Is Springfield, NJ one of the few true middle class towns left? (Newark: middle-class, cheap home)

[Shoshanarose]

I am noticing that most towns seem to be either upper middle class or upper class (Millburn, Livingston, Summit, Maplewood, etc.) or working class or lower class (i.e., Union).

Is Springfield one of the few towns that people would categorize as truly middle class? Not wealthy or even upper middle class, but not blue-collar per se. Rather a true middle class town?

[captne76]

No, there are many many more.

[zhelder]

Some still exist, but they appear to be vanishing rapidly in NJ, especially in the northern half of the state. Over the past twenty years or so, most of these former middle-class towns seem to have been pulled in one direction ("rich towns") or the other ("poor towns").

Springfield is one of those former middle-class towns that appears to have been nudged in the "rich town" direction. Union, another former middle-class town, is heading in the "poor town" direction.

It's the same in other areas too, like Essex County. Bloomfield? Brookdale notwithstanding, it seems to be headed into "poor town" territory. Nutley? One of the few existing "middle class" towns, but very slowly creeping into "rich town" territory. Fair Lawn in Bergen County is still hanging on to "middle-class" too, but is also very slowly creeping into "rich town" territory. Neighboring Saddle Brook is hanging on too, but is very slowly creeping into "poor town" territory. Waldwick and Midland Park in Northern Bergen County? They hit the turbo button into "rich town" territory 20 years ago. They only seem "middle-class" in comparison to the crazy rich towns that surround them.

It's really a shame.

[Shoshanarose]

Originally Posted by zhelder

Some still exist, but they appear to be vanishing rapidly in NJ, especially in the northern half of the state. Over the past twenty years or so, most of these former middle-class towns seem to have been pulled in one direction ("rich towns") or the other ("poor towns").

Springfield is one of those former middle-class towns that appears to have been nudged in the "rich town" direction. Union, another former middle-class town, is heading in the "poor town" direction.

Oh wow, Springfield is becoming a rich town? That sucks...
only upside is that if you buy or bought there, your housing value may go up...

[NJtoNYCtoNJ]

I just bought in Springfield and moved in a month and a half ago (Shoshanarose - I believe we talked in another thread). I have to say, I couldn't be happier with the decision. People are completely down to earth and the town does have a middle class feel, but I would agree it may be very slowly creeping into more upper middle given the taxes are not cheap (though not bad at all relatively) and there is some nice sized new construction being completed. But overall - you're right, it's a great middle ground between the high end towns and developing ones.

Other ones I can think of? Colonia? Clark? Bloomfield as stated above may be. There are many more I'm sure, but less in the northeast/NYC commutable area.

[Shoshanarose]

Originally Posted by NJtoNYCtoNJ

I just bought in Springfield and moved in a month and a half ago (Shoshanarose - I believe we talked in another thread). I have to say, I couldn't be happier with the decision. People are completely down to earth and the town does have a middle class feel, but I would agree it may be very slowly creeping into more upper middle given the taxes are not cheap (though not bad at all relatively) and there is some nice sized new construction being completed. But overall - you're right, it's a great middle ground between the high end towns and developing ones.

Other ones I can think of? Colonia? Clark? Bloomfield as stated above may be. There are many more I'm sure, but less in the northeast/NYC commutable area.

Thanks, glad you are happy with your decision!

I don't remember us talking in another thread - refresh my memory?

That's great that Springfield has a middle class feel, because I am noticing I feel more comfortable in neighborhoods and towns where that's the case (my spouse and I are middle income).

It's awkward to find oneself in an environment where people are talking about things like going on multiple international vacations, or paying tends of thousands of dollars for additions to houses, or buying houses that cost almost a million dollars. Plus - not sure if others notice this - it feels at times that if one is not a high earner, people in those towns judge you as somehow less worthy or even a kind of "sad case". (Mind you, I have two graduate degrees, work full-time in a professional job, I simply earn a middle class salary).

