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The north side of Edison can be a little rough too at times, mostly around Middlesex County College. A friend of mine lived in one of the condo complexes across from the college and had a downstairs neighbor that was pretty much was involved in some rather questionable legal behavior, (he actually had a security system installed due to that neighbor and this is a guy who grew up in a rougher area of Brooklyn.) Could just be an isolated incident though because I had friends that lived in the apartment complex next door to that and none of them have had a problem. So who knows?
Middlesex County College is in South Edison, not North Edison. North Edison is on the other side of Metuchen.
Sometimes people put too much stock in quantitatve figures. From what I hear, JP Stevens is over-crowded and the teachers are generally so-so. There's just a higher percentage of students who are achievers. I'm pretty sure there's nothing special about the teachers at Westfield high either.
SAT scores are fine and dandy but i would not put too much stock in them it really depends on the parents and kids as well as the schools. but the scores are pretty close
I live in Westfield and I do enjoy my downtown when i occasionally walk down there. in nice weather. The switching of trains is a pain becuase once you get comfortable it is time to get up. and the double decker trains are pretty neat
my best advise i could give is to go around both towns in the day (warm day) and a warm evening during the week and on the weekend.
I dont think either one would be bad.
I think the main decision would be your comfort level on how much you want to pay to live in one town or the other. and for me it was the resale value what i think would i may be worth when my kid is out of school and i am ready to retire
Thanks for responding, everyone. Our budget was $600k but we find ourselves inching up to $650K - still not satisfied with the homes we are seeing in our price range in Westfield, so we keep looking, here and elsewhere. A few close friends whose opinion I trust advised against Edison, they themselves moved out for their school-going kids' sake. I think Greys138 worded it well: " the main decision would be your comfort level on how much you want to pay to live in one town or the other." We're finding that we tend to revise our budget depending on the town we are looking at.
I've lived in Metuchen since 1980 and have seen few changes in town while massive changes have taken place in Edison, particularly North Edison. You will find, as others have posted, Mcmansions galore in North Edison, generally 3,000sf + crammed onto a little lot. It is a nice area, but no downtown to speak of; Metuchen has a nice downtown area, if that is important to you.
As an educator, I cringe when people become consumed with SAT scores and college placement, etc. North Edison, and to a lesser degree Metuchen, have become known for churning out the automatons that can ace standardized tests. As for well-rounded individuals, with myriad strengths and developed skills---well, I want to keep my job, so I won't say too much more. If it is test-driven mania you seek, many towns in central New Jersey will serve you well. (Sorry to vent, I'm just growing tired of the pressure to produce kids who can ace a test but who can't look an adult in the eye and discuss anything of meaning--beyond the test, of course.)
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(Sorry to vent, I'm just growing tired of the pressure to produce kids who can ace a test but who can't look an adult in the eye and discuss anything of meaning--beyond the test, of course.)
