Liberal, Artsy Towns in North Jersey? (Jersey City, Montclair: houses, employment, neighborhood)

[rogerscbtjn]

I'm considering a move to North Jersey due to employment in NYC. I want to be no more than an hour to the city by train, preferably less. More importantly, I want a safe community with great public schools for my 3 boys. I'd prefer an artsy town that leans liberal/democratic with diversity in ethnicity and religion. Not too keep up with the Jonesy, if you know what I mean, but nice houses - 500-700K for 4+ bedrooms. Good dining, shopping, recreation.
Bring on serious suggestions please. Thanks!

[Amanda73]

You might want to consider Montclair, although the taxes have been scaring me away from considering it in my planned relocation. It's a great town though

[mead]

Yeah we don't have any more room for liberal hipsters in New Jersey. Keep on moving. This is New Jersey!

[anoninnyc]

well, i second montclair but also agree about the taxes being high. montclair is adorable and mixed financially and racially.

[Roger Davis]

Mead.
Just what is a liberal hipster? I Googled "liberal hipsters" and I came up with some refrences to liberal hipsters but not a definition of what one actually is.

I know what a liberal is.. somebody who does not follow the herd.

I think I know what a hipster is...somebody who is real cool.


Does that mean a liberal hipster is a cool person who thinks on his/her own?

Please help me out here I am old and uninformed.

E

[anoninnyc]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hipster

hipsters live in williamsburg, brooklyn. It is truly annoying. Jersey is too real for that crap.

If you are looking to buy in new jersey, you are probably too old to be a hipster. Unless something is really wrong with you. Artsy, on the other hand, is perfectly acceptable at any age. Nyack, NY and Montclair, NJ would fall under this category.

[doc1]

I agree. Montclair is where you want to go. Very liberal politically, very well to do.

[CrazyJerzyKidUNO]

Hoboken is good for you artsy williamsburg people but seriously NJ dont got anything like that

[metaljaybird]

There aren't too many real artsy towns in NJ (like Northampton, MA, New Hope, PA, or Salem, MA).

The closest you'll get are Montclair, NJ and maybe a certain artsy neighborhood in Jersey City (though the artists don't like to preach about it, because they'll get the same problem Williamsburg has -- too many yuppies).

Personally, I would like a conservative artsy town, but those are few and far between.

[rogerscbtjn]

Mead you are the type that give poster a bad name. Say something positive or butt out.

I never said I was a hipster either by the way. But thanks to Roger Davis for his response.

I am just looking for cool people who aren't snobby wanne bes. Clearly Mead isn't one of those.

Thanks for all the positive advice coming out of the rest of you guys.