Is Bloomfield similar to Springfield? I always thought of it as more of a lower middle class/blue collar town (not that that's a bad thing).

I notice lots of immigrant neighborhoods in NYC feel very middle class, which I find nice. Families, people going to work, working hard, and coming home, and kids studying hard in school, and everyone surviving and doing okay, supporting local businesses, in a safe neighborhood, just not rolling in the money.

[NJtoNYCtoNJ]

Right before I moved, I asked about the town and peoples' thoughts - you had mentioned that you thought it lacked an identity, etc and we were asking people about Springfield itself - as opposed to people telling us about the great surrounding towns.

Bloomfield is not similar to Springfield. That was probably a bad comparison but I kind of thought Bloomfield was on the up and up and bit, so I threw it in the mix. My wife and I looked there as well, it's more working class than Springfield overall. Though, there are very nice parts of Bloomfield and taxes are quite high considering the schools aren't great just yet.

Your last paragraph to me is spot on. Most people in Springfield do just that. It's not a flashy town and there doesn't seem to be a "keeping up with the Joneses" type of feel. There are definitely some very nice houses in town and plenty of upper middle class families, but you'll see a nice diverse mix of incomes and people. It's not Westfield, but it's not Union either. It's nicely in the middle. I think in nearly any town you'll see additions put on houses and families splurging for international vacations, but I imagine you'll get less of that here than some other areas. On my street I have neighbors that range from finance in NYC to retired Newark police to local teachers. You'd never feel like you were out of your element, and we love that.

I've heard very good things about the schools and my commute to downtown NYC via the jitney has been easy.

[CdotSmith]

Originally Posted by NJtoNYCtoNJ

Right before I moved, I asked about the town and peoples' thoughts - you had mentioned that you thought it lacked an identity, etc and we were asking people about Springfield itself - as opposed to people telling us about the great surrounding towns.

Bloomfield is not similar to Springfield. That was probably a bad comparison but I kind of thought Bloomfield was on the up and up and bit, so I threw it in the mix. My wife and I looked there as well, it's more working class than Springfield overall. Though, there are very nice parts of Bloomfield and taxes are quite high considering the schools aren't great just yet.

Your last paragraph to me is spot on. Most people in Springfield do just that. It's not a flashy town and there doesn't seem to be a "keeping up with the Joneses" type of feel. There are definitely some very nice houses in town and plenty of upper middle class families, but you'll see a nice diverse mix of incomes and people. It's not Westfield, but it's not Union either. It's nicely in the middle. I think in nearly any town you'll see additions put on houses and families splurging for international vacations, but I imagine you'll get less of that here than some other areas. On my street I have neighbors that range from finance in NYC to retired Newark police to local teachers. You'd never feel like you were out of your element, and we love that.

I've heard very good things about the schools and my commute to downtown NYC via the jitney has been easy.

As someone who has lived in the town for 4 years, this is spot on.

[nykstevenyg]

How do you guys think West Orange compares to Springfield and Bloomfield. My take is Springfield is slightly better but West Orange is better than Bloomfield. I'm looking at housing in West Orange and Springfield. More so West Orange since there are more smaller cheap homes.

[NJtoNYCtoNJ]

Originally Posted by nykstevenyg

How do you guys think West Orange compares to Springfield and Bloomfield. My take is Springfield is slightly better but West Orange is better than Bloomfield. I'm looking at housing in West Orange and Springfield. More so West Orange since there are more smaller cheap homes.

I like West Orange a lot. It's a cool area with a fair amount going on (although no real downtown area, except for an extension of Orange's downtown). Schools are pretty good too, I've heard the elementary schools especially. Certainty better than Bloomfield, not quite Montclair. Some great restaurants and parks.

Biggest issue I had looking there was taxes. You're in Essex County, taxes will be very high. It tends to make house prices seem more affordable because taxes affect a homes value. Most homes in the 400K-500K range will see tax bills of 13-16K. It may be cheaper along the Orange border. All in all very nice town - I just have an aversion to Essex counties taxes. Everyone is different.