Central Jersey-WhiteHouse station-Jersey city!!! (Newark, New Brunswick: places to live, malls, safe)

[catchgee]

Please Help!!!!
1st Question
We are a young couple in our late 20's .My husband will be working in Whitehouse station, Hunterdown county while I will be working in Exchange Place, Jersey city(Hudson County). I will be commuting to work by train while he will be taking the car to work.

I would appreciate if someone could recommend some good places to live in Central Jersey based on the following priorities

1. Preferabley not more than 25-30 minutes commute by train to Newark and 30-40 minutes drive to Whitehouse station.
2. Safe and affordable town (For instance, I am willing to pay around $800 for 1 bedroom apt)
3. Fun place with restaurents, malls and activities etc

2nd Question
Just out of curiosity how is Brigewater and New Brunswick in comparison to Plainfield?

Thanks.

[BobKovacs]

If you have kids, Plainfield and New Brunswick are pretty much out of the question.

Westfield/Fanwood/Scotch Plains would be a good place to start- the trains are 30 minutes +/- to Newark Penn Station, and the drive up 78 could be 40 minutes to White House. Bridgewater would be a shorter drive for him, but your train ride to Newark would be more like 45-50 minutes.

[JenniferBlanchard]

you might want to check out anything along the Rte 78 Corridor - the further west you go the closer your husband will be to work the closer east, the easier your commute. Bridgewater is great for getting to Whitehouse, not so terrific for getting to Newark but not out of the question. Basking Ridge, Berkeley Heights are good bets too. Good luck! PM me if you want more information.

[njmike]

I found Whitehouse Station and Bridgewater "too rural" for me. They are nice areas but a lot of farm land.