Top 10 Towns to Raise a Family in NJ

[frankgn87]

why south Jersey?
*lower taxes
*way less traffic
*cheaper homes
*beautiful areas

Thats why

check into Delran, Delanco, Cinnaminson, Maple Shade, Riverton for nice homes, fair prices, good schools and fair taxes

Originally Posted by APischel

Why south jersey? I am hearing how nice these towns are in north jersey like Madison. If there was a non ghetto suburb of hoboken i'd be happy. I mean Holmdel NJ is really nice but you cant get a decent house, and keep up with the money already there..

[Matthew in Jersey]

Here's the ULTIMATE DELIMA - In picking a town, it seems you have to sacrifice for your children. Meaning:

If, as an adult, you choose culture, attractive neighborhoods, "prestige" (or even grit and characters), your children will likely grow up in a less friendly setting - a place with entitled kids, the rat-race, and all-around Gatsby-like values.

If you (rightly) desire a kinder, relatively innocent, down-to-earth, more open-space environment for your children, then you as an adult have to adjust to a slower, maybe less-stimulating home address.

Ultimately, you have to do what you think is best for your children. It just seems in Jersey doing so contradicts grown-up tastes.

A college roommate living in Greensboro the past 15 years says his city has that elusive blend of friendliness and culture ... but I'm leary when SO MANY people seem to project a modern-day Shangri-La onto North Carolina ... is it possible?

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

Moorestown is easily in the Top 10 in NJ.

I agree and so is Haddonfield.

[Garfila]

Yes, you left out Logan Twp, NJ 08085

[Garfila]

South Jersey has it all like the previous entry states. From the quite town of Swedesboro/Logan Twp-Philly's 20min away, Del Mem Bridge is 15min & the Jersey shore is a little over an hour.

[Collegeguy12]

I love North Jersey...when you look at what is good for your kids you have to go with North Jersey because of the superior school districts...Northern Bergen, Morris, Somerset, parts of Essex and Union have the majority of the BEST schools in NJ.

A couple towns I think fit the bill are:

Westwood (Bergen County)-good schools, small neighborhoods that are mostly within walking distance of a great downtown, great commuting location and most houses have not been turned into mcmansions...and there is a decent mix of white/blue collar people with more racial diversity than most of Bergen County. The people are generally down to earth.

Hillsdale (Bergen)-pretty much everything I said about Westwood with the exception of the diversity...great schools and people.

Ho Ho Kus in Bergen County is my favorite town though...there is just something about it that I love...and a lot of people I meet seem to feel the same way about the town.

[Amazonas]

In no particular order:

Metuchen
Cranbury
Caldwell
Roseland
Chatham
Cranford
Westfield
Marlboro
Dumont
Bridgewater
East Millstone