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contemplating the Big Move. After many tours of Carolina, Virginia and Bucks County and reading dozens of posts here, we have crossed them off the list.
Our final choices: Continue raising young family (6, 4 and 2) in northeastern part of state (currently Union County) - or - move close to the Shore (Little Silver area).
I am torn.
I am lucky enough where commute is not an issue. This is strictly a "Which is a better a place to raise a family?"
Education, community sense, walkable downtown, safe, recreation are the criteria.
Pro's of Monmouth:
promotes a more outdoor lifestyle (water sports, fishing), great parks, a slightly slower/less aggressive pace, cleaner air, more temperate climate, still weekend-drivable to the city, good arts scene in Red Bank.
Con's of packing up and leaving:
am getting established/comfortable in current town, current town is kind, good schools, great neighborhood where we've been a few years - but congested and on top of highways, more hustle-bustle.
I grew up in Essex, am used to 'rat race' - but always felt classmates and I "grew up too quickly."
Not that Monmouth is a total shangri la/Norman Rockwell, I get that, but I think there are benefits.
Objective observers - what do you think? Many thanks.
contemplating the Big Move. After many tours of Carolina, Virginia and Bucks County and reading dozens of posts here, we have crossed them off the list.
Our final choices: Continue raising young family (6, 4 and 2) in northeastern part of state (currently Union County) - or - move close to the Shore (Little Silver area).
I am torn.
I am lucky enough where commute is not an issue. This is strictly a "Which is a better a place to raise a family?"
Education, community sense, walkable downtown, safe, recreation are the criteria.
Pro's of Monmouth:
promotes a more outdoor lifestyle (water sports, fishing), great parks, a slightly slower/less aggressive pace, cleaner air, more temperate climate, still weekend-drivable to the city, good arts scene in Red Bank.
Con's of packing up and leaving:
am getting established/comfortable in current town, current town is kind, good schools, great neighborhood where we've been a few years - but congested and on top of highways, more hustle-bustle.
I grew up in Essex, am used to 'rat race' - but always felt classmates and I "grew up too quickly."
Not that Monmouth is a total shangri la/Norman Rockwell, I get that, but I think there are benefits.
Objective observers - what do you think? Many thanks.
I don't know Union County that well. However, I moved to Monmouth County two years ago, and I really like it more and more as time goes on. I grew up fifth generation in a small NW Bergen County town, by Ridgewood, and lived in Bergen for most of my life except for a decade in Passaic County. I couldn't imagine living anywhere besides north Jersey.
Yesterday I went back "home" for a dentist appointment, stopped in to see my mother, went to a couple of other locations in Paramus and Fair Lawn. I couldn't wait to get back down here. It's not as though I'm out in the middle of the country or something--I'm right off Route 35, Red Bank is up the street, and I catch my train in Little Silver. But it's so much more crowded and the traffic is so horrible in Northwest Bergen, and I can see that difference.
Having the ocean, the rivers, the great country parks with woods and trails and everything all nearby is worth it to me. You can drive 15 minutes and be at the beach in any season or go 15 minutes the other way and pass orchards and horse farms.
I say go to Monmouth. My only child is grown, however, so as far as choosing towns for schools, someone else could give you better info.
I have lived in Westfield NJ for the last 12 years and have a 4 and 6 year old and cant recommend it enough. This is definitely a young family town. Top-rated, sought-after school system, all extracurricular activities you need (Karate, gymnastics, dance, arts/crafts), family-friendly restaurants, tons of parks and playgrounds, and a world-class town pool (hugh area exclusively for children, as well as 3 additional large pools). It is very easy to make friends with other families, wonderful downtown area, lots of fairs -parades-family-friendly events- just a genuinely wonderful town to raise children!!!! Highly recommend!!!!!!
Oh no!! 1 vote for north Jersey and 1 for Monmouth! :-)
Thank you Queen and Suluki for your thoughtful replies. Suluki - I hear great things about Westfield, but I grew up in Montclair and am afraid of uber-competition among kids - and even parents like my hometown.
I am on my train right now, crossing the Raritan where it widens into the bay...sky is tangerine and pink from the sun that will rise above the shimmering water shortly...I see boats out on the water, gulls flying high against the dawn light...find THAT in north Jersey, hehehe
I've only lived in Monmouth but we've been here 3 years and I just can't believe how beautiful it is. I think it's a little paradise. I moved from Brooklyn though and growing up my park didn't even have grass. We thought this would be a stop on our way to someplace more permanent. But the only place I would go is Little Silver or Fair Haven lol (I'm in Hazlet). If you like the outdoors this is really a great place. I have a 1.5 year old and I am thrilled that this is the life he will have. I wouldn't go one step further north.
I am on my train right now, crossing the Raritan where it widens into the bay...sky is tangerine and pink from the sun that will rise above the shimmering water shortly...I see boats out on the water, gulls flying high against the dawn light...find THAT in north Jersey, hehehe
I've only lived in Monmouth but we've been here 3 years and I just can't believe how beautiful it is. I think it's a little paradise. I moved from Brooklyn though and growing up my park didn't even have grass. We thought this would be a stop on our way to someplace more permanent. But the only place I would go is Little Silver or Fair Haven lol (I'm in Hazlet). If you like the outdoors this is really a great place. I have a 1.5 year old and I am thrilled that this is the life he will have. I wouldn't go one step further north.
I raised my own daughter in north Jersey (far north of Westfield, lol) but that was because I worked in the city and my Mom is still in my hometown. She was there for my daughter after school. But now my daughter, who's usually away at college anyway, loves where I am and is scheming to find a job for the summer in the area, if she doesn't find an internship in the city, so she can live with me.
I only found Monmouth because of a friend who moved to Middletown. I spent time in the area and realized it was less expensive than Bergen County and I'd be able to buy a condo down here, something that wasn't possible for me up north.
You can't beat the geographical choices. Last Saturday I walked on the beach in Long Branch for about an hour. On Sunday I decided to go the woods route and walked through the trails at Thompson Park in Lincroft.
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