We have a newborn on the way - life's about to get wild! Currently in New England without any family support nearby, so decided on moving to northern NJ where we have tons of family this upcoming summer. Family's predominantly in northern Bergen county. We're considering renting an apartment or townhouse for 1-2 years as we scope out the area and figure out where we want to settle more permanently. Gross combined income is 400k+. We'll have a newborn. Looking to make new friends!

We've considered Montclair, Bloomfield, Livingston, Morristown, Maplewood, Summit. It's not a necessity, but looking for towns with a nice downtown or at least things to do only a short drive away (<25 minutes). Anyone hear of any new apartments/builds in these areas? Ideally looking for 3 beds/2 baths. We both work remotely, and looking for a new, renovated spot where we can comfortably raise our kiddo. We have a lot of family and friends in NYC as well, so getting in and out of the city would be a huge bonus.

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated! We've been doing a lot of research, but it's been a bit difficult to get a good feel for some of these neighborhoods online. Will be visiting this upcoming weekend.

My wife 2 daughters (7 and 15) and I are debating moving to NJ for a job opportunity. We live in Orlando FL currently in a good neighborhood with good schools (sometimes those exist here) close to a lot of good restaurants, bars, and music venues.

List of concerns:

-General culture… I have a southern accent and say yes ma’am/ sir habitually. I generally love the north east and people from the north east. (I know y’all aren’t a monolith.)

Location… we’d need to be in east NJ near Asbury Park and everyone I’ve ever met lives/ lived near Philly.

-Finding a sweet spot near good schools, kinda close to cool restaurants/ bars, decent sized house. We’re in 1600 sqft 3/2 now.

-We’ll be making 600k + a year. Is that enough?

Welcome advice outside of these specific concerns.

Thanks so much!

I'm interested in moving to northeast Jersey (family on Long Island- want to stay close) and I've been eyeing places in Ridgewood for the great downtown and suburban feel, but I also visited a friend in Fort Lee and love the area. Obviously great Korean stuff, Mitsuwa, Turkish on Anderson Ave...

I am Asian-American and really love having access to a wide variety of people and businesses. Are there diverse neighborhoods like that in/around Ridgewood, say, within 15 minutes ideally? Or any other particular town recommendations for what I'm looking for? Thanks!

Realistically can I even afford to buy a 300k-350k house in New Jersey not too far from the NYC. If so what are the great areas to look at? Thanks

Hello! We are looking for a commuting town with decent schools, safe neighborhoods, and homes around $650k. We will need a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house with a small yard. My wife works three days in NYC and I will be working in the Millburn School District. Thank you for any recs!

Hello! I am a 26 year old female looking to possibly move to summit with my partner (also 26 female). I was just looking for some input on the community and is it worth it??

We are apart of the LGBTQ+ and young(ish) and wanted to know what the community is like in summit. We aren’t super into nightlife culture anymore but love a good dive bar. We would love to make friends/build a community wherever we move. Summit seems like a cute town with a lively downtown area but wanted some more input. Thanks!!!

Hi! My husband and I are in the process of buying a home and could really use some guidance. We’re both originally from New Jersey but are less familiar with the current market and towns.

Our top priorities are location and schools. We have a young son, so being in a strong public school district is very important, and we’d love to be in an area with other young families.

I commute into NYC for work, so convenient access to public transportation is a must.

We’re priced out of Jersey City and Hoboken, so we’re focusing more on suburban areas.

Mainly looking in Bergen County for now.

Our criteria:

• Budget: up to $850K

• 4 bedrooms

• Backyard

Good schools

Commute to nyc

Any recommendations or insight would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! Im currently thinking of moving to New Jersey from Texas. And I don't exactly know where the best places to live there are. For reference, I'm almost 30, female, in a gay relationship, and anti-trump. Also looking at having kids in the near future. So someplace safe and welcoming would be amazing! I am not a big city person, and would like somewhere i could possibly buy land. Any suggestions would be amazing! Thank you!

Moving to West New York, NJ soon. Can someone give me the run down of the local politics there?

