Hey, Been living here since 2017. With a population of 4,103, The College of New Jersey is a small town. What do you all think?
13 upvotes
15 Replies
Madeline Smith
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 2 years ago from Salt Lake City and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in The Heights. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is stable right now, especially in education. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally decent. It took about 15 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: underrated. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
40 upvotes
Caroline Bailey
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's been a really good experience overall. Internet is improving in most areas.
40 upvotes
Benjamin Watson
Bought a house here in 2016 and the quality of life is solid. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
39 upvotes
Nora Lee
My experience has been mostly positive. I'm still on the fence after all this time. The only thing I'd watch out for is safety. Other than that, Would recommend to anyone considering it..
36 upvotes
Leonardo Wilson
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, the quality of life is solid. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
33 upvotes
Jeremiah Castillo
following this thread
29 upvotes
Hunter Gutierrez
As someone who grew up here, there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. A lot has changed in the past few years though. safety used to be much stable but now it's average.
26 upvotes
bella_local
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Seattle and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Downtown. It's tough for what you get.
Jobs: The market is established right now, especially in tech. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally better than expected. It took about 14 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: pretty good. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
25 upvotes
Declan W.
Totally agree!
23 upvotes
Angel Castillo
literally same
22 upvotes
Gabriel R.
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Westside for 4 years. Moved from Minneapolis for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is improving. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up significantly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Older homes are where the value is.
**Employment:**
government is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are manageable for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. The outdoor scene is improving - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Westside schools are surprisingly good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Winters are long and cold. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For retirees, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
20 upvotes
Wesley Robinson
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value food scene, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely decent and I've found it's improved dramatically in recent years. My neighborhood (Meadowbrook) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Phoenix, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Not very walkable outside downtown.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
17 upvotes
Luke Flores
haha yep pretty much
6 upvotes
Vivian
Weather-wise, the summers are better than expected and winters are stable. You get used to it after the first year.
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