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287 north of Morristown is not bad traffic wise. I believe south is a different story. Route 80 West of Parsippany is notoriously bad traffic wise. I believe there would be some alternative routes depending on where exactly you end up.
You could also look into the Butler/Bloomingdale area if your wife ends up working somewhere north of Morristown.
From Morristown you can take 53 that avoids 287 all together and you miss the Route 80 Denville hill.
I've commuted to Morristown from Warren County for the past 22 years. For 10 years I did it from Independence Twp. (just west of Hackettstown) and for the last 12 years from Oxford. It was far worse from Independence driving Route 80E and 287S then it is from Oxford driving Route 78E and 287N.
The time you commute is key as well. I leave my house just after 6:00 in the morning and get out of work at 3:30. Most of the time it takes me 50 minutes (the drive is about 47 miles). Of course, if there is an accident or it's the sun glare time of the year. Honestly, the longest part (time wise) of my commute is Route 31 getting to and from Route 78.
Yes, hours make a big difference. I work in Cedar Knolls 9-4, but I stay until 5 on Fridays. Big difference when you can leave outside of rush hour. I'm Union County now, so I tend to go through the Great Swamp and only hit 287 for a couple miles south of Morristown now. I used to have to be on 287 by Somerville. So glad I'm done with that.
I second removing Dover from your list. Personally I'm also not a big fan of Wharton (despite some awesome local delis), but guess some people might like it. Hopatcong, Rockway, and Mine Hill should have all the amenities you're seeking in your price range though.
Strongly recommend renting for a bit to get a feel for the areas. When I first moved here, I rented an inexpensive place in Parsipanny, paid half a month's rent to break my lease, and then bought a place in Denville, close to the edge of Rockaway. It's not difficult to break a lease with a lot of places since inventory is so low in a lot of areas.
We've narrowed down our search, and have really been focusing on Hopatcong, Dover, Rockway, Wharton, and Mine Hill. The homes seem to be very reasonably priced, they're very close to Morristown, and the proximity to the state park and lake seem like a big perk. Is there some reason to avoid this area?
IMO, I would find a place close to route 53 like someone else mentioned. If you move to one of those areas and have to take the 80-287 routes, you will regret it.
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