Are there any safe and nice areas of NJ? (Newark: rent, crime)

[Red Dove]

My son is keen on moving to New Jersey but I have qualms about it - Mainly the crime and many bad neighborhoods that I have been told about. However, there must be some good areas (?) Is south jersey nicer than North? What are the nice, decent, family areas? We would like to be somewhat near the shore though.

Thanks !

[Mattie]

Where have you been reading? Except for some inner city pockets, dangerous is not a word I would use to describe NJ. There are too many "nice, decent, family areas" to list. And, the beauty of it, is that you are never far from the beach. Even living in Sussex Cty I could be at Bradley Beach in an hour.

[Red Dove]

Mattie, thanks for the quick reply. My son visited NJ, his girl friend lives there and is looking forward to moving there. I am totally confused as to where to start looking. I am looking on Craigs list but since I have never been to NJ, have no idea of it!

What do you think of Tuckertown? Mays landing? Gosh! can't even figure out where to look!

[Mattie]

Sorry Red Dove, I can't help you out there. I'm a Bergen Cty and Sussex Cty girl!

[zhelder]

Originally Posted by Red Dove

My son is keen on moving to New Jersey but I have qualms about it - Mainly the crime and many bad neighborhoods that I have been told about. However, there must be some good areas (?) Is south jersey nicer than North? What are the nice, decent, family areas? We would like to be somewhat near the shore though.

Thanks !

Myth, rumors, and fallacies! Outside of a few really bad cities, there is very little crime in NJ. NJ is often ranked as the wealthiest state in the nation (and most likely the most expensive in terms of housing prices and taxes).

As for which part is nicer, most people would say the Northern part of the state is nicer (but it's also more expensive). The South is a bit more rural and spread out. Northern NJ is more like New England. Southern Jersey is more like Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and maybe even Northern Virginia.

As for nice decent family areas, there are plenty of them. I don't know a whole lot about Southern NJ, but I can tell you about a lot of the Northern areas. (Tuckerton and Mays Landing are both Southern NJ towns.)

What is your son looking to do, buy a house or rent? Is he single, or does he have a family? What's his budget? More info will get you more suggestions!

[Kiru]

Yea, I agree with the other poster. NJ is really not that bad, even in the inner cities. I'm white, female, young, and I was walking around central Newark on New Years Eve at 2 am. Talked to some strangers (looking for directions), everyone was perfectly nice. There is really no reason to fear. If you walk around all afraid you make yourself a mark. Walk with a purpose and you're fine. I'm so tired of these "NJ is so bad" issues. Sure, there is crime, but it's not that bad that you're going to be killed in the street (outside of gang wars of course). As long as you're not offensive most people will leave you alone.

The biggest concern I'd have for your son is finding something affordable.

South Jersey is cheaper and has more farmlands, isolated communities, etc. North Jersey is much more densely populated and more things to do in general but is more expensive. I think the people are nicer in South Jersey because there are fewer stressed NYC commuters. Of course you get the stressed PHL commuters but... in my experience South Jersey is nicer, people and landscape-wise. Fewer jobs though. All beach areas will be expensive. That's a given.

[jersey15]

Who have you been talking to about NJ?

All in all, NJ is very nice. Like every other state, there are some bad areas. There are plenty of 'nice, decent, family areas' in NJ especially near the shore.

[monack]

Where in NJ does his girlfriend live?

[JERSEY MAN]

Originally Posted by Red Dove

Mattie, thanks for the quick reply. My son visited NJ, his girl friend lives there and is looking forward to moving there. I am totally confused as to where to start looking. I am looking on Craigs list but since I have never been to NJ, have no idea of it!

What do you think of Tuckertown? Mays landing? Gosh! can't even figure out where to look!

You have to tell us where is he going to work or look to work, how much your looking to spend, rent or own, how far of a commute.

[Newarkbomb]

A lot of ppl who never been to jersey or had a bad experience acts as if NJ is a state full of crime, theres plenty of good places, more than bad places.

yes there is a lot of bad places in nj.
just look up all the worst jersey cities and cancel them out.
Newark, Camden, Paterson, Irviungton, East Orange, Orange.. those would be the top 6 to stay away from.

But i think Edison or Woodbridge would be a good choice. it's near the shore, an ok commut to nyc.