Place to live in/near New Brunswick for person in 20s (Somerset: section 8, apartment complexes)

[khat08]

I am getting a job offer with a company in the hillsborough area. I am looking for apartments and/or townhouses to rent in the area. I am a female in my 20s. I was looking into New Brunswick, but was curious as to other areas to look as well. I am willing to commute to live in the right neighborhood.

What are good cities to look at? If New Brunswick would fit, what areas are good to live in, and what areas should I stay away from? I am moving from another state, so I know little about the area and conditions.

Please help and thanks in advance!!

[gradstudent77]

Live in downtown new brunswick or somewhere in the square created by college ave., huntington st, easton ave., and somerset st. You will get a on-street parking pass, so you will be able to use your car to get to work. Parking is tough, but not that bad. If you live in the square I described, you will live in the midst of all the undergrads from RU. If you live downtown, you will live among a more mature crowd. Either way, you will be able to walk to anything social at night you'd like to do safely. You would also be within easy walking distance to the train station. I wish I still lived down there.

[mnmel]

I'd suggest staying out of New Brunswick and looking more at the Bridgewater area. I live on the edge of Bridgewater and Bound Brook and really like it (also in my 20s). I work at Rutgers find New Brunswick to be very very dirty - at least around campus, the frats and sororities don't seem to know how to pick up trash, so there is litter everywhere.

[sar84]

Check craiglist, you will find many offers from New Brunswick.

[SweepTheLeg]

If you are working in Hillsborough, STAY OUT OF NEW BRUNSWICK. It is still a college town and not an area for a young professional, unless you're staying one of the super-luxe apartment complexes.

My wife and I tried living in New Brunswick and we still had to deal with college parties, townies, etc.

I would look into Hillsborough itself, Bridgewater, North Brunswick, or South Brunswick.

New Brunswick is a good place to socialize but not a nice place to live unless you've got money to throw around.

[gradstudent77]

Originally Posted by SweepTheLeg

If you are working in Hillsborough, STAY OUT OF NEW BRUNSWICK. It is still a college town and not an area for a young professional, unless you're staying one of the super-luxe apartment complexes.

My wife and I tried living in New Brunswick and we still had to deal with college parties, townies, etc.

I would look into Hillsborough itself, Bridgewater, North Brunswick, or South Brunswick.

New Brunswick is a good place to socialize but not a nice place to live unless you've got money to throw around.

Well, some young professionals would enjoy being near the college parties and whatnot.

[SweepTheLeg]

Originally Posted by gradstudent77

Well, some young professionals would enjoy being near the college parties and whatnot.

If you're out of college and still going back to college parties, that's kind of... wrong.

[JerseyG]

Try looking in Hillsborough. The place is flooded with rentals. Stay away from New Brunswick. NB has college kids all over the place if you are anywhere near College Ave...if you go a few streets away from College Ave (or Easton) you'll have to deal with people who don't understand English and have 10 kids and 20 aunts and unlces living in a 3 bedroom. If you go further away from the heart of campus you may as well get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. You'll need it. What used to be a solid college rental town is now mixed with section 8's living next to a house full of RU students...not a great mix. Especially not for a professional who doesn't need to re-live "ladies night" every night. You might get lucky, but why take the chance. Look in Hillsborough or B-Water or even Somerset.

And I say this as a landlord of several properties in New Brunswick.

Good Luck!

[SweepTheLeg]

Originally Posted by gradstudent77

Well, some young professionals would enjoy being near the college parties and whatnot.

And to follow up on this, I can just tell you how much my wife enjoyed:


1) People screaming in the middle of the night - and this was a usual occurence
2) Her car being vandalized (mirror taken off)
3) MY car being vadalized (keyed)
4) Our lawn furnture being stolen from our backyard
5) Home invasion sexual assaults in the neighborhood
6) Salsa music being blared by the downstairs neighbor at 4am in the morning.

(And we were living in that "square" you had mentioned in your post)


Downtown New Brunswick is a vibrant, social place to visit, with great restaurants and culture. But the Church Street and Ferren Decks are there for a purpose.

I lived there for a year. My wife lived there since being a freshman at Rutgers. We were both thankful to get out.

[SweepTheLeg]

Originally Posted by JerseyG

Try looking in Hillsborough. The place is flooded with rentals. Stay away from New Brunswick. NB has college kids all over the place if you are anywhere near College Ave...if you go a few streets away from College Ave (or Easton) you'll have to deal with people who don't understand English and have 10 kids and 20 aunts and unlces living in a 3 bedroom. If you go further away from the heart of campus you may as well get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. You'll need it. What used to be a solid college rental town is now mixed with section 8's living next to a house full of RU students...not a great mix. Especially not for a professional who doesn't need to re-live "ladies night" every night. You might get lucky, but why take the chance. Look in Hillsborough or B-Water or even Somerset.

And I say this as a landlord of several properties in New Brunswick.

Good Luck!

Quoted for unbelievable, unquestionable, 100% truth.