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I would look into Belleville. It's diversr, very large Hispanic population near Newark but it is much safer. Living in Newark or Paterson is not ideal especially for a young family.
I would look into Belleville. It's diversr, very large Hispanic population near Newark but it is much safer. Living in Newark or Paterson is not ideal especially for a young family.
How is transit/ cost of living? Part of this move is also to lessen my financial burden. The cost of living in Boston and the surrounding area is outrageous.
It's close to some train stations and they have buses. You probably want at least one car but its cheaper then the better towns and much safer then the Newark, Paterson, etc.
My friend/coworker lives in Belleville. He catches the light rail to Newark Penn. Not sure if he walks to the LR. He is white/Jewish, his wife is Peruvian.
My friend/coworker lives in Belleville. He catches the light rail to Newark Penn. Not sure if he walks to the LR. He is white/Jewish, his wife is Peruvian.
Thanks for the suggestion Mightyqueen and nykstevenyg. I gave Belleville a look and I don't think it's urban enough for my taste. I'd like somewhere somewhat walkable and if I wanted to get food past 8 o clock or have a night out, I'm screwed. I don't really feel comfortable in towns. Everyone knows everyone's business and I fear I'd end up around the same time of people I'm trying to escape from. I don't plan on staying in Jersey permanently unless I love it and find a niche so I'm not as worried about finding a place with "great" schools. I just need to put a roof over my family's head and ideally have cool people to meet. If it's different than Mass, who knows, I could call jersey home
Newark and Paterson are not somewhere you want to walk around past 8. Maybe downtown Bloomfield? Maybe look at Rahway.
Much like any city it depends on which part you're in. If we went the Newark route, we'd stick to certain areas. Paterson as well but if this provides a context...
It is not my first rodeo. I just don't feel comfortable in small towny environments. I know what I'm getting myself into crime-wise, I just know that America is going through a turbulent time and the racial climate is not the same everywhere. Nobody wants to go where they're unwelcome. Springfield and Chelsea are both cities most people wouldn't walk around past 8. Of course I'm not invincible but I'm not worried about the crime. Worried enough where I'd never consider Camden (that's just stupid and there's no reason to live there), but gritty is fine. Gentrification is looming where I am now and I can't afford 1600 a month in rent when a whole foods gets built and the hipsters move in. I laid out the cities I'm considering, just wanted to know, ideally from a Newark/Elizabeth/ Paterson resident, what the lay of the land is like. A non-yuppie, non-hipster, street smart white guy moving in. It's no secret that in some places it would **** off more than others. In Springfield, they don't give a sh*t as long as you can handle yourself, while Boston's less glitzy areas would care a lot more because of the longstanding racial hostility in the city, which still exists today. I don't necessarily strive to live in the roughest area possible but as far as urban areas go, very few are peaches and cream. we can't have it all!
I just can't stand the overwhelming yuppie presence anymore, along with the rising prices that will soon follow
How is transit/ cost of living? Part of this move is also to lessen my financial burden. The cost of living in Boston and the surrounding area is outrageous.
But if this is the consideration, then you are moving in the wrong direction. NYC metro area I would think is even more expensive then Boston, certainly not cheaper. Have you thought of living somewhere in Bronx? It is still cheaper than everywhere else in NYC but pockets of it are safe. You have good transit but I would not be walking around at night in most of Bronx.
But have you considered metro areas that have lower COL? Such as Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas/Houston, maybe Denver and/or Salt Lake city? Maybe good areas of Detroit?
Last edited by DefiantNJ; 12-15-2015 at 03:00 PM..
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