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Thank you everyone - will look into Morristown and Madison, and maybe test out the commute! That's promising to hear about the Morristown downtown improving. Do a lot of people in Madison and Morristown come from NYC/commute to the city?
And yes, I totally get that I might be sounding like I am contradicting myself, but I feel like certain towns are affluent but not predominantly flashy...Boston has a lot of that (Brookline, Newton, Cambridge, Lexington) as do parts of Westchester. (i.e. Larchmont vs Scarsdale), so I'm hoping to find the eqivalent in NJ. I'm fine if there are some flashy people, as long as you don't need to be riding around in a Mercedes/Tesla or wear a Moncler coat to fit in.
Yes, I understand. I think you actually did find the town you're looking for - it's Montclair .
I grew up in the Boston area so know that area well - New England in general is a bit more down to earth than NYC, and agree with you on Brookline, Newton & Cambridge (Concord would be the best example I think, though leans a bit more crunchy than anything you'd find here.) But Lexington is like Millburn/Short Hills on steroids, ha.
We’re 30 something year olds who lived in Brooklyn and are looking to move to NJ (maybe Westchester). We’re currently working from home but will likely commute into the city at some point. We love montclair and know we’d enjoy living there/find our community there but taxes, the crazy housing market are a deterrent.
We’re potentially looking at northern jersey, specifically Ridgewood, Westfield, Madison, but open to other options. Would love feedback based on what we want! Also, we know enough about South Orange and Maplewood, so other towns
Good schools - doesn’t have to be insanely competitive, but good solid schools
Walkability and a charming downtown with local stores/restaurants/coffee shops
Train line - must-have
Not super snooty - we understand many nice towns have certain snobby people but we at least want to find some people we can mesh with (young professionals, people who are interested in books, music,
Podcasts, museums in the city). We just don’t want super flashy - or no 16 yr olds with Benz’s and Chanel bags.
Liberal but not super left-leaning
Secular Jewish community - or people who celebrate the high holidays and a town that has some visible Hanukkah menorahs. Doesn’t have to be the majority but enough to make Jewish friends to celebrate holidays with.
Healthy population of working moms
Not rural - I want to see my neighbors and don’t need a McMansion
I’m very focused on the town because ideally we’s like to build a community, make friends!
So would love to hear any feedback! Thank you!!
Long list, hate to break to it to you as a New Yorker who moved to West Orange 3 and half years ago. You need to accept that no town will come close to any 5 boros. You move here to get away from that. Sure Montclair is nice and they ridiculously try to be lower east side but it will never happen unless you like seeing homeless weirdos in your main street and pay 18k+ a year in property taxes. my town has no downtown charm or train but it has direct bus service and jitney to the trains help. You will need a car everywhere you go. I like my neighbors, each block is different. I came in expecting BBQ's and parties and fun times with everyone. It is not like that lol. In fact I felt I had more community in Queens as my block was pretty tight and we did everything we could to keep it safe. You can go days without seeing your neighbors. West Orange in beautiful though and I enjoy very much. Yeah, taxes are high but its NJ and I enjoy being near every single town within a 10 min distance that has higher taxes than mine.
Look into Milburn, I dont know anything about Jewish communities other than my neighbors are Jewish.
Yeah, taxes are high but its NJ and I enjoy being near every single town within a 10 min distance that has higher taxes than mine.
The only towns within a 10 minute distance of West Orange with higher taxes are Orange and East Orange. OK, maybe if you hustle you can make it to Irvington.
Long list, hate to break to it to you as a New Yorker who moved to West Orange 3 and half years ago. You need to accept that no town will come close to any 5 boros. You move here to get away from that. Sure Montclair is nice and they ridiculously try to be lower east side but it will never happen unless you like seeing homeless weirdos in your main street and pay 18k+ a year in property taxes. my town has no downtown charm or train but it has direct bus service and jitney to the trains help. You will need a car everywhere you go. I like my neighbors, each block is different. I came in expecting BBQ's and parties and fun times with everyone. It is not like that lol. In fact I felt I had more community in Queens as my block was pretty tight and we did everything we could to keep it safe. You can go days without seeing your neighbors. West Orange in beautiful though and I enjoy very much. Yeah, taxes are high but its NJ and I enjoy being near every single town within a 10 min distance that has higher taxes than mine.
Look into Milburn, I dont know anything about Jewish communities other than my neighbors are Jewish.
The only towns within a 10 minute distance of West Orange with higher taxes are Orange and East Orange. OK, maybe if you hustle you can make it to Irvington.
I guess you live down the hill, I can make it to Montclair and Milburn in under 10 mins from my house. 15 to Milburn if its a Sunny warm day as Cherry lane gets congested with Zoo traffic and the reservation. Montclair is closer than East Orange for me.
I guess you live down the hill, I can make it to Montclair and Milburn in under 10 mins from my house. 15 to Milburn if its a Sunny warm day as Cherry lane gets congested with Zoo traffic and the reservation. Montclair is closer than East Orange for me.
Montclair and Millburn have lower taxes. I live in St Cloud, so up the hill. Closest neighboring town is actually Livingston (straight up Northfield or 10), but that's lower taxes too.
Montclair and Millburn have lower taxes. I live in St Cloud, so up the hill. Closest neighboring town is actually Livingston (straight up Northfield or 10), but that's lower taxes too.
Effective tax rates:
Montclair: 2.840%
Millburn: 1.900%
Livingston: 2.289%
West Orange: 3.634%
East Orange: 3.834%
Irvington: 4.863%
Orange: 5.232%
Effective Tax rates mean nothing. it's just an arbitrary number based on artificial market value/equalization ratios.
Just focus on General Tax Rates. W Orange is BRUTAL
Effective Tax rates mean nothing. it's just an arbitrary number based on artificial market value/equalization ratios.
Just focus on General Tax Rates. W Orange is BRUTAL
You've got it backwards. The General Tax Rates mean nothing for comparison purposes; the effective tax rates take into account different equalization ratios. West Orange has a general tax rate of 4.354%, which is indeed brutal. But as it happens, East Orange is 5.541%, Orange is 5.780%, and Irvington is 5.979%, so it's brutal there too.
Thank you everyone - will look into Morristown and Madison, and maybe test out the commute! That's promising to hear about the Morristown downtown improving. Do a lot of people in Madison and Morristown come from NYC/commute to the city?
Yes. Both good choices. Madison has plenty of train station parking. There's also Convent Station in Morris Twp (one stop west of Madison) which is going to be much easier to park at than Morristown station.
These towns meet most or all of your criteria. Madison is small and Morristown much larger.
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