Young Couple Moving to NJ, Need Help Deciding Where (Newark: apartment, rent)

[smt03]

Hi! My boyfriend and I will be moving to North Jersey soon and are looking for a cool place to live. He will be working in East Hanover and I will be going to grad school at Rutgers in Newark. We are hoping to find somewhere convenient to both of those locations, maybe somewhere in between. So far, I am very interested in Montclair and West Orange, but I do know rent is high. I'd really appreciate any thoughts and advice anyone may have

Where are you coming from? Buffalo, NY
Why are you moving? Me - Grad School / BF - Work
Where will you be working? Me - Rutgers in Newark / BF - Novartis in East Hanover
Will you buy or rent? Rent
What is your budget? $1200 MAX
What kind of place are you looking for? any apartment or part of a house, with refridgerator, stove, dishwasher, etc.

Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you? Boyfriend and 2 cats
Do you need/want good public schools? No

Briefly describe the kind of neighborhood you'd like to live in:
Safe, slightly urban with restaurants and shops, diverse, artsy, walkable, close to train stations (I may be taking the train to school if it's easier than driving), grocery stores close by (I do love Whole Foods and Trader Joes, but could use a cheaper one as well)

List three things that are important to you in order of importance:
safety, easy commute, downtown area

Thank you!

[Carnivore]

Take a look at Maplewood.

[john_starks]

clifton, bellville,bloomfield

[labcjo]

Originally Posted by smt03

Hi! My boyfriend and I will be moving to North Jersey soon and are looking for a cool place to live. He will be working in East Hanover and I will be going to grad school at Rutgers in Newark. We are hoping to find somewhere convenient to both of those locations, maybe somewhere in between. So far, I am very interested in Montclair and West Orange, but I do know rent is high. I'd really appreciate any thoughts and advice anyone may have

Where are you coming from? Buffalo, NY
Why are you moving? Me - Grad School / BF - Work
Where will you be working? Me - Rutgers in Newark / BF - Novartis in East Hanover
Will you buy or rent? Rent
What is your budget? $1200 MAX
What kind of place are you looking for? any apartment or part of a house, with refridgerator, stove, dishwasher, etc.

Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you? Boyfriend and 2 cats
Do you need/want good public schools? No

Briefly describe the kind of neighborhood you'd like to live in:
Safe, slightly urban with restaurants and shops, diverse, artsy, walkable, close to train stations (I may be taking the train to school if it's easier than driving), grocery stores close by (I do love Whole Foods and Trader Joes, but could use a cheaper one as well)

List three things that are important to you in order of importance:
safety, easy commute, downtown area

Thank you!

I would look at Montclair, Maplewood, and South Orange (in that order). I would describe all three towns as "Safe, slightly urban with restaurants and shops, diverse, artsy, walkable, close to train stations, grocery stores close by." No joke - that's pretty much spot on!