5 Great Cities to Move To in New Jersey
MTV’s “Jersey Shore” didn’t do New Jersey many favors. In fact, it painted the residents as, well, a bunch of idiots. Nothing could be further from the truth.
While the New Jersey coast does have nice beaches, the rest of the state is also beautiful, full of trees and greenery. It has four distinct seasons. Summers are comfortable with the average temperature around 74 degrees, while winters get down to about 30.
Many residents are well educated, and the median household income in the state is an impressive $74,000.
Here are our top five picks for places we’d love to live in New Jersey.
Chatham, NJ
Visit Chatham, and soon you’ll feel how this town exudes charm and intelligence. The architecture recalls colonial America. Most residents are well-educated with at least a basic college education.
The population here is small at just around 9,000 residents. The median household income is about $151,000. Of course, that’s reflected in the housing prices, with the median home value hovering around $730,000. This is a beautiful area, with greenery and trees everywhere. When you want to eat out, you’ll find no shortage of great restaurants including Restaurant Serenade, Scalini Fedeli, and Gregorio’s Mediterranean Restaurant.
Haddonfield, NJ
Haddonfield is another town with beautiful colonial and Victorian homes, plus a clean and charming downtown area. This borough is home to some lovely parks, such as Cooper River Park, where local families go t0 play and picnic, as well as Hopkins Pond, a great place for fishing and hiking. In fact, this is a nice place for outdoor lovers in general.
Life can be expensive in Haddonfield, where the population is about 11,500 people. The median home value stands at $547,000, but the median household income of $138,000 makes buying such a place possible. If you’re raising kids here, you’ll be happy to know there are seven public schools and one private school.
It’s obvious that residents appreciate art and healthy living. You’ll find Yoga Center of Haddonfield as well as Fantagio Spa and Body. If you’d like to take an art workshop, check out Anatolia Art Craft Studio.
Oradell, NJ
If you have a high income and long for a peaceful life, then consider Oradell. While in New Jersey, this is a suburb of New York City, so you’ll still be close to city life while enjoying a calmer setting. Oradell has a population of about 8,300 people, giving it a small town feel. The median home value is $590,000, and what homes they are with beautiful, all-American architecture. The median household income is about $145,000, nearly twice the state average.
You won’t lack for a sense of culture here, either. This suburb has plenty of concerts and art exhibits. The library has book and film clubs your whole family can enjoy. Oradell is also home to the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, which focuses on wildlife art and the natural world.
Ridgewood, NJ
Ridgewood has a population of about 26,000 people who enjoy a median household income of $162,000. Homes here are expensive, with the median cost falling around $716,000. They include early 20th century farmhouses as well as Victorian homes.
Education is important to people here, too. There are 11 great public schools, and among the adults, 97 percent are high school graduates while more than 67 percent have college degrees.
If you want to head to Manhattan for the day, just grab a train at Ridgeway Station.
Westfield, NJ
At 30,400, the population in Westfield strikes the right balance between small town and medium city for many people. Most of the residents are well-educated, with 95 percent being high school graduates and 67 percent having at least a bachelor’s degree. It should be no surprise, then, that the schools are great here, too. There are 13 public schools, all with impressive test scores.
Living here, you have a good chance of finding a well-paying job. The median household income is $159,000. Naturally, the median home value is commensurate, at $718,000.
You’ll find beautiful homes, wide streets, lots of trees, and great restaurants like Limani Seafood Grill, Ferraro’s, and Sweet Waters Steakhouse. In other words, this is another lovely place for couples and families to live.
