Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm new to New Jersey, currently renting in Old Bridge and looking to buy a house. The major constraints for us are our two jobs (87 miles apart) and our oldest kid starting school in 2014. I copied the details from the newcomers sticky and I'm hoping someone can suggest some communities we should check out. I was thinking we might look around Bridgewater, as this splits the distance, but I'm worried about the drive to Red Bank from there (does this still count as a reverse commute?). Any help would be fantastic!
Where are you coming from? Old Bridge, NJ (just moved here, renting now), previously Bethlehem, PA
Why are you moving? Want to buy a house
Where will you be working? Red Bank, NJ and Bethlehem, PA
Will you buy or rent? Buy
What is your budget? $350-450k, depending on property taxes
What kind of place are you looking for? Single-family home
Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you? Two kids (age 4 and 1)
Do you need/want good public schools? YES!!!
Briefly describe the kind of neighborhood you'd like to live in:
Families with young kids, safe
List three things that are important to you in order of importance:
* Good Schools
* Highway access (minimize our bad commutes)
* Convenient shopping--e.g. groceries (particularly Wegmans or similar), Target, home improvement stores, mall, etc.
The mid point seems to be Bridgewater. I think it's a decent area, but someone else might be able to chime in about the commute to Red Bank and about the area specifically. The Bridgewater Mall is big and upscale, so there is a lot of shopping access.
Bridgewater would probably be a do-able commute to Red Bank, probably about 50 mins to an hour using 287 and the Parkway. It could get dicey in the summer though, with shore traffic.
In terms of shopping/convenience it has basically everything you're asking for. They have a Wegmans and a large shopping mall.
No doubt around Bridgewater is you're best bet, I just think it's going to be rough commutes all the way around. If it were me I'd be looking to find new employment.
I'll vote for Bridgewater because I used to live there and it is just about half way between your places of work and it used to take me 1 hr to Ocean Grove so Red Bank might be a little less.
Bethlehem is probably about 1 hr.
Bridgewater does contain all the shopping you are looking for, Bridgewater Commons, Wegmans and two Home Depo's
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
