Moving from UK to New Jersey - any experience??

[cascaid]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice/experience if anyone can help? My husband is considering a secondment from his employer from Manchester, UK to Warren, New Jersey for 12/18 months. We are looking for some advice as to what it is like over there, we have a little boy who will be 18 months when we go so aren't bothered about schools etc. but are hoping to find a nice family friendly town that is safe and affordable (I am a stay-at-home mom so we are a 1 income family). We have been looking at West Windsor, Princeton, Morris Town areas but are open to ideas!!

Ideally the commute would be 45 minutes (or less if possible) to Independence Boulevard in Warren.

Any thoughts at all would be greatly appreciated, anyone done anything similar??

TIA x

[Skala123]

I can't exactly help with experience but I am doing the same this year so have asked a very similar question on here recently! My husband will be working in a slightly different location but less than half an hour away from Warren so thought I could share the suggestions that we have had.
Westfield
Chatham
Cranford
Berkeley Heights
Millburn
Scotch Plains
Fanwood
Madison

Hope this helps and good luck! We are going out in two weeks for our home finding trip - can't wait!

[newbian]

Are you planning to have two cars? Makes a big difference. If your husband will be driving to work then either you want to live very near his office and drop him - so in Warren area itself - or to live in a town with a walkable center and good public transportation (this is relative in NJ but I mean on the NJ transit line). Consider Summit or Morristown. Familiar with those areas and very easy to get an Uber for example.

By "affordable" do you mean cost of living e.g. groceries etc., or housing cost? If the latter than I'd strike Chatham and Madison off Skala123's list, they are expensive towns for housing.

[cascaid]

We won't have 2 cars as I don't drive, I tend to walk everywhere with my little boy in the pram to get some fresh air but I realise this isn't as likely in the US! So living in a town with a walkable centre is ideal.

I guess I mean housing cost really, we can probably spend up to $3000 per month on rent if not a bit more, looking at 2 bed properties (or 3 bed if that would be possible for any visiting family) - would places like Chatham be doable for that budget at all??

[cascaid]

Oh and Skala123 if you could report back as to how it goes and which areas you thought were best that would be a great help! Good luck!!

[UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter]

There's a lady on Instagram Brit.in.the.usa who lives in New Jersey. She's married to an American rather than going over for work but she might be able to help if you message her.

[newbian]

cascaid we actually own a rental property in the Morristown area and we get $3000-3500 a month rent for a 3 bedroom townhouse. If you'd go for a 2 bed them you can get below that. Issue is there are fewer townhouses/condos for rent in Madison and Chatham as the towns are mostly large standalone family homes.

If you won't have a car then you will struggle a bit to be honest, even in the bigger towns. You might want to take the chance to learn while you're in the US as the test is much easier than in the UK (I've done both).

[Skala123]

cascaid will definitely report back! So excited to get out there and have a look around!