Towns with easy commute to Newark (Orange, Fair Lawn: house, buying, public school)
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I am interesting in buying my first (and forever) home in NJ with a great public school system and a commute of up to an hour to downtown Newark. The maximum amount we can spend is $500K. Everyone keeps recommending Bergen county but are there any specific towns you recommend in or out of Bergen county?
Friends also recommended Roxbury but it seems like the commute to Newark would be closer to 2 hrs which is too long for me.
After living in Bergen County most of my life, I moved to Mount Arlington, which is surrounded by Roxbury. Mount Arlington sends its high school students to Roxbury High School and most shopping in this area is located in Roxbury, I’ve gotten to know the town moderately well. Bergen County I know like the back of my hand.
Roxbury to Newark can be as little as 40 minutes each way without traffic. The problem is that Route 80 and sometimes Route 280 traffic at Rush Hour can be horrific. Figure an hour each way on a typical day.
Roxbury will be significantly cheaper than a comparable town in Bergen County. Succasunna is probably the nicest and most “Bergen County-like” of the town sections. Ledgewood is also nice. The town, and area as a whole are more rural in nature than Bergen County. You could probably find something decent for $350,000 - $400,000.
If you want to blow the whole $500,000 and can afford another $3,000 or so per year in taxes, you could probably get something decent in Fair Lawn, Rutherford, and possibly Waldwick or Midland Park. The commute to Newark will be better (30 to 35 minutes without traffic, and while Garden State Parkway/Turnpike traffic can be bad at rush hour, it’s not as bad as Route 80 traffic). The schools in all four towns are probably a bit better than Roxbury’s. Bergen County towns are smaller and more densely populated than the larger Morris County suburbs.
Bergen County is easier to navigate, but has bad local traffic. Shopping options are a lot better in Bergen County, especially food/restaurant wise. Roxbury has lots of trees, lakes, and wildlife.
After living in Bergen County most of my life, I moved to Mount Arlington, which is surrounded by Roxbury. Mount Arlington sends its high school students to Roxbury High School and most shopping in this area is located in Roxbury, I’ve gotten to know the town moderately well. Bergen County I know like the back of my hand.
Roxbury to Newark can be as little as 40 minutes each way without traffic. The problem is that Route 80 and sometimes Route 280 traffic at Rush Hour can be horrific. Figure an hour each way on a typical day.
Roxbury will be significantly cheaper than a comparable town in Bergen County. Succasunna is probably the nicest and most “Bergen County-like” of the town sections. Ledgewood is also nice. The town, and area as a whole are more rural in nature than Bergen County. You could probably find something decent for $350,000 - $400,000.
If you want to blow the whole $500,000 and can afford another $3,000 or so per year in taxes, you could probably get something decent in Fair Lawn, Rutherford, and possibly Waldwick or Midland Park. The commute to Newark will be better (30 to 35 minutes without traffic, and while Garden State Parkway/Turnpike traffic can be bad at rush hour, it’s not as bad as Route 80 traffic). The schools in all four towns are probably a bit better than Roxbury’s. Bergen County towns are smaller and more densely populated than the larger Morris County suburbs.
Bergen County is easier to navigate, but has bad local traffic. Shopping options are a lot better in Bergen County, especially food/restaurant wise. Roxbury has lots of trees, lakes, and wildlife.
Good luck with your search!
You will only pay $3000 per year in taxes if you have a time machine. Did you mean $3000 per quarter?
Fords, the section along new Brunswick ave. Run up the parkway, about 18 minutes on a good day.
"Run up the parkway?" Are you kidding? Maybe at 3am. The section of the Parkway between exits 135 and 145 is one of the most congested sections of highway in the entire state.
"Run up the parkway?" Are you kidding? Maybe at 3am. The section of the Parkway between exits 135 and 145 is one of the most congested sections of highway in the entire state.
I've traveled up the Parkway four times in the past week. Once to Bergen County last Saturday, twice to Newark for medical appointments.
That IS the worst part of the Parkway. I am not sure that the five miles before 145 isn't backed up even at 3 a.m.
After living in Bergen County most of my life, I moved to Mount Arlington, which is surrounded by Roxbury. Mount Arlington sends its high school students to Roxbury High School and most shopping in this area is located in Roxbury, I’ve gotten to know the town moderately well. Bergen County I know like the back of my hand.
Roxbury to Newark can be as little as 40 minutes each way without traffic. The problem is that Route 80 and sometimes Route 280 traffic at Rush Hour can be horrific. Figure an hour each way on a typical day.
Roxbury will be significantly cheaper than a comparable town in Bergen County. Succasunna is probably the nicest and most “Bergen County-like” of the town sections. Ledgewood is also nice. The town, and area as a whole are more rural in nature than Bergen County. You could probably find something decent for $350,000 - $400,000.
If you want to blow the whole $500,000 and can afford another $3,000 or so per year in taxes, you could probably get something decent in Fair Lawn, Rutherford, and possibly Waldwick or Midland Park. The commute to Newark will be better (30 to 35 minutes without traffic, and while Garden State Parkway/Turnpike traffic can be bad at rush hour, it’s not as bad as Route 80 traffic). The schools in all four towns are probably a bit better than Roxbury’s. Bergen County towns are smaller and more densely populated than the larger Morris County suburbs.
Bergen County is easier to navigate, but has bad local traffic. Shopping options are a lot better in Bergen County, especially food/restaurant wise. Roxbury has lots of trees, lakes, and wildlife.
Good luck with your search!
Thank you very much zhelder. This was really helpful. I will definitely look at the suburbs you suggested.
Thank you for your suggestion foodyum. Verona and S. Orange are in our list as well. Asking prices are right at the end of our budget and taxes appear to be a little high, but definitely worth exploring.
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