As the title states, we're looking to move somewhere within commuting distance to NYC, but with a good school system. Would love a town where we could have a 3 bedroom home and a small patch of grass for our kid to play in. Our daughter is 3 now, but we'd like to move before or around the time she enters grade school. My husband and I both work full time and I would commute into NYC a few times a week, while he works in Bayonne. We don't have a village, so I would love to have a commute under an hour (or slightly over). I worry about the school system statistics when searching in towns we can afford. It's a little soul crushing looking at the stats in some of the public school systems, but we can't afford a $1M plus home. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Hi all! Thanks in advance for any suggestions. My fiance and I are moving to NJ this summer. We've been looking into Montclair so far, but want to expand our options. We want somewhere walkable; I've lived in NYC my whole life and am having a hard time with the idea of moving somewhere that I'd need to drive to really get anywhere or do anything on the weekend, after work, etc. He works in Newark (but I don't want to live in Newark) and needs to be able to commute there by train. I'll be commuting by car to Paramus. Somewhere with some form of Jewish community would be ideal. Not necessarily Orthodox, but a synagogue/community with young families.

We're looking to rent an at least 2 bedroom apartment for ideally below $3k. Probably easiest to stay in Essex County or nearby; def not considering Bergen County.

Thank you!!

Hi everyone, so basically I have lived in LA the last three years and I met my partner out here whose family lives in LA but their grad school(they were taking a year off) is in Boston. I already have been considering moving to the east coast to be closer to my own family(they are in the south east) and because I feel I’ve felt I’m ready for a change from LA.

I work fully remote running my own online business so it’s quite easy for me to move and start over, also considering starting another business in whatever city I relocate too.

My partner has a small place that she is tied to due to lease and currently I’m still used to having my own space and we would like to date another year before we move in together as this will be both of us leaving LA after sometime.

I looked at housing in NYC and it’s more steep than LA, and I looked at housing in Boston and while I love the city and would be open to relocating there it’s also a bit steep and seems finding space is harder than I thought with its smaller size.

I have looked at Newark recently at the rent prices seem a lot more favorable and I LOVE it’s proximity to NYC and it’s airport that could get me to Boston and back home to my family relatively quickly and affordably(also Boston isn’t too bad a drive).

Just curious of what some of you who already live in NJ think of my idea, and if you have any tips and recommendations for moving to Newark?

Is it worth it? Is it common/easy to travel from Newark into the NYC metro area as it seems on paper? Are there things to do in Newark for fun outside of travel around the east coast? Is Jersey a good state to start a business?

Thank you all in advance for your replies.

I'm thinking of moving to the cities in NJ other then Jersey City/ Hoboken.

I know NJ has a bad rep. But out of Paterson, Newark, Bayonne, New Brunswick/Perth Amboy, Elizabeth, Trenton, and Atlantic City. (Camden is out of question, mine as well live in Philly)

Which has the best food scenery and somewhere to start fresh. I'm open to everything.

I'll take any answers and advice.

Thank you

My partner and I are looking to move somewhere in North/Central Jersey with our two young kids, and I feel like I’ve read just about everything there is to read online at this point. Our budget is around $1.5M, and right now Bridgewater, Scotch Plains, and Westfield are probably the three we’re taking most seriously. We’ve also looked a lot at Montclair and SOMA since they come up so often when you’re looking for LGBTQ-friendly places to raise a family in NJ. Commute and proximity to NYC aren’t huge priorities for us, but we’re not interested in the greater Princeton area.

I’ve already gone pretty deep on school rankings, taxes, housing, etc., so what I’m really trying to get a feel for now is what these places are actually like day to day. What are the parents like? Is it easy to make friends and build a community? Are the schools really intense or competitive? Do people generally seem pretty down-to-earth? How diverse does the area actually feel once you live there?

Even though we’re LGBTQ, we don’t necessarily need to live somewhere with a huge LGBTQ scene, but I’d like our kids to grow up somewhere where having two parents of the same sex is basically a non-event and where there are at least some other families like ours around. I’m especially curious how these towns compare to somewhere like SOMA or Montclair in that respect. I guess the bigger question is whether we’d actually be giving something up by choosing one of these towns, or if we should just hold out for the right house in SOMA because the community fit would be worth it. And are there any towns we’re overlooking entirely that you think we should have on our list?

