Uncertain what to choose between NoVa, NJ suburbs of NYC and NJ suburbs of Philadelphia

[Anonymous]

DH has a job in NoVa that he likes and got two good job offers in New Jersey. We'd like to figure out what makes sense financially (income tax, home prices and real-estate taxes) and in terms of schools and commute.

We are generally ok with living in Nova, but are open to relocate.

One of the other jobs is in Morristown, NJ (one hour outside Manhattan), the other is in Sewell, NJ (half an hour outside Philadelphia).

So far I considered real-estate taxes in NoVa to be high, but I nearly fell from the chair when I saw that in the NJ suburbs of NYC real-estate taxes for a $800k house are around $17-20k.

The other things to consider are schools: In Philly we'd like to live ideally in Chestnut Hill or Bryn Mawr, however I don't think that a commute to the opposite end of the city to Sewell is doable (30 miles straight through the city). In the Morristown area I have identified some areas with good schools, such as Millburn, Livingston and Chatham County.

Regarding the commute, I now work from home but would like to option to get a job in the city once the kids get older. New York City is more interesting for me professionally than Philadelphia. I am a lawyer and barred in VA, so I'd have to take either the NJ/PA or NJ/NY bar exams.

I'd appreciate the input of people familiar with the area.

Thanks much in advance.

[Anonymous]

One thing to consider is that the NJ to Manhattan commute is grueling. The trains are old, the commute is expensive and is rather long. I would not choose that life.

[Anonymous]

My husband is from NJ and grew up in a commuter town. It is the definition of the rat race. I find that people often praise the proximity to NY but rarely take advantage of the city outside of work. And yes, NJ is extremely expensive, much more so than here.

[Anonymous]

I'd rather cut off my arm than sit for the bar again.

Real estate taxes in nj are crazy high because there's no sales tax. The schools are not better in nj IMHO.

Stay put in VA.

[Anonymous]

NOVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH has a job in NoVa that he likes and got two good job offers in New Jersey. We'd like to figure out what makes sense financially (income tax, home prices and real-estate taxes) and in terms of schools and commute.

We are generally ok with living in Nova, but are open to relocate.

One of the other jobs is in Morristown, NJ (one hour outside Manhattan), the other is in Sewell, NJ (half an hour outside Philadelphia).

So far I considered real-estate taxes in NoVa to be high, but I nearly fell from the chair when I saw that in the NJ suburbs of NYC real-estate taxes for a $800k house are around $17-20k.

The other things to consider are schools: In Philly we'd like to live ideally in Chestnut Hill or Bryn Mawr, however I don't think that a commute to the opposite end of the city to Sewell is doable (30 miles straight through the city). In the Morristown area I have identified some areas with good schools, such as Millburn, Livingston and Chatham County.

Regarding the commute, I now work from home but would like to option to get a job in the city once the kids get older. New York City is more interesting for me professionally than Philadelphia. I am a lawyer and barred in VA, so I'd have to take either the NJ/PA or NJ/NY bar exams.

I'd appreciate the input of people familiar with the area.

Thanks much in advance.

I can help you on the Sewell, NJ job. Neither Bryn Mawr nor Chestnut Hill make any sense. But check out Haddonfield. It's completely adorable. Historic, walkable, picturesque, etc.

[Anonymous]

The suburbs in NJ and around Philly are so much nicer than the soulless sprawl of NoVa.

[Anonymous]

I am in the Philly burbs (PA side) and am much happier than in the DC burbs, but part of that is that my family's up here and it just feels home-ier to me and like a better fit. But I wouldn't move without a good reason. Moving is hard.

[Anonymous]

Chatham and Millburn, as well as Morristown itself - all lovely. We have lots of friends in that area, some work in the city and others elsewhere in North Jersey. I wouldn't live in South Jersey for anything, the main line is nice but you can't live on the main line and commute to Sewell. That's awful.

[Anonymous]

Real estate taxes in nj are crazy high because there's no sales tax.

Not true by the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The suburbs in NJ and around Philly are so much nicer than the soulless sprawl of NoVa.

+1

[Anonymous]

I lived in Randolph, which is next to Morristown, for 5 years. I moved there from Arlington. Every single day of those 5 years, I wanted to move. It is awful, it is not a suburb the way the DC suburbs are suburbs, the towns you mention are much more provincial, much less diverse in every way, and as lovely as they are to look at, we could not take it any longer and moved. FYI, the total commute into the city, when you add in the drive to the train station, parking, the train ride itself, and getting wherever you need to go from Penn Station, is 2 hours. Each way. And the trains are regularly delayed.

[Anonymous]

I live in Chestnut Hill (hi DC ppl!) and while it's very nice, it's part of the Philly school district which I think is probably the worst in the nation. That's not an exaggeration, btw. So consider that. And yes Jersey taxes are ridiculous. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in Randolph, which is next to Morristown, for 5 years. I moved there from Arlington. Every single day of those 5 years, I wanted to move. It is awful, it is not a suburb the way the DC suburbs are suburbs, the towns you mention are much more provincial, much less diverse in every way, and as lovely as they are to look at, we could not take it any longer and moved. FYI, the total commute into the city, when you add in the drive to the train station, parking, the train ride itself, and getting wherever you need to go from Penn Station, is 2 hours. Each way. And the trains are regularly delayed.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chatham and Millburn, as well as Morristown itself - all lovely. We have lots of friends in that area, some work in the city and others elsewhere in North Jersey. I wouldn't live in South Jersey for anything, the main line is nice but you can't live on the main line and commute to Sewell. That's awful.

+1 There are many great towns in northern NJ with good schools and great housing stock. Overall the area is much more attractive than Nova. Real estate taxes are super high, however. You pay for living in a real town with it's own infrastructure instead of a huge county-based situation like FCPS.

In South Jersey there's Haddonfield (cute town, high taxes). There's also Cherry Hill, which is good schools and reminds me a bit of some parts of Nova. Personally I think S. Jersey isn't as nice as N. Jersey, but it's a tad more affordable.