Marlboro, Middletown, Plainsboro, or Robbinsville??? (Newark, New Brunswick: apartments, condos, houses)

[kercar]

My husband just started working in New Brunswick and we are in the process of deciding on a town to relocate to. Because NB is centrally located we are looking for houses in 3 different parts of the state. After going out with our realtors we have narrowed down our choices to Marlboro, Middletown, Plainsboro, or Robbinsville. They all have houses in our range and wonderful schools. I'd love to hear peoples thoughts on these towns, both positive and negative. Also, if anyone has any experience commuting to NB from these areas I'd like to hear about that too.

Thanks

[christina0001]

I have worked in Middletown and Marlboro, visited Plainsboro, and lived in Robbinsville. All four are good towns and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. My personal two favorites would be Marlboro and Robbinsville; I just like the feel of some of their neighborhoods better. Best of luck.

[jerseyj]

Plainsboro is a large township with a nice mix of older homes, large, newer homes, condos and apartments. There is a lot of open space and farmland and a new "town centre", a mix of retail and carriage type homes.
Peter Cantu has been the mayor of Plainsboro for many years and has been very thoughtful in the development of that town. Hopefully, he will be able to preserve more of the farmland in his township.
As you probably know, the schools share a district with West Windsor. The West Windsor-Plainsboro school district has a good reputation and standing in the State.
Your husbands' most direct shot to New Brunswick is up Rte. 1 North, on his best day, maybe a 40-45 minute drive. There are some alternative routes if traffic on Rte 1 gets crazy.

[juliann1977]

The schools in Marlboro are superior, from what I've gathered. I'd go there.

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by kercar

My husband just started working in New Brunswick and we are in the process of deciding on a town to relocate to. Because NB is centrally located we are looking for houses in 3 different parts of the state. After going out with our realtors we have narrowed down our choices to Marlboro, Middletown, Plainsboro, or Robbinsville. They all have houses in our range and wonderful schools. I'd love to hear peoples thoughts on these towns, both positive and negative. Also, if anyone has any experience commuting to NB from these areas I'd like to hear about that too.

Thanks

Robbinsville has excellent schools and it has a more country feel. You also can get more for your money there. People in Robbinsville are not as stuck up. I have friends there so know.In Marlboro it will be keeping up with the Jones. The Commute to New Brunswick is easier from Robbinsville. From Marlboro you would have to use Rt 18 which is a traffic nightmare. Plainsboro is closer but Robbinville is less crowded.
Diane

Diane

[geminijinx]

middletown is the most uppity of the bunch, and by far the most fun with things to do.

[geminijinx]

not that it matters, but to some it does, but marlboro is mainly jewish. i don't care about religion, but some do, so i thought i'd throw that out there as an FYI. the rest of the towns are maintly white catholic or protestant. again- i don't want to start a religion tyrade, but some people do care about these things, and some dont. people are people, right? :-)

[geminijinx]

to NB anything that requires route 18 is a traffic disaster. same thing with 287 north to exit 10 (easton ave). you do NOT want to be going NORTH on 18 in the AM or 18 south in the PM. i used to live and work in somerset (exit 10 off 287, or the easton ave exit on 18 north)- i worked with a guy who commuted from Red Bank- exit 109 off the parkway. it used to take him ATLEAST an hour. it is absolute traffic chaos, gridlock, no exaggeration. i lived and worked off exit 10 off 287 and it would take me over 30 minutes to drive 3 miles and that is no joke.

The towns you suggested are all nice, but your commute will literally be a disaster.

[teachbeach]

Plainsboro is an excellent area, easy access to either Route 1, 130 or 27 for commute to New Brunswick, plus many easy to learn back roads. Superior school district in West Windsor/Plainsboro, probably one of the best in the country as well as in the state. Plainsboro is great because of its planned open/green space and controlled growth. Also easy to get to Princeton University, malls and restaurants. Equal distance between either Philly (Route 95) or Newark airport for flights, and a train station (usually you can find a parking space) for commuting into NYC. Traffic is bad everywhere, you just learn to deal with it. I grew up in the area and love to visit for short periods of time, but am so glad I don't have to negotiate the traffic for work every day. Marlboro makes you have to use Route 18, which goes through Old Bridge and East Brunswick. It was gridlock in the late 80's, it's only turned into a nightmare now. Marlboro school district might be part of Freehold Regional, which is absolutely huge.

My choice would be Plainsboro.

[Summer16]

I know Middletown and Marlboro, and Marlboro is the more expensive overall of the two. Middletown does have very expensive sections, but just overall I think Marlboro has more of that "prestige" if you are looking for that. And the better school district overall.