NYC-adjacent like the Heights? (Ridge, Brunswick: rent, neighborhood, university)

[timetakesacig]

If anyone is familiar with Cleveland Heights, specifically the Cedar-Fairmount neighborhood, what would you consider its NYC-area analog? I won't be a daily commuter, so I don't have to live terribly close to Manhattan; but when I need to be there, I want nearby, regularly running public transportation into the city. An older community with sidewalks, trees, small shops and restaurants, near cultural attractions, maybe close to a university. And rent that's not too far through the roof. I know my criteria might sound vague, but I am betting there are people here who know exactly what I am talking about. Thanks.

[clevedark]

I'm not familiar with Cleveland Heights, but here goes:

NJ your best bets would be to start with towns like: Madison, Montclair, Maplewood/South Orange, Morristown, Hoboken, Ridgewood, Princeton, Lawrenceville, Lambertville, Ocean Grove, Red Bank.

Cheaper towns in your criteria would be Jersey City, New Brunswick, Long Branch, Asbury Park.

Public transportation in the tri-state area is generally plentiful and reliable, so you can look into Westchester and Rockland Counties, NY as well as Long Island and Connecticut.

You might want to post on those forums asking for town suggestions.

A general rule of thumb would be the further from NYC you go, the more you will get for your rent money.

There bazillions of towns here--good luck in finding the one that fits your needs. It can be overwhelming, I don't know how people from outside of the area do it.

[CALarrick]

Maybe somewhere like Nyack? (Rockland County) In fact, I think that would likely meet your feel/vibe criteria quite well, but public transportation into the city from there is limited (no rail, so it is by bus - but not a bad trip if you were only doing it a few times a week). And a short drive by car, especially at "off commute" times.

We moved from NY to Cleveland Heights, but while we lived in Manhattan for many years my NYC-suburb familiarity is limited mainly to Westchester and Rockland.