Rutherford: Unbeatable Choice For Middle Class Families Working In NYC? (Fair Lawn: middle-class, 2009)

[hitmantb]

Approximately 1 hour to both Midtown Manhattan and Wall Street, that is door-to-door. Family time itself is a luxury, more important than having a Starbucks or Barnes & Nobles within walking distance IMO. I am not aware of any other town with equal schools that gives you that kind of commute. 9 out of 10 middle/high school according to Greatschools.net. 7 out of 10 for elemental schools.

Has enough Asian/Black/Hispanic to keep things diversified, while maintaining white as the dominant color.

Nice clean tree lined blocks, a decent downtown.

A ton of 3 bedroom houses under 500K, perfect for middle class families.

And according to CNN Money, a good town for rich singles too:

Best places for the rich and single - Rutherford, NJ (22) - Money Magazine

Can any other town beat the overall package?

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by hitmantb

A ton of 3 bedroom houses under 500K, perfect for middle class families.

Huh?? When did "middle-class families" suddenly become capable of purchasing a $500k house?? Maybe a few years ago when they'd write a mortgage to anyone with a pulse (and probably some folks without one), but not today....

[Dingo99]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

Huh?? When did "middle-class families" suddenly become capable of purchasing a $500k house?? Maybe a few years ago when they'd write a mortgage to anyone with a pulse (and probably some folks without one), but not today....

I agree.

middle class people can only afford around $350,000 now. for a middle class family of 4

[hitmantb]

There are plenty of starting houses under 400K in Rutherford as well. And a 500K house should be 400K a year or so from now anyhow.

Like I said name one other town that offers good schools, great commute and three bedroom houses (heck even condos) under 500K?

[zhelder]

Originally Posted by hitmantb

There are plenty of starting houses under 400K in Rutherford as well. And a 500K house should be 400K a year or so from now anyhow.

Like I said name one other town that offers good schools, great commute and three bedroom houses (heck even condos) under 500K?

Fair Lawn.

[The Michigan Man]

Originally Posted by Dingo99

I agree.

middle class people can only afford around $350,000 now. for a middle class family of 4

Says who? What is middle class?

[luckyshoes]

I don't understand this post. Is it an ad?

[sholden]

Originally Posted by The Michigan Man

Says who? What is middle class?

An income between $20k and $100k is one common enough definition in which case a $350k house would be right at the limit of affordability.

Of course NJ has ever so slightly higher costs of living than a lot of other places, so those numbers might need some pushing up. Not enough to make a half million dollar house reasonable though.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by hitmantb

Like I said name one other town that offers good schools, great commute and three bedroom houses (heck even condos) under 500K?

Woodbridge

[The Michigan Man]

Originally Posted by sholden

An income between $20k and $100k is one common enough definition in which case a $350k house would be right at the limit of affordability.

Of course NJ has ever so slightly higher costs of living than a lot of other places, so those numbers might need some pushing up. Not enough to make a half million dollar house reasonable though.

With the opportunities of NYC and the high cost of living of this county, I don't think a household income of 20K is middle class. I think that range has to bump up.