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My family has a budget of ~500k (~12k in taxes) to purchase a house (~3BR/2Bath) within 1h 20m or so commute from NYC (east side). We have kids who will soon be ready for school and we would like to be in a good school district. We would prefer to be in a culturally diverse area. So far, we have looked at houses in some sections of South Orange/Maplewood, Livingston, and, Paramus. We feel that most of the houses within our budget seem to need lots of work or are very small. Suggestions? Any other towns we should be looking at?
Look at West Orange too. Taxes are high (even for Essex County), but homes are cheaper than South Orange, Livingston, or Maplewood, and some of the elementary schools are rated well, and both a jitney to South Orange station and the #77 bus are available in some locations.
Thanks for the quick response. Can you please comment on the schools and diversity in Waldwick and Cranford? How about the quality of schools in Rutherford and Nutley? I am a bit more familiar with Fair Lawn and I do agree it is a good alternative. A bit worried about the commute from Edison and Metuchen.
The taxes in W. Orange are excessive. I did see some properties online (Gregory/St Cloud) that were beautiful but the taxes were over 15/16k.
The taxes are high, but don't pay too much attention to the online values; they're likely out of date (and a lot of them are just plain wrong). The whole town was re-assessed this year. I've got a 4BR 2.1 bath in St. Cloud with taxes of around $11.5K.
You can go on Appraisal Systems to see the assessed value for any West Orange house (before any appeals). I think the tax rate is 3.445%; that page leads you to believe it's 3.383%, but the notice I have from the town says 3.445%.
My family has a budget of ~500k (~12k in taxes) to purchase a house (~3BR/2Bath) within 1h 20m or so commute from NYC (east side). We have kids who will soon be ready for school and we would like to be in a good school district. We would prefer to be in a culturally diverse area. So far, we have looked at houses in some sections of South Orange/Maplewood, Livingston, and, Paramus. We feel that most of the houses within our budget seem to need lots of work or are very small. Suggestions? Any other towns we should be looking at?
Hasbrouck Heights, Wood-Ridge, Rutherford.
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