ShareComprehensive97 t1_irrae41 wrote on October 10, 2022 at 1:19 PM

Most of the towns in NJ have good school systems. Some are better than others. You can look on Niche to see how they rate the towns to get an idea.

There are a lot of people in Northern NJ who work in the same biotech/pharma industry.

Affordable is another question altogether. A lot depends upon what you've got to spend. You can find decent homes in the high $500ks in to the millions. What's your budget?

Englewood/Tenafly/Cresskill (and other Bergen County towns) come to mind but, again, it depends upon what you want to spend.

Aflatune OP t1_irrawg1 wrote on October 10, 2022 at 1:23 PM

My budget is up to $650K. What always pushed me away from Jersey was the taxes - it seems like it's high on all fronts (income, sales, and property). But, perhaps the salaries make up for it, or does it vary a lot from town to town? Thanks!

ShareComprehensive97 t1_irrb4z3 wrote on October 10, 2022 at 1:25 PM

A good deal of property taxes goes to the public education system. In other places, other states, people who buy a $650K home send kids to private schools.

You can live in Northern Bergen County for that budget. Great properties, Excellent schools, Bucolic neighborhoods. You likely won't get a mansion for that but a decent home.

Happy hunting!

PS, Tenafly has one of the highest rated public school systems in the State. Also, Demarest. Prices are high there but they are softening somewhat.

Aflatune OP t1_irrbsqz wrote on October 10, 2022 at 1:30 PM

Thanks a lot! This is super helpful. I'll keep that in mind - will look into Tenafly and that area.

burton614 t1_irrci6c wrote on October 10, 2022 at 1:36 PM

I agree Bergen county is nice. I went to FDU and lived off campus. Easy access to NYC and awesome food. I’m a Cape May County native, so I ended up moving home. Much slower down here, great place to raise a family. Cheaper too.

Capable_Elk_3070 t1_irtlh6k wrote on October 10, 2022 at 11:01 PM

I'm the other pharma worker that commented previously. I grew up in Tenafly actually, but it would be about an hour to Merck, BMS, J and J etc. I would be looking further south! Tenafly is a beautiful town with fantastic public schools, but it's not in the right part of the state.

Top_Ad5385 t1_irtzf1b wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:51 AM

Agree

Top_Ad5385 t1_irtzdgk wrote on October 11, 2022 at 12:51 AM

Definitely look at Cranford and Westfield as well.

ShareComprehensive97 t1_irrcb79 wrote on October 10, 2022 at 1:35 PM

Well, don't feel bad if it's difficult to find something in Tenafly or Demarest. Because of the schools there, prices stay high & homes move fast.

But the schools are great all the way up to the NYS border. Look up towns in Northern Bergen County (ie, Cresskill, Haworth, Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood, Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Emerson, Park Ridge, River Vale, Westwood, Hillsdale). They're all very commutable. Some towns have commuter trains & they all have buses if you don't want to drive (but most people commuting in-state do drive.)

Good luck.