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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=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.[/quote]

OP, I used to live in Morristown, for a long time.  Real estate taxes in NJ are waaaaaay higher than here. As in, if you pay $10K here, the same house and land could could you $18K easy. Also, the high school in Morristown is and has continued to be a disaster - this will show itself in what seems to be reasonably priced real estate.  Morristown has transformed, and now has a huge nightlife, and tons of condos-think Arlington.  Millburn and Chatham have excellent schools.  Very competitive.  Millburn very Jewish.  VERY expensive.  Both Millburn and Livingston in Essex County, thus, the highest of the high in taxes.  A nice house in Milburn will cost you easy $1.5mm ( for like a 4BR, 2.5BA small house in decent shape), and, the taxes will be mid $20K per year AT LEAST....Chatham taxes are less.  Both are on the train line, while Livingston is NOT.  [/quote]

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