Red Bank, Fair Haven, or Little Silver ??? Comparisons/Thoughts/Recommendations (Harrison: for sale, apartment complexes)

[valvalg]

Living in Howell and are going to move when our house sells...
I think we've narrowed it down to Red Bank, Fair Haven, Little Silver.
We have 2 very young children and want a friendly community.
I love Red Bank but am aware that the schools are not as good partially due to illegals and a lot of school time used with ESL. I also know about the high schools for these towns.

How do Little Silver and Fair Haven differ? Downtown areas? Parks? Overrall size? Shopping/Restaurants/Recreation??? Schools?

We're downsizing so probably will only be able to afford a smaller house in the $450-500 range... We've seen a few already.

[FBone]

I cant speak for the schools other to say that Little Silver uses Red Bank Regional for grades 9-12.

I am surprised LS has homes available for 450k. The town is mostly large homes on nice size properties. But there are quite a few homes for sale so I guess anything is possible.

FH is more of a tighter family-like town. More smaller homes neighborhood feel.
LS has train station if that's needed. Both have similar small downtowns anchored by a food store. FH has Acme and LS A&P (expensive it seems to me). But neither one is anything special. RB is closeby so that is where many go for day/night out. I personally go to all the shows at Two River Theater.
I am not aware of any substantial parks in either town.

[valvalg]

More like 500-525 K in LS. (not 450)
Is one of the towns more "expensive"? Or, are the home prices higher in one over the other?
So, you're saying the houses are smaller in FH? Thanks.
Any other info would be great...

Also, any thoughts on raising a family in Red Bank? We were looking on the East side closer to FH. Some nice houses mixed in with some not so nice that look a little "shady"... lol Hard to decide.

[solibs]

There's nothing remotely shady about Red Bank east of the train tracks.

I grew up in that area (Oceanport actually) 20 years ago when Red Bank wasn't all that nice. Parts of Little Silver are just an extension of that side of Red Bank and parts of it are more like Rumson. If you're looking at the whole area east of Broad St. and from the Navesink over to Rumson Rd. and even towards downtown LS there's not that much difference between the 3 towns . . . and while you're at it you might as well throw Shrewsbury into the mix. I have a cousin who grew up in Fair Haven and who went to RFH. Back then, and I doubt it's different today, it was very socially stressful bc of the class divide between Rumson and Fair Haven.

As for your kids I don't think it'll matter much which town you live in. It's a great place to grow up and, IMO, one of the best places in the country to live.

[USER876]

Perhaps also consider Middletown.

[valvalg]

Originally Posted by USER876

Perhaps also consider Middletown.

Which areas of Middletown are closest to RB/FH/LS?

[USER876]

probably fairview.....basically right on 35 just before redbank across the river. It's a nice section of middletown too and bit more pricey.

[FBone]

Houses seem more modest on smaller lots in FH.

Actually Oceanport is another nice town to consider.

Red Bank does have a few iffy blocks near the hospital. Lots of apt complexes that are transient.

[valvalg]

I was looking at Mechanic Street in Red Bank between High Street and Harrison which is the furthest east- closer to FH... Smaller houses. Some are nice some are not.

[solibs]

I've spent a lot of time on Washington, near Mechanic, (a block from the hospital) over the last 20 years and it's not "iffy" it's just the last of the non rich people on the east side of Red Bank. So their household income is only $100k a year. It doesn't mean they're going to break into your house. Also, there might be one or two apartment buildings near the hopsital but there aren't any "complexes." The only apartment complexes that Red Bank has are over on Branch Ave and Spring St. towards Little Silver. My grandparents lived over there for 10 years before moving to Florida. Those apartments weren't a problem 15 years ago and they're certainly not now.