Moving to North Jersey...but where? (Jersey City, West Orange: apartment, rent, buying a home)

[Calvin & Hobbes]

I'm looking to move to north jersey so that I have an easier commute into midtown for work. I'm in my mid 20's. I've been looking in Summit, New Providence, West Orange.

But it seems like each town has it's draw backs. Not a huge inventory of places in my price range in Summit, in NP I would have to go to Summit train station to avoid transferring and I hear parking is really expensive, and the taxes in West Orange are insanely high for a town that doesn't have unbelievably good schools.

Any advice?

[nybbler]

(yep, we really need that new sticky)
Something has to give; that's all there is to it. Either you'll have to pay more, or deal with higher taxes, or deal with a worse commute, or some combination of the three. You might want to post answers to the sticky thread ("Questions for Future and Potential Residents" on the top of the forum.

(Personally, from New Providence I'd transfer in Summit or Broad Street rather than deal with traffic around Summit station. But maybe the schedule doesn't work out well, I haven't checked)

[cw30000]

Why not just rent a room in the city? You are single and there are tons of things to do in the city.

[FredJung]

Suggest you rent an apartment first so you have a better feel for the area before buying a home. Why not live in area like Hoboken, West NY, Jersey City, Weehawkin where the commute into the cit is easier.