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I don't see how two people working in the city with kids could live down the shore. How are you escaping the rat race of northern NJ if both of you have that commute everyday? What would you do for child care?
Thanks to each of you for the time you took to set us up with insider shore info! Needed some frank candid direction, and we got it! So I will look further North (Rumson-Middletown), expect less of a big commute and perhaps more of a budget! Any other thoughts on Rumson and surrounding towns, please share
What are your most important criteria? That would determine the best towns for your needs
How close to the water do you want to be? How much of a trade off for your commute are you willing to take in that regards? What type of house are you looking for? 3K sq ft center hall colonial vs 2K sq ft dormered cape? Do you need an acre of land or is 100X100 ok?
Would you ever consider private schools? If going public would you need the #1 HS in the area or is number 2/3 ok? Do you want/need a bit of diversity with regards to school? (all lowers schools in the upper middle class towns are top rated) Keep in mind there are also the vocational schools if your children test high academically- and those are among the tops in the nation.
Are you ok with a 15 min drive to the store for everything or 5 min or even walkable? Do you want to be close to good restaurants or do you eat at home mostly?
Is region/politics a big factor in your decision? If you're liberal would you be ok in a mostly right leaning town? Do you need to be in a town with a certain large ethnic population? Do you need to be near to a house of worship?
Just a few thoughts - but depending upon your preferences some towns might be better than others.
I don't see how two people working in the city with kids could live down the shore. How are you escaping the rat race of northern NJ if both of you have that commute everyday? What would you do for child care?
It took it as, and was the case for us at least, that when home you're away from the NYC mindset somewhat; more laid back pace, more space, and of course - the water...
I don't see how two people working in the city with kids could live down the shore. How are you escaping the rat race of northern NJ if both of you have that commute everyday? What would you do for child care?
The answer is if you are commuting to NYC you want to stay as others pointed out, in Northen Monmouth. That is north of Long Branch.
If you're looking for a coastal, shore town feel you will want to stay on or right around the peninsula as it is called. They include the towns of;
Red Bank, Fair Haven, Rumson, Oceanport, Little Silver, Shewsbury, Alt Highlands, monmouth Beach and the Nave sink sections of Middletown
Finally if you want the very best schools in the area that would narrow it down to;
Rumson and Fair Haven
as for commute, i know plenty of people that make the trek daily into midtown from towns such as middletown and surrounding and even as far south as brick/wall.
Red Bank schools from K-8 aren't very good- the high school is well-regarded though. Rumson- your kids will be among the "poorest" in the schools. Monmouth Beach- that's a bit of a tough price point. Sea Bright isn't a great kid-friendly town. Highlands/Atlantic Highlands- you would be most likely be looking at the county magnet schools or private for high school. Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, Oceanport, and Shrewsbury would be the towns I would most recommend, with all but Middletown being small towns. Shrewsbury and Middletown are the two towns that are the least bike friendly for kids, if you want you kids to have that childhood experience of biking around town with friends, stopping for a slice of pizza type of childhood. And whichever town you look at, check the flood maps before buying!
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