Are you considering moving out of New York City but don’t want to travel too far from the city? Relocating to Central New Jersey may provide the perfect solution. The area offers spacious homes, ample recreational opportunities and a relatively short commute to New York City.

A Few Reasons Why Moving to New Jersey Makes Sense

New York City is one of the most vibrant places in the world, yet many people eventually decide to leave. In fact, 277 people left the city every day, according to a pre-coronavirus Bloomberg report. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, even more people have deserted the city for neighboring states, including New Jersey.

When you move to New Jersey, you’ll enjoy:

Lower Home Prices: You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you can get for your money in New Jersey. The cost of a small, two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan ranges from $860,000 to $1 million or more, while the median rent is $3,450, Zillow notes. For the same price as that 1,000-square-foot NYC apartment, you can buy a 4,000-square-foot single family home in Central New Jersey with four or five bedrooms and a backyard.

Newer Homes: With more room to expand, it’s much easier to build brand new homes with the latest amenities in New Jersey. If you’ve been living in a cramped apartment with small bedrooms and an even smaller kitchen, you’ll be amazed at what your money can buy in New Jersey. Upscale new homes feature large bedrooms, master suites with spacious bathrooms, walk-in closets, generously sized kitchens with dishwashers and high-quality appliances, attached garages, and separate living and family rooms.

Convenience: Do you plan to commute to New York City? Amtrak and New Jersey Transit trains and buses make traveling to the city easy. If you prefer to drive, you can join the many commuters who make the trip to various parts of NYC via I-95, I-78 and I-280. Commuting to Philadelphia and other parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey is just as convenient. No matter where you live in Central New Jersey, you’ll be close to stores, restaurants, malls, daycare centers, medical offices and other services.

Less Congestion: Population density is lower in Central New Jersey, which translates to more elbow room and a little less traffic, particularly if you travel outside of the traditional morning and afternoon rush hours. If you’ve been dreaming of a more relaxed lifestyle, New Jersey may be the ideal place for you.

Recreational Opportunities: Want to take a quick trip to the mountains or the beach? When you live in Central New Jersey, both destinations are only an hour or two away. New Jersey beach towns and the Pocono Mountains are the favorite places to relax for many residents. If you’d like to stay closer to home, you’ll find plenty of places to get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors. Local parks and gyms and regional or state parks offer hiking and biking trails, sports courts and fields, playgrounds, fishing, boating and horseback riding.

Great Schools: Central New Jersey schools are highly rated and provide safe, supportive places for your children to learn and grow. New Jersey ranked second in the country for both preK – 12 education and higher education in a U.S. News & World Report ranking. Schools offer challenging curriculums, a variety of sports and extracurricular activities, and before and after school programs.

Things to Consider When Moving

Add these items to your moving checklist for a smoother moving experience:

• Purge and Donate: Get rid of items you no longer need or use long before moving day arrives. Throw away items that are worn or broken and give away or donate items in good condition.
• Find a Mover ASAP: Start contacting moving companies as soon as you sign a contract on a new home or your offer on an existing home is accepted. Although you might have your pick of moving dates during the winter, you may need to be flexible if you move during the busy spring or summer season.
• Coordinate Utility Turn-Offs and Shut Downs: If you’ll be slowly moving things out of your old home into your new one, you may want to keep utilities on in both places for a short period of time.
• Notify Everyone of Your New Address: Complete a change of address form with the U.S. Postal Service, contact credit card companies and banks, and share your new address with your friends and family.
• Take a Little Vacation Time: It’s difficult to coordinate packing and moving if you’re working 8- or 9-hour days. Taking some paid time off before or after your move can help keep stress in check.

Are you searching for the perfect home in Central New Jersey? A Country Classics community just may be the ideal place for you to put down roots. Take a look at the communities on our website, and contact us when you’re ready to pay a visit.