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We live in Howell, NJ. It is moderately priced and has good public schools. There aren't 25% African Americans, but it is racially diverse. There are 3 African American households on my block, one two blocks away, and a middle eastern family a block away. An African American family lives next door to my daughter's house. All the African American familes I mentioned have lived there for 10 years or more. I don't know of any prejudice here, everyone get's along and blends in. There are also 2 hispanic families on the next block, one rents and own owns. 3 bedroom homes are priced around $250K. Smaller homes, condos and rentals are priced accordingly. It's about a 50 minute commute to midtown Manhattan by commuter bus.
Thank you for sharing! The area sounds very nice but unfortunately is about 50 minutes from my job in Clark. Anyone know of areas similar to Howell but closer to Clark?
Someone mentioned Scotch Plains which is in the same county as Clark, Union County, which is a rather small but very dense county. It's close to your work. South Orange is about 10 miles or so up the Parkway from Clark but rush hour traffic on that stretch of the parkway is pretty bad. You'd just have to deal with probably at least a 30 minute commute, maybe worse, when it should be shorter with no traffic. You'll be working and living within a very expensive area of NJ and getting good schools and rent in your budget will be tough. NJ is pretty socioeconomically segregated. TBH there are more minorities in the more urban areas that tend to be less safe with schools that aren't as good as ones in the true suburbs. There are decent amounts of diversity in some towns like those mentioned but your issue with those are likely to be cost because they're probably over budget.
Edison is "diverse" but there are many Asians (Indians) in that area, so yes, not many African Americans as you said. I understand that you want your child to be around other African Americans, and you probably want that for yourself as well, but something may have to be sacrificed and it will probably have to be diversity, at least at the level you want to see it. Most people ultimately want the best possible schools in their price range, which I think is a valid priority. However, your son won't start kindergarten for another two years so the good thing is you can rent wherever now and keep doing research when you move here and get a feel and look at the area.
I would say look at South Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Maplewood, and West Orange. South Orange might be a little too highly priced. Maplewood won't be that easy either, but probably better chances there than South Orange, and they use the same schools. South Plainfield and Scotch Plains won't be 25% AA but are more than 10% which is not too bad. If you decide that AA population becomes even less important, Springfield would also work as a place where you can get bang for your buck. If so, then Edison also works just as well.
I'm an African American single mom with a 3 year old child and we're relocating from the Midwest to central New Jersey for my job. I plan to rent for 3-5 years and am stumped on the best area to live in. I'm looking for an area with good schools (7 or higher rating on great schools site) that are racially diverse. So far the good schools seem to be in non diverse areas or areas out of my price range. I'm looking for a 1 bedroom + den or 2 bedroom condo, apartment or townhouse that's under $1750/month. I would also like to live in an area with at least 25% African American population and a variety of other races and of course an area that's very safe. Any tips on where to live?
Not to sound disrespectful, but be more concern with quality than diversity. In New Jersey the more "Urban" or "Diverse" the school districts are; the worse the education. So, you'll be pressed to work harder in order to provide a level of education that is par to what is needed to be successful....so it boils down to us parents. With that said, I live in Woodbridge and while the school system sucks big time, my wife and I work really hard to undo, re channel, and then enhance the education that our son gets at the local indoctrination gulag....I mean schools. The township is affordable and it is very strategic because it connects all the main roads of the State. Additionally, the township is close to NYC (25 miles or so) and it has two train lines that allow you to work in Manhattan.
I'm an African American single mom with a 3 year old child and we're relocating from the Midwest to central New Jersey for my job. I plan to rent for 3-5 years and am stumped on the best area to live in. I'm looking for an area with good schools (7 or higher rating on great schools site) that are racially diverse. So far the good schools seem to be in non diverse areas or areas out of my price range. I'm looking for a 1 bedroom + den or 2 bedroom condo, apartment or townhouse that's under $1750/month. I would also like to live in an area with at least 25% African American population and a variety of other races and of course an area that's very safe. Any tips on where to live?
We live in Howell, NJ. It is moderately priced and has good public schools. There aren't 25% African Americans, but it is racially diverse. There are 3 African American households on my block, one two blocks away, and a middle eastern family a block away. An African American family lives next door to my daughter's house. All the African American familes I mentioned have lived there for 10 years or more. I don't know of any prejudice here, everyone get's along and blends in. There are also 2 hispanic families on the next block, one rents and own owns. 3 bedroom homes are priced around $250K. Smaller homes, condos and rentals are priced accordingly. It's about a 50 minute commute to midtown Manhattan by commuter bus.
The only two people I know who live in Howell are African-American. One lives in a townhouse, the other in a single-family home. Only the one in the sfh has kids, but she liked the schools there, and her kids are both in college now.
Note: She moved OUT of Maplewood when her son was 13 because she felt that the Newark element was moving in and that there were negative influences on him there. I personally am not familiar with Maplewood--just passing info here.
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The only two people I know who live in Howell are African-American. One lives in a townhouse, the other in a single-family home. Only the one in the sfh has kids, but she liked the schools there, and her kids are both in college now.
