Need info on safe neighborhoods with good schools (Newark, Clifton: condo, mortgage)
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We're moving from NC and are looking at areas in NJ to buy. I'd be working in the city and my husband will be moving around Bklyn and possibly Long Island. We're African-American so want someplace where we'll feel comfortable. We have a toddler and one on the way so we're looking for a safe neighborhood with good schools. Any suggestions?
Please refer to the "Questions for Future and Potential Residents" sticky and provide more info. NJ is a very diverse state. Without knowing your budget and how long you're willing to commute, we can't provide a whole lot of info. Good luck in your search.
Sure I'm new here so still trying to figure out the site.
Moving from Raleigh, NC
Moving for work
I'll be working in downtown NY and husband in areas of Brklyn, and parts of Long Island close to Queens eg. Valley Stream
We'd like to buy
We're looking to spend b/w 1800-3000 on a mortgage
We're open to house, condo, townhouse
My husband and I have 1 toddler and 1 on the way
We'd like a good school system
We'd definitely like to live in a place that is good and safe for families with children. Community atmosphere would be a nice bonus
We'd like a family oriented place and we'd like a place that is diverse that isn't hostile to African Americans.
Your commute is do-able from NJ but your husband will not enjoy commuting to Brooklyn or Nassau County from NJ. If he's driving it can easily be 1.5 to 2 hours during rush hour. I'd also consider Nassau County because then both of your commutes would be do-able.
Commuting from NJ to Brooklyn or Long Island will be very tough unless your husband decides to drive across. Even driving a trip to Long island will be an hour with little to no traffic. If that is not a problem, then based on your criteria I would recommend West Orange as a place to live. Good community, diverse, schools are good, and you will probably get a nice place for your budget.
I will reiterate what others here have said: the commute from NJ to Brooklyn or Long Island won't be easy.
That being said, it sounds like South Orange and Maplewood could be nice fits. Beautiful, charming old towns with great schools (both towns share the same high school, which New Jersey Monthly just ranked in the top 50 in the state) and a short, 30 minute ish train ride into New York Penn Station. Both towns pride themselves on diversity, history, and having a small town, artsy feel.
Towns in both homes can range from small and inexpensive to multi million dollar estates. Both towns do border rougher neighborhoods (South Orange with Newark and Maplewood with Irvington), so keep that in mind if looking for a home. However, both towns are largely safe, and great family oriented communities to raise children while being a short ride away from New York City.
Coming from the south, make sure you factor property taxes into your mortgage payments. New Jersey's are already high compared to North Carolina, and South Orange and Maplewood's are certainly above average, even for New Jersey. But you get a lot for your money up here, especially when it comes to education - our public schools are considered to be amongst the best in the country.
Also keep in mind Montclair, one of New York's most popular suburbs. Pretty much everything that applies to South Orange and Maplewood applies to Montclair, though the train rides from certain parts of Montclair can be longer than from South Orange and Maplewood.
We're hoping to move to Jersey as we've heard nice things about it and have friends there. Commute is not as important as safe neighborhood and good schools. We've looked into Nassau County but I have heard some not so nice things regarding diversity and city development. We used to live in Queens and are familiar with the tri-state area so might buy somewhere in one of the boroughs but were really hoping NJ would work out.
Thanks for the recommendations.
I live in Westwood, New Jersey which is about 20-30 minutes by driving. My parents are soon to retire so we are looking to move. But I've been here since I was 4 years old. I can't imagine being raised up in any other neighborhood. If you are interested in this property, I ca give you further information. Your family would love it here. Also, it's a very quiet street with a park (that barely anyone uses, but is unnecessarily HUGE) about a block away. Also, the neighbors here are very nice! They have practically been like family. My street has 8 houses and no one has moved out for over 25 years. People love it here. But my parents are thinking of moving out of the country.
This area seems like an area you'd be interested in.
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