Which Essex/Morris/Union town is right for us? (Passaic: fit in, for rent)
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My husband and I are NJ natives and currently live in Hoboken with our infant son. We are looking to move to the suburbs within the year. I'm looking for opinions on towns we are considering. They are:
Essex County: Bloomfield (Brookdale/Oak View), Caldwell, Glen Ridge, Maplewood, North Caldwell, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell, Verona (NOT MONTCLAIR)
Morris County: Morristown, Morris Township
Union County: Cranford, Mountainside, Springfield, Westfield
I have been researching home prices and school information in these towns, but I don't actually know anyone who lives in most of them. I would love to hear from people who have lived in any of these towns and what you thought of them. I am especially in the dark about Bloomfield, the Caldwells and Roseland.
It's hard to know where we'd fit in and it's hard to tell that just from driving around a town. We are in professionals in our mid-30s, my husband is a creative professional, and both work full-time. We are fairly liberal but don't want to live where people are REALLY left-leaning, because I feel like excessive political correctness is stifling. I am also turned off by towns where everyone is born there, lives there forever, and isn't welcoming to newcomers. I want a friendly place! Diversity would be a plus, but we already have a diverse group of friends so that that isn't absolutely necessary. We are pretty laid-back and aren't keeping-up-with-the-Joneses types.
Hi. I live in Westfield and the town is great and the schools are as well. I have a 3 bedroom house for rent if you had any interest in moving to the town. We are 10 min walk to the train and right down the street from the memorial town pool. I moved here 16 years ago and we love the town and our location. We just are upgrading to a larger home. If you are interested let me know. 973-355-4892
You may want to consider Little Falls (Passaic County) which is on the border of Essex County, neighboring Montclair and Cedar Grove. If your husband is in a creative profession he would fit in since the town has a surprising high amount of artists (graphic and your traditional arts) and the school district is big on theater. There is a good range of house styles and prices and the taxes are better than Essex county. Good transportation as well.
My wife and I moved from the city to South Orange, and I'd say South Orange/Maplewood probably fits your bill - apart from the 'extra lefty' perspective - which is perhaps a tad worse in Maplewood, but for the most part the people in the towns aren't substantially different from each other. Ajoining areas of West Orange could be good as it's sort of in between this community and the more 'standard suburbia' towns like Livingston. Generally, and especially out in the burbs the 'creative professional' demographic and the 'liberal blowhard' demographic overlap. For the record, I'm extremely liberal, but I try not to be a blowhard!
My wife and I moved from the city to South Orange, and I'd say South Orange/Maplewood probably fits your bill - apart from the 'extra lefty' perspective - which is perhaps a tad worse in Maplewood, but for the most part the people in the towns aren't substantially different from each other. Ajoining areas of West Orange could be good as it's sort of in between this community and the more 'standard suburbia' towns like Livingston. Generally, and especially out in the burbs the 'creative professional' demographic and the 'liberal blowhard' demographic overlap. For the record, I'm extremely liberal, but I try not to be a blowhard!
I would say Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Maplewood is like the capital of liberalism. I lean more conservative so maybe it's just my perspective. But just on my block alone there are several gay/lesbian couples, interracial couples, and and overall large mix of people that you don't typically see in other suburban areas. From a voting perspective everyone we know around here is Democrat.
I would say Montclair, West Orange, South Orange, Maplewood is like the capital of liberalism. I lean more conservative so maybe it's just my perspective. But just on my block alone there are several gay/lesbian couples, interracial couples, and and overall large mix of people that you don't typically see in other suburban areas. From a voting perspective everyone we know around here is Democrat.
Honestly most of North Jersey (NYC Suburbs) is pretty liberal, you would need to move out to Sussex county before it really switches over to staunch conservative territory.
Honestly most of North Jersey (NYC Suburbs) is pretty liberal, you would need to move out to Sussex county before it really switches over to staunch conservative territory.
Nah I would say Morris runs pretty red, although to be fair it's more about economic conservatism than social conservatism.
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