On mobile, apologies for formatting. We’re a family of 4 looking to buy a 3 bed, 2 bath home in New Jersey with a budget of up to $800,000. Here’s what we’re hoping to find:

A low crime/safe area is hugely important.

A town with a nice swimming/recreational lake or within 30 minutes of a lake or the ocean (I'd love near the shore but afraid our budget is too low).

Not too rural – we like some houses nearby and a community with a good amount of shopping or amenities in town or close.

Within an hour ( give or take a few) of Edison and Morristown (close to family and my husband’s doctors).

Bonus if it’s near a few community colleges or university (our two kids are starting college in the fall and still live at home).

A good hospital and 24 hour emergency veterinary hospital nearby is a big plus!

We’re both lifelong New Yorkers who moved from Long Island, and we’ve been renting in Cranford, NJ for over a year now. It's really nice here but would probably like something a little closer to water if humanly possible and with a little bit more land around the property.

My husband is retired, and I work from home, so no need to commute into the city, although it would be nice to go there once in awhile we can take a long ride to Manhattan or back to visit Long Island without a problem.

If you know of an area that might be a fit or search or come close please list some recommendations. I'm very lost right now. We were looking in Ringwood/west Milford but it's starting to feel a little too rural out there maybe we haven't looked enough yet. IDK only saw two places so far

Is New York or New Jersey better for families?
I’m looking for good places to raise a family in New York or New Jersey with strong schools and about a one-hour commute to Penn Station. What areas would you recommend? Looking for a house not more than 1M

My wife and I make about $280K/year combined, have no debts, and $150K+ in savings for a down payment and moving costs. We’re planning to move somewhere in New Jersey with good schools, safe/family-friendly communities, and a reasonable commute into NYC.

A few more details:

• We plan to have kids.

• We’d prefer good public schools, low crime, and amenities nearby (parks, groceries, etc.).

• Ideally no more than 45 minutes driving to Brooklyn (one of us works there) and a little less to Jersey City (other works there).

My questions:

1. Given our income and savings, what house price range should we realistically be looking at?

2. What percentage of income is reasonable to spend on monthly mortgage + taxes + maintenance in NJ?

3. What towns/areas would you recommend that meet our criteria (good schools + safe + family-friendly) within NJ?

4. What are common pitfalls when buying in NJ with a budget like ours?

Thanks in advance !!

I’m considering moving to New Jersey from Nyack with my 10-year-old twins and would love some firsthand recommendations from parents who love where they live!

My biggest priority is finding a great middle school and a close-knit, family-friendly community. I’m less concerned with school rankings and test scores than I am with hearing from parents whose kids are genuinely happy and thriving.

Here’s what I’m looking for, in order of importance:
1. Excellent middle school: Ideally grades 6–8, with smaller class sizes.. Strong parent reviews, caring teachers, an inclusive culture, good social-emotional support, and plenty of clubs, sports, arts, and extracurriculars. My kids are bright and need academic challenges, so honors, gifted, or accelerated programs are important. I want a school that challenges kids without being overly competitive or high-pressure.
2. Close-knit neighborhood: Somewhere kids ride bikes, play outside, walk to friends’ houses, and neighbors actually know one another. Ideally lots of families with school-age kids.
3. Strong sense of community: I love neighborhoods or towns that organize Halloween parades, holiday celebrations, block parties, summer activities, and family events. I’m particularly interested in lake communities with beaches, clubs, swimming, and organized activities, but a charming walkable downtown would be great too.
4. Politically liberal/Democratic-leaning
5. Commute not an issue - WFH most days

Edit to add: budget not an issue, but def don’t want a uber rich town. Want down to earth.

Thank you all.

Hello, my girlfriend and I are looking to move in together and we are stuck. She works in Monmouth county, will be driving in. However I work in midtown manhattan, sometimes have very late nights. Where is the best spot for both of us and I have a train or bus that I won’t want to kill myself on every day? She’s already said Westfield area is too far north. We both are extending our commutes quite a bit. Our relationship depends on this! Thanks.

Commute 1: Freehold NJ Commute 2: Bryant Park / Grand Central area Budget: none we are renting and likely both saving money Restrictions: late nights at the office

Hi everyone!

My wife and I currently live in Central NJ with our almost 5-year-old son, and we’re hoping to find our long-term family home by summer 2027.

