Maplewood/South Orange or Rumson/Fair Haven (Jersey City, Highlands: houses, high schools)

[jrsegrl]

actually we have found the prices in Rumson and Fair Haven are about the same. Taxes are actually somewhat lower in Rumson.

[Ms.Charlotte]

My husband takes the ferry every day and loves it. As long as he is working in NYC, we will never move away from the ferry. The relaxed mood on the boat, the lack of stress from traffic and the amount of time he saves has taken years off his life.

Rumson/Fair Haven are great towns-I think the HS is ranked #30 if you are interested in test scores. I wouldn't rule out Navesink, either. The proximity to the ferry is great and so are the schools (Middletown South)

Good luck! Especially with the taxes in Fair Haven : )

[FBone]

Originally Posted by Ms.Charlotte

My husband takes the ferry every day and loves it. As long as he is working in NYC, we will never move away from the ferry. The relaxed mood on the boat, the lack of stress from traffic and the amount of time he saves has taken years off his life.

Agree 100%. I have only taken the ferry on occasion and it has shaved years of my life.
After using the ferry a few times I dont know how anyone could go back to the train.

[clevedark]

I think Fair Haven has more rah-rah civic pride than Rumson does, has more parks and recreation opportunities than Rumson. That's probably why the tax rate is higher. Plus it's more densely populated, it needs more services (more water/sewage, etc.).

[clevedark]

Originally Posted by clevedark

I think Fair Haven has more rah-rah civic pride than Rumson does, has more parks and recreation opportunities than Rumson. That's probably why the tax rate is higher. Plus it's more densely populated, it needs more services (more water/sewage, etc.).

In other words, Fair Haven is Maplewood, and Rumson is South Orange.

[VeradoDan]

Originally Posted by clevedark

I think Fair Haven has more rah-rah civic pride than Rumson does, has more parks and recreation opportunities than Rumson. That's probably why the tax rate is higher. Plus it's more densely populated, it needs more services (more water/sewage, etc.).

Even with taxes a bit higher, I might choose Fair Haven for this reason. With so many ultra-rich people living in Rumson, I would wonder whether this has an impact on a sense of community. Call me corny, but I like those small-town events.

[jrsegrl]

Originally Posted by clevedark

In other words, Fair Haven is Maplewood, and Rumson is South Orange.

never thought of Rumson and South Orange as one in the same

[clevedark]

Well, now you can! Maplewood has all the cute little houses, so does Fair Haven. South Orange has all the big old monsters ("wife killers" my MIL called them), and so does Rumson.

And they share a high school.

Done!

[jrsegrl]

Actually, Maplewood has some big houses also - we live in one. Can't compare the big houses in South Orange to Rumson's - price range is very different. True - both sets of town do share high schools.

[kingofthealley]

I have lived in Rumson for the last four years. Snobs? There probably are some in the estate area. We live in a neighborhood of smaller homes, and we love our neighborhood. Rumson has just as much rah-rah civic pride as Fair Haven--I think many in Rumson pride themselves on being better! The parks and recreation opportunities in Rumson are abundant. Our athletic fields are meticulously maintained, and if you take the time to go to council meetings, the town managers are quite proud of that. In terms of politics and town management it is a bit of a strange town--Democrats rarely if ever run for town council or mayor. I think Rumson's Mayor has been Mayor for quite a long time. So they do pretty much whatever they want without anyone batting an eyelash. Recently, they rebuilt Rumson Memorial Hall at a cost of about $10 million. It was an exact replica of the old town hall, which was deemed "inadequate" by the town fathers. Something about deteriorating infrastructure and lack of handicapped access that could not be remedied by renovations. The whole project was completed rapidly and we are told our taxes will not increase. No matter what, our taxes will always be less than Fair Haven's.

I don't think you could go wrong in either town. Snobs exist everywhere. You have to find your own place wherever you live and be happy.