Matawan/Aberdeen (Bloomfield: homes, purchase, public school)

[SarahLuke]

Hi, we are considering relocating to Matawan area from Bloomfield. We have been looking for a home in our area and have not had much luck in our price range, not to mention the taxes. A friend of my husband's suggested Matawan. Please tell me anything about the town. We have two small children and we are looking to purchase our first home. What are home prices like? The taxes? Schools any good? Is it is a nice town to raise a family? My husband works in Manhattan- how is the commute? And anything else you'd like to add. Or if you can suggest another area to look. Thanks!

[bobbagels]

Hi,

I live in Matawan. I'm here now for 4-5 years.

Its a great place as long as your not in the heart of town.(in my opinion)

The train to the city is fast, so thats no problem.

Schools are so so. (public school that is)

I think the taxes are high, but who dosent in NJ? LOL

If you really want to know more in depth you could call me.
646-773-7718

[lets_hope_for_newbruns]

where is heart of the town?


I thought Aberdeen has more expensive homes in averge than Matawan.

[jersey15]

For the most part, Matawan/Aberdeen is a nice town. It has a few sections that aren't so nice though. Home prices are affordable. Much cheaper than the some of the surrounding towns like Holmdel and Marlboro. The schools are middle of the pack NJ schools. Certainly not the best, but not the worst either. It has a little downtown area that they've been talking about redeveloping for years, but it just hasn't happened yet. The area around the train station is supposed to be fixed up as well, but nothing has been done yet. I think Matawan has the potential to be a nice little downtown with it's location and train station. Whether or not it ever happens, we'll see.

The train ride to NYC is probably 45 minutes if you catch the express train. Not a bad ride at all. It's the north jersey coast line train that goes all the way down the shore. Matawan is in a great spot because it's often the first stop on the ride home from NYC.

[MPBsr]

What's your price range and what type of home are you looking for?

[SarahLuke]

We need at least a 3 bedroom and our price range is somewhere in the 200,000's. Taxes really determine a lot with this. What ARE taxes like? Here in Bloomfield- in the "nice" areas, you're looking at 8-10,000. So it sounds like downtown is not so hot?

[Thosepeskyfacts]

Originally Posted by jersey15

The train ride to NYC is probably 45 minutes if you catch the express train. Not a bad ride at all. It's the north jersey coast line train that goes all the way down the shore. Matawan is in a great spot because it's often the first stop on the ride home from NYC.

I hate to do this again but the ride is NOT 45 minutes. No way, no how. Check njtransit.com if you don't believe me. There is one rush hour train that is 54 minutes and one that is 56..the rest are all 59 or more. Non-rush hour trains are typically a 70-minute ride to New York Penn.

Then you need to factor in time to get to the trains staiton and park and then on the other end get from Penn Station to your office. Figure on at least a solid 90 minutes commute if all goes well and your office isn't too far from 33rd St and 7th/8th Avenue.

Sorry to sound like a broken record but it's HIGHLY misleading to think that if you live in or near the Matawan train stationthat you're going to be logging onto your computer in Manhattan 45 minutes later.

[MPBsr]

Originally Posted by SarahLuke

We need at least a 3 bedroom and our price range is somewhere in the 200,000's. Taxes really determine a lot with this. What ARE taxes like? Here in Bloomfield- in the "nice" areas, you're looking at 8-10,000. So it sounds like downtown is not so hot?

You're not going to find anything decent for that price in Matawan/Aberdeen.

[SarahLuke]

You can't find anything decent in Matawan for under $300,000.00? Be brutally honest.

[jersey15]

[quote=Thosepeskyfacts;7610018]I hate to do this again but the ride is NOT 45 minutes. No way, no how. Check njtransit.com if you don't believe me. There is one rush hour train that is 54 minutes and one that is 56..the rest are all 59 or more. Non-rush hour trains are typically a 70-minute ride to New York Penn.


Oh sorry. I was 9 minutes off! I'll check the schedule next time and get the exact number of minutes!