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Thanks guys! I have looked at Haddonfield and it is definitely on my list. I have looked at the pictures of Westfield and it is beautiful! We are going there this weekend. Lanbertville looks nice too. Definitely going to visit. Thanks, so much!
Hi, I have been reading the city-data forums for years and this is my first time posting...
My husband and I have been looking for a small town, with a beautiful main street and downtown area, with a close community. We want the "friday night lights" kind of town..but in the Northeast, preferably NJ (but open minded).
I am from NJ and my husband from MD. We have lived MD for 10 years and came back to NJ. We have 3 children ages 1, 11, and 13. We want a place to lay down roots and for our kids to call their town. I know there is no place that is perfect but I would like to find the place that feels perfect to us.
Does anyone know of a town like this??
My first thought when reading your post is to to tell you to check out Madison, it is exactly what you indicate you are looking for. A quick search on City Data Forum will bring up a ton of info on the town, here is one fairly recent thread, //www.city-data.com/forum/new-j...-me-about.html
Madison is so picturesque it has been the location for several movies, tv shows and commercials. It is the essence of a small town Mayberry RFD life, where everyone knows their neighbors, volunteerism is high, and people really care. Here is a link to an NYT article from a few years back that gives you a pretty good look into the town, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/re...pagewanted=all
Thanks guys! I have looked at Haddonfield and it is definitely on my list. I have looked at the pictures of Westfield and it is beautiful! We are going there this weekend. Lanbertville looks nice too. Definitely going to visit. Thanks, so much!
400-500k in Westfield for a family of 5... good luck with that one.
Hi, I have been reading the city-data forums for years and this is my first time posting...
My husband and I have been looking for a small town, with a beautiful main street and downtown area, with a close community. We want the "friday night lights" kind of town..but in the Northeast, preferably NJ (but open minded).
I am from NJ and my husband from MD. We have lived MD for 10 years and came back to NJ. We have 3 children ages 1, 11, and 13. We want a place to lay down roots and for our kids to call their town. I know there is no place that is perfect but I would like to find the place that feels perfect to us.
So is Hightstown (a town mentioned above). Their police department is renting room inside of a store because flood damage from Hurricane Irene destroyed/damaged much of the town, including their HQ.
The police dept. is not inside a store. Hopefully you'll never need them, but if you do, the police are located in the Lucas Electric building, 415 Mercer St., Rt. 33.
Hightstown did have flooding from Hurricane Irene, but that flooding is not normal to the town. It was rumored Hightstown officials could not lower the lake without DEP approval and then open the flood gates. Before Hurricane Sandy came, this didn't look like a problem...the lake was low before the storm. And, some people blame the Turnpike construction project on flooding.
Much of the town was not damaged by flooding. There are houses on the lake that never received water damage.
In my lifetime, Cranbury has had two floods, Hurricane Irene being the most serious, just like other towns that never had flooding.
Lambertville has floods. City of Lambertville, New Jersey - Flood Plan Management Swan Creek - had the most damage in recent floods due to the back-flooding from the Delaware River through the aqueduct that passes the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Lambert Lane - Commercial and residential properties along Lambert Lane are directly flooded from the Delaware River. Alexauken Creek - As with Swan Creek, the Alexauken Creek floodplain back-flows from the Delaware River. The areas that is impacted includes the north most end of North Union Street and just north of and adjacent to Cherry Street.
--For more information on local flood hazards contact the Lambertville City Construction Office.
Haddonfield is a good choice, too. TP75, hurricane Irene caused flooding in a lot of areas that never had flooding before and people are quick to say "that" town has flooding. Part of your decision making might include a trip to the municipal office and ask them if the town has had any flooding issues and if it has, where does the town flood. I would also check the new FEMA flood zones that should be coming out soon.
As other posters have mentioned, North Jersey has a lot of towns with nice, walkable downtowns (Westfield, Cranford, Montclair, etc.). However, I'm just not sure many of those towns have the close knit feel. It's so densely populated that not everyone knows everyone else. Also, I think involvement in community activities (such as the town's high school football game) is lower when there's so much else around and all of the communities blend together.
I believe your perfect town is in a more rural area (maybe in Central or South Jersey) that has a distinct downtown area. Also, it might make sense to avoid the high cost areas of North Jersey since you both work from home and wouldn't be earning more by living in those areas.
My first thought when reading your post is to to tell you to check out Madison, it is exactly what you indicate you are looking for. A quick search on City Data Forum will bring up a ton of info on the town, here is one fairly recent thread, //www.city-data.com/forum/new-j...-me-about.html
Madison is so picturesque it has been the location for several movies, tv shows and commercials. It is the essence of a small town Mayberry RFD life, where everyone knows their neighbors, volunteerism is high, and people really care. Here is a link to an NYT article from a few years back that gives you a pretty good look into the town, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/re...pagewanted=all
KoalaNJ
First place I thought of was Madison, but I don't know if they would find anything in the $400-500K price range.
First place I thought of was Madison, but I don't know if they would find anything in the $400-500K price range.
I did a quick search on Zillow and there were 4 (3+ br) homes currently on the market in Madison in the 400-500k range. Including this one which looks quite nice with period woodwork and an updated Kitchen. 38 Pine Ave, Madison, NJ 07940 is For Sale - Zillow
FWIW, there is also 5 (3+ br) homes in that price range available in Chatham, and 2 more that are listed just over 500k, (under 520), that most likely will sell for ~500k
I know the common perception is that unless you have 750+k you'll not find anything in these towns, but that is simply not the case. And while the homes in this price range are not huge, they are well kept and nice, many with updated kitchens/baths.
KoalaNJ
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