan. Plus, it's close to everything - right next to the shore and not far from NYC and Philly. I also like how, although there are a lot of people living there, it still manages to have a lot of open space and maintain a "rural suburb" character. I live in Middlesex County now, and although I love the town I'm in (Metuchen) and I think the county is nice as a whole, it's becoming more and more crowded each year.

The worst county? I've never been a fan of Cumberland County...just isn't much there.

[MMTeacher]

I don't know about the worst because I haven't been to most counties yet.

The best I have found so far is where I live : Monmouth County.

I love the open space and convenience to the shore, north Jersey, etc.
I used to live in Union County but have not been this happy until I moved here. This is affordable, calm and the people are so friendly. I just hope it doesn't change.

M

[SeaGirtBeachBum]

Monmouth County is the best county, and southern Monmouth County is one of the best places in the country to live. You have farms, the shore, open space, a ferry that goes to NYC and northern NJ and you are near great beaches--Spring Lake, Sea Girt, Manasquan, Belmar, Point Pleasant, and Bay Head. You also have great schools and lower taxes. Bergen County is the worst. High taxes, horrible schools, corrupt liberal politicians that raise your taxes over and over, and bad neighborhoods like Hasckensack,Lodi, and Garfield.

[Giantone]

Best hard to pick,

Tie...Monmouth and Essex

[desertsun41]

I spent 38 years in Middlesex, Morris and Somerset but I did get around. With that I will vote a tie for the best with Monmouth, Sussex and Ocean. Even Atlantic still has lots of shoreline and some nice shore towns.

Sussex has so many lakes and I might just lean on it as my favorite. High Point St Pk is such a nice area.

The worst? Anything near that cesspool NYC. Those counties that are so jamb packed with people. Those counties that Hagstrom Maps cant even print the street name on the street but instead put a number which you have to go to the legend to locate your street. Bergen, Hudson, Essex and even Union.

The dumpiest? Union.

The one you feel most like your not in NJ anymore? Hunterdon. Some of Warren too, especially way west Warren is real nice.

The only one I know nothing about? Salem. Who goes out that direction anyway?

[anotherarmywife]

I have lived in Sussex county- Sparta and now Wantage and I have to vote for Sussex as being a beautiful place. Lakes, miles of farmland and rolling fields, woodsy and wildlife aplenty.

[MMTeacher]

Don't get me wrong- Union County is not bad- depends on where you live.
Union has towns like: Kenilworth, Cranford, Scotch Plains and Westfield (one of the best towns in the country).
But, I wasn't fortunate to have the money to live in either of these so I can't say from experience. If you can afford any of these town then you would be really happy there.

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

Union County isn't just Elizabeth. It has Cranford, Westfield, Springfield, Mountainside, New Providence and Summit. Towns that most of the people posting here will never afford to live in. So please, stop with all the hate on Union County to justify the fact that you can't afford to live here. Western Union County is better than anyplace in Middlesex and Monmouth counties (with the possible exception of Rumson and Spring Lake).

Middlesex County: White trash galore.

Monmouth County: Transplanted Brooklynites and people who are now commuting an hour longer because they can't afford to live closer to NYC.

Western Union County: If you don't live in Rumson or Spring Lake, please don't criticize because Cranford, Westfield, Springfield, Mountainside, New Providence and Summit is likely better than any town you live in.

[johnfrisco]

Warrren
Sussex
Hunterdon