Moving to Monmouth? (Freehold, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands: best cities, homes, buy)

[spunker72]

We are considering a move to NJ and from our research, we like Monmouth County (especially Howell, since it made the 'Best Cities to Live in' list).
We are going to visit the area in June, can anyone give me ideas and feedback of what you think the best towns to live in are within the county in terms of friendliness, safety, and a great quality of life?

We are professionals in our late 30's with no kids yet and hope to spend somewhere in the 300-400K's for a home.

I appreciate everyone's help!!!!

[Ms.Charlotte]

Are you going to be commuting to NYC? Also, what is important to you? Do you like downtown living, being close to the beach, rural communities....?

Howell is a very nice town and a great place to raise a family if and when you decide to do so. It is not a good commute to NYC, though.

[spunker72]

We are not going to be commuting to NY.

I think that being close to beaches is a big factor in choosing Southern Jersey. But most of all, we're looking to live in a town where people know one another and help each other out. I enjoy where we live now, but it is too big of a city, we are searching for a place with a small town atmosphere.

[Ms.Charlotte]

Well, if commuting is not an issue, and you want to be relatively close to the beach, there are a lot of nice towns to choose from. Howell and Freehold Twp. are great places to live, but not so much a "small town feel".
Smaller communities in Western Monmouth County that I can think of right off the bat are Allentown and Farmingdale. If you are considering Eastern Monmouth, most of the shore and surrounding towns have pretty tight-knit communities.

[novillero]

Yes, not too many small-towns. I agree that Howell will not give you that small time feel. Many Monmouth County towns just don't have a downtown area.

I love Allentown, but if you are thinking beach... you are at the extreme end of Monmouth county (but then again, just off 195 so it's an easy commute to the beach)

One small-town off that list is Freehold Boro will, not the township. Freehold has a nice downtown area, has the atmosphere you mentioned and you can buy a lovely home in that price range. The downside is that most people talk down about Freehold Borough and the use the example of the day-labor community to hit their point home. Personally, I live in Freehold Borough and have children here. I live on a neighborly street, and the town has 11,000 people, but still has that small town feel.

Regardless, you need to visit the towns though. My suggestion is to get a realtor - and have that realtor provide you with a list of homes that fit your criteria and just spend a weekend traveling around. You'll get to learn a lot about the different areas that way.

As to the shore towns... I don't think you are going to get what you want, at least in that price range you mentioned.

Good luck.

[VeradoDan]

Originally Posted by spunker72

We are not going to be commuting to NY.

I think that being close to beaches is a big factor in choosing Southern Jersey. But most of all, we're looking to live in a town where people know one another and help each other out. I enjoy where we live now, but it is too big of a city, we are searching for a place with a small town atmosphere.

How about Pt. Pleasant or Pt. Pleasant Beach? Smaller towns than Howell, closer to the beach and a more tightly-knit community in general than most of the other towns in the area. Both are known to have very good schools.

[Ms.Charlotte]

If you want to stick to Monmouth County, you can also check out Atlantic Highlands. It's definitley "Small Town, USA" and you are right at the beach.
Good luck!

[spunker72]

Thanks to everyone who commented! I've got the map out right now and am checking out the towns you mentioned.