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Topic: Where To Live In Jersey If You're Young & Single?
| Author | Message |
| missprint | Posted – 11/27/2007 1:00:13 AM | show profile | email poster I just got a job in Jersey at the WSJ near Princeton. While I'm currently living in NYC, I've realized that with the gas and tolls and traffic, commuting is not going to be a long-term solution because I can't afford it. Just wondering if anyone could recommend any places to live in NJ within an hour or so of Princeton that would be good for a 23 y/o, single girl? I'm not from the East Coast, so I'm pretty unfamiliar with NJ. I realize that nothing will compare with living in the city, but are there any towns that are more fun and vibrant for young professionals? Any advice much appreciated! |
| wander lust | Posted – 11/27/2007 10:56:27 AM | show profile Hoboken first came to mind, but that's pretty much right by NYC so that wouldn't help you much in terms of cutting gas costs or traffic. Montclair is also a great town, but only about 15-20 minutes west of Manhattan (probably about 45 minutes from Princeton). Even farther west is Morristown. Hope this helps a bit! |
| recovering_jersey_girl | Posted – 11/27/2007 12:43:49 PM | show profile I would second Morristown...It's not an awful commute to Princeton and, while it's not the city, it does have a bit of nightlife and there are a handful of meet-up groups in the area that should help if you're looking to make friends. You might want to check out NJYP.org (New Jersey Young Professionals). The folks in there are in their 20s and 30s and all over the state, so they might have some additional suggestions for you. I know a basic NJYP membership is free; I can't remember if only paid members can post queries to their BBS, though. |
| Jill of all trades | Posted – 11/27/2007 2:22:08 PM | show profile Maybe it was the nostalgia, but New Brunswick was a lot of fun the last three times I hung out there. More restaurant/bar/living options than there were when I lived there in the late 90s. And I always hear good things about Red Bank. |
| Mirage | Posted – 11/27/2007 2:22:22 PM | show profile I second Montclair and Hoboken, or other towns in the Hoboken area, such as Edgewater. Morristown is too far west to do anything socially in Manhattan, and Princeton is too far south (and just as expensive as all the other towns mentioned here). |
| anewstart | Posted – 11/27/2007 3:08:13 PM | show profile Why not live IN Princeton? Morristown is fantastic (and an easy NJ transit trip to NYC), but I'd say New Brunswick might be your best bet--you'd be going against traffic to Princeton...Red Bank is awesome but way too far south. |
| PluckyPane | Posted – 11/27/2007 3:09:20 PM | show profile | email poster No no no to Morristown I've been in this patethic state my whole life and I can tell you now NOT to live in Morristown. The commute on Route 287 will kill you. Here's your goal: avoid Route 1 in the a.m. and p.m. So, here's my advice: if you can handle a more country-like setting, try Western Mercer County like Robbinsville/Yardville/Hamilton. I second New Brunswick, which has the Rutgers college feel, so long as you learn to love driving Route 130 and cutting over onto Route 1 near Dow Jones. There are some VERY bad areas of New Brunswick that you will want to avoid, so beware. Also, have you considered Princeton proper, Princeton Junction or West Windsor? It can be pricy, but a cozy place can be found for a lot less than NYC. Also try Rocky Hill, South Brunswick, Lawrenceville, even Hopewell (love it!), which are close enough to the funky Princeton scene. One last honorable mention (but it gives you some Route 1 drive time), try Pennsy. There are some great little places right along the Delaware River in Morrisville or Yardley. You will be close to the artsy New Hope area, which is a lot of fun if that is your thing. BTW, living near work will put you in direct access to New Jersey Transit trains to NYC. I used to commute every day from Princeton Junction to NYC. If you want more suggestions, feel free to email me. |
| missprint | Posted – 11/27/2007 7:07:32 PM | show profile | email poster Thanks for all the suggestions. The NJYP site looks to be helpful as well! People at the WSJ told me Princeton wouldn't be good for me since I'm young & single, and from what I've seen, I couldn't afford to live there anyway. One note.. I'll be working second shift (copy editing hours) so that might help traffic out a bit since I won't be going/coming at rush hour. I'm mostly just worried that I'm going to end up in a town where I know absolutely no one can't meet anyone and everyone is married or coupled! (It must be my fear from being home in Indiana for a couple of weeks where that is the case...) Thanks for the notes. I'll be looking into it for a while while I save up money to move so I'll check out some of these areas! |
