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Have you considered a bus instead of a train? There are numerous places to park your car and take a bus into the city in Hanover Township, Florham Park, Parsippany. The commute to Sparta is reasonable from these areas.
I think the OP has a bladder control issues...lol just kiddin op : ) The bus actually looks quicker than the train??? Martz Trailways - From Panther Valley, New Jersey (http://www.martztrailways.com/from-panther-valley.asp - broken link)
You might want to look at South Orange and Maplewood. Great communities, direct train to Manhattan takes about 30 minutes and it's an easy drive to sparta via ROute 280/80. And your price range is doable. I am a realtor. Feel free to ask questions.
I'm not familar enough with Sparta to know what would be a good commute, but I will say that you have to stick close to NYC if you want a place that will be a tolerable commute for both of you.
For example, people here have suggested Maplewood/South Orange. Both are very nice towns, about 30 minutes on an express train to NYC (a bit longer for non-express). But even at that, your door-to-door commute is going to be about an hour, when you factor in time to get to the train station in Maplewood and time to get to your office from Midtown. It's pretty much that way everywhere in NJ; if you want to keep your commute to NYC to about an hour, you'll need to look for places that you get get to Manhattan on the train in about 30-40 minutes.
An hour commute is tolerable (sad that it's come to that!), but anything above 1.5 hours each way will wear you down really quickly. Especially if you ever work late - it's even worse when you're ready to leave work at 8pm but you have to stick around another 30 minutes because of the train schedule.
Just some words of advice from a longtime NYC area commuter. Good luck!
Well, I divided that up trying to get up to Sparta, and then the opposite direction to NYC..........So...........
I think you should look into Denville. Take the train out of the Denville station. The most an hour and half to the city..........It could be one hour, if I remember correctly.
Then she would drive 80 to 15 into Sparta.
There are back routes from 15 into Dover, and into Indian lake,and other parts of Denville.
Denville still has some nice areas. I like personally Lake Arrowhead..........What a peaceful place to come home too.
Another nice section is in Union Hill off of route 10........
You wife would have the 45 min. or less ride to Sparta.......and you'll be in a good timeframe too.
Denville is a nice small town, with good schools. So I think for your situation.....that is a good choice. ( train stain off of 53 by Estling Lake )
Here are a few Denville homes that might work for you.........They are in the price range you mentioned.......look up.....5bd/2bath.......#2486810 with lake advantages
3/2 bath...... # 2495232 beautiful grounds......
There is also another nice home that is 4 bedroom 2 1/2 baths that looks good too......
I know the bus from Denville picks up ( or did, so hopfully it still does?) by the entrance to Lk Arrowhead and it was one hour in by bus.
This being kind of your midway point, have you checked the area as of yet?
Best of Luck..........( former Denville resident for many years)
Denville was considered but the schools were poor. Same thing as Morristown, Morris Plains, and Convent (their schools are awful). The train ride is 1:15 so I wonder if I will burn out. I usually get out of work at 5:00. Thank you for all your replies. I prefer not the bus because of traffic in the summer and no bathrooms.
You know, it all depends on the time of day you leave home, but sussex county can be doable. I travel from Newton to East Rutherford everyday and my commute on normal traffic (that means no accidents, no traffic jams) is an hour and I'm speaking from door to door. Lincoln Tunnel is just another 10 minutes away. However I do make my own hours, so if You don't have a flexible schedule and your job is a 9 - 5 type, you're going to be spending a lot more time on the road. I would recommend Fairfield which is right next to Wayne or Parsippany.
Morris Plains is perfect for both, has a train system and she can drive 80 to 15 and that direction is clear on 80 west , they all are going east. I just noticed you said Morris Plains has a bad school system, I dont think so. OK how about Whippany, Cedar Knolls, Hanover twshp, or east hanover.
We considered Morris Plains but the prices are just as ridiculous as Madison and Chatham for some reason. Is there a reason why?
I know they have a strong elementary school but once you get to the Middle and High School, they were found to be way below average because it is shared with Morristown. Is my data correct?
You might want to look at South Orange and Maplewood. Great communities, direct train to Manhattan takes about 30 minutes and it's an easy drive to sparta via ROute 280/80. And your price range is doable. I am a realtor. Feel free to ask questions.
Easy drive to Sparta from S. Orange/Maplewood??
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