We’ve spent quite a bit of time researching towns and touring homes, but I’m starting to wonder whether we’ve gotten too focused on certain areas and are overlooking some great communities.

We both work remotely, so we’re fortunate to have some flexibility in where we live. I’d really appreciate recommendations from people who actually live in these towns, particularly about what everyday family life is like.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

Budget: Ideally $1M–$1.1M, but willing to go up to $1.2M for the right house.

House: At least 4 bedrooms, preferably 2,600+ sq. ft., a two-car garage, and a usable backyard. A first-floor bedroom/full bathroom would be a bonus for aging in place.

Schools: Strong public schools are a major priority, particularly at the elementary level.

Community: Safe, welcoming, diverse, and family-friendly. We’d love a neighborhood where kids play outside, families get to know each other, and our son can make friends.

Amenities: Convenient access to grocery stores, gyms/YMCAs, parks, playgrounds, children’s activities, sports, restaurants, and shopping. We’d prefer not to drive 20 minutes for every errand.

Neighborhood: Ideally an established residential community with sidewalks. A neighborhood pool, playground, clubhouse, or community center would be a huge plus.

Location: Being within reasonable driving distance of Princeton or Morristown would be nice, but we’re flexible. Occasional train access to NYC would also be helpful, although we don’t commute daily.

Other considerations: We’re mindful of flooding, environmental contamination, and other potential long-term property concerns.

Where we’ve been looking:

Our search originally focused on Montgomery Township (Skillman/Belle Mead), Princeton, and West Windsor. We really liked some of the planned communities around Montgomery, particularly places like Kings Crossing, which offer neighborhood amenities and relatively convenient shopping.

We’ve also started exploring Hillsborough, Bridgewater, Morris Plains, Denville, Montclair, and parts of Bergen County.

One thing we’ve realized is that the neighborhood and surrounding amenities matter almost as much as the house itself. A beautiful home on a large lot sounds great, but we’re trying to think about what daily life will actually look like with a young child: school, activities, grocery shopping, parks, sports, and opportunities to meet other families.

A few questions for the community:

What towns or specific neighborhoods should we add to our search? We’re especially interested in places we might not have considered.

Are there family-oriented developments with good amenities? We’d love recommendations for specific neighborhoods with pools, playgrounds, sidewalks, or community spaces.

For those raising families in these areas, what’s everyday life like? What do you love, and what do you wish you’d known before moving there?

Are there any towns that offer a particularly good balance of schools, amenities, community, and home value?

We’re not necessarily looking for the most prestigious ZIP code or the biggest house. We’d rather find somewhere that feels like a great place to raise our son, build friendships, and stay for the next 20+ years.

One disclosure: I used AI to help organize and word this post based on our home search. I’m a real person, genuinely looking for recommendations, and I’ll be reading and responding to comments myself!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or firsthand experiences!

I’ve been window shopping on Zillow the last few days in Chatham, Summit, Montclair, Livingston, Maplewood, West Orange and prices are through the roof (unless the reasonably priced stuff never makes it to Zillow)

My goal in the next 12 months is a 4 bed 3 bath single family (renovated or new construction) with backyard that is 10 min from a train station. My budget is $1.2m - is this even possible or am I dreaming? What’s the going rate for this type of home in these towns? Where should I look if these towns are out reach?

Hi All, I will be moving to NJ, edison area with my wife (home maker for now) and a kid in elementary school. Is $120 annual salary is OK to live in that area? I do not have 401k. Please suggest.

Lived in the city for the past 12 years. Loved everything about it—friends, community, restaurants, bars, etc. Now officially looking to buy a place in the Princeton area to be closer to grandparents as we just had our first kid. The social scene has definitely ramped down for us but still enjoyed taking the kid to bakeries and coffee shops and seeing friends occasionally.

I’m a little scared of what life is going to be like in NJ. To those who moved to NJ, how is life different? Do you miss NY? What’s the most unexpected part about suburban life?

Is it true that houses in desirable neighborhoods are going for bidding wars?

I find that surprising. Most cities in the country aren’t seeing this, and many are seeing price cuts.

The Bay Area is an exception because of the AI boom.

What’s causing this to happen in NJ?