| westsidestory | Posted – 11/27/2007 9:15:29 PM | show profile I'm surprised to see posters recommending Montclair and Hoboken...they are so far away from Princeton you might as well be in the city. New Brunswick, which has a huge campus community, is much closer and rents are skewed to student populations, meaning you can find inexpensive units and cheap shares. The large numbers of grad students and medical students also mean enough folks around in your age group to enjoy the clubs and bars and not feel ancient. Princeton is also a college town but more expensive. Hamilton is nice, but surburban and full of families with kids, so no nightlive there. By the way, you will need a car if you live in jersey. |
| Village Gal | Posted – 11/28/2007 9:17:30 AM | show profile I agree Montclair and Hoboken and Morristown are way too far. BTW, people from New Jersey never call it Jersey. I grew up there and never heard that until I moved across the river to NYC. I love Red Bank- what a hip little town- but it is probably too far from Princeton. |
| jsk | Posted – 11/28/2007 10:23:23 AM | show profile Eh, I call it Jersey, but only in one of those ironic "I can do it because I live here" kind of ways. I think most Jerseyans would rather people call the state by it's full name. I live in Morristown, and while I love it, I wouldn't endorse it for someone who will work in Princeton. The commute is too much of a pain to make it worth your while. New Brunswick is probably a good compromise, for all the reasons people stated. I was going to suggest Lambertville (nice little artsy downtown, old row houses unlike anything I've seen in New Jersey), but it's about 25 miles from Princeton, and I have no idea how bad the traffic is going to be. |
| Jill of all trades | Posted – 11/28/2007 10:43:53 AM | show profile One thing I totally forgot about New Brunswick was what the traffic could be like between classes. If you move there, get to know the Rutgers class schedule-- it'll save you some needless delays. |
| mstadtmu | Posted – 11/28/2007 10:53:43 AM | show profile just don't drive I'm from New Jersey (and I've never called it "Jersey," either) and can say that what were once beautiful farming areas are now overpriced "bedroom" communities occupied by people with no sense of place. They live to commute in their Suburban Utility Vehicles, have no idea where their food comes from, and don't participate in their communities. Wherever you live (and you'd be nuts to drive from Morristown to Princeton), live where public transit is gonna get you to work and back. We've reached Peak Oil and the climate is screwed worse than anyone had so far thought. Think ahead. |
| westsidestory | Posted – 11/28/2007 11:56:58 AM | show profile I was born and raised in Jersey - not far from Red Bank. It cracks me up to see it called "quaint." But it is much too far from Princeton to make a good commute. These days I only say "New Jersey" when in conversations with Canadians, British and Irish folks. . . |
| Mirage | Posted – 11/28/2007 1:31:28 PM | show profile Same here...I was born and raised in north Jersey, and have always called it "Jersey," as do most people I know who grew up in the area. Red Bank IS "quaint." As is Princeton and as are the other areas down in that area. The closer you get to Manhattan, the livelier the scene gets...obviously. A commute from this area down to Princeton is not too bad if you're taking the train; it could, however, be both draining and cost-prohibitive if you're driving. Getting rid of my car, along with the high cost of insurance and gas, saved me $700 a month, even with monthly train passes...more than enough to live in a great area that I loved. Living close to a job, any job, may be less important than living in a great area. Just my two cents. |
| missprint | Posted – 11/28/2007 2:16:39 PM | show profile My only problem in getting rid of my car (as much as I would love to) is that my office is 5 miles from the train station, and there is no bus or pub transportation to take me there. They have shuttles, but they only run at "normal" hours, not copy editing hours (second shift). And a cab back and forth every day obviously isn't very practical. Thanks again for all the suggestions though! |
