Moving to Maplewood - favorite neighborhoods?

Hi all - my husband and I are listing our home in central NJ for sale and pursuing a move to Maplewood (looking to cut his commute, more involved community, diverse thinking, and a family friendly environment). Looking for views on which blocks are favorites under a 10 minute walk to the train - we saw some open houses on Plymouth, Hickory, around Jefferson, Golf Island, etc and would love to know if there are any majorly different feels once we live there. 

We moved here from London and really miss a walkable home neighborhood, can't wait to have a piece of that back! 

Thanks!


My favorite neighborhood of Maplewood is South Orange. 


Not sure about the other neighborhoods, but but I live Golf Island adjacent and have a lot of friends who live there (who also hate it if you call it Golf Island, but I digress!). There is a special sense of community on those streets. The houses are a little quirky, and you really don't get any golf balls going through the windows, and the people are extremely friendly to newcomers.

What part of London are you from? I've lived in the US for 21 years, but I grew up in Camden.


It's a bit of luck of the draw. My sister lived with us, then got her own place in town in a neighborhood that she had friends in. It turns out the next door neighbor has a large dog that barks often, and while she's mostly happy, that was one annoying thing she wasn't anticipating. 

It's hard enough to find a house you like, in a convenient location, at a price you're comfortable with. I wouldn't worry about trying to find a 'favorite' neighborhood. I saw a neighbor outside when we were about to put an offer on the house and asked what he thought of the neighborhood. He had mostly positives, with the caveat that 'but it is noisy with a lot of traffic' (we're near a school).  We've been here 15 years, and haven't found the noise bothersome at all.

And as GoSlugs mentioned, you should also consider South Orange. (It is similar and has the same school district).

Good luck!


ridski said:
Not sure about the other neighborhoods, but but I live Golf Island adjacent and have a lot of friends who live there (who also hate it if you call it Golf Island, but I digress!). There is a special sense of community on those streets. The houses are a little quirky, and you really don't get any golf balls going through the windows, and the people are extremely friendly to newcomers.
What part of London are you from? I've lived in the US for 21 years, but I grew up in Camden.

I'm American (though a brit dual citizen now), but we were in Greenwich/Blackheath for 5 years. My husband was born in London but raised in Australia so we've done a giant circle. Camden is great! 


2nd for Golf Island with regards to the neighbors. I live a few blocks away from there, but we make a point of going to that area every Halloween. I think it may get busy during certain times though, with people using Burnett to get to the train station and the middle school.


I can’t discuss any specific neighborhoods, but since you mentioned shortening commute, look into the challenges with NJ Transit just so you know what to expect. 



Depending on how fast the commuting family members walk, weather conditions, and the amount of traffic at the hour(s) commuting family members are walking to/from the train station, Plymouth and Hickory while easily walkable to/from the train station are likely to be more than a 10 minute walk.  If this is a make or break factor for you, consider having the commuting family member(s) do a trial walk from each of the houses that interest you to see how realistic the under 10 minutes walk really is.  Of the three areas you mention, Golf Island (sorry Ridski!) is the only one that has houses that are truly under a 10 minute walk for most. 

 


I think the Jefferson area is a ten minute walk. 


Also, there are Jitneys to the train stations. When I worked in the city, I would walk down the hill to the station, but take the Jitney up the hill to go home.


I live on Oakview in the first block past Prospect and it’s right at ten minutes ... at least going down (to the train.) The walk back up is a bit steep, so may slow you down a bit. (But there are no houses for sale on our block right now.) 


Red_Barchetta said:
I can’t discuss any specific neighborhoods, but since you mentioned shortening commute, look into the challenges with NJ Transit just so you know what to expect. 


 Thanks will do! We live near Bridgewater now so are familiar with at least the Raritan line, and the unfortunate 2+ hour bus oh oh


sprout said:
Also, there are Jitneys to the train stations. When I worked in the city, I would walk down the hill to the station, but take the Jitney up the hill to go home.

 Good idea actually, I should have said more like 15 min walk max and this option would be great for poor weather then. 


rll8208 said:
 Good idea actually, I should have said more like 15 min walk max and this option would be great for poor weather then. 

Don't automatically assume that a house within a ten minute walk of the train station receives jitney service. Some streets within a less than ten minute walk from the station (many in the central part of town between Prospect and Valley for example) do not have jitney service because they are so close to the station.  When you take a look at the jitney schedule, note the locations each route serves just to be sure this will be an option for you.  


joan_crystal said:
Don't automatically assume that a house within a ten minute walk of the train station receives jitney service. Some streets within a less than ten minute walk from the station (many in the central part of town between Prospect and Valley for example) do not have jitney service because they are so close to the station.  When you take a look at the jitney schedule, note the locations each route serves just to be sure this will be an option for you.  

Good point also, I did check out the schedule and maps but will take another look. Is the jitney pretty reliable as printed? Thanks


We live on Broadview. It's a 15 minute walk to the station. There's a jitney at the bottom of the street. It generally comes within a couple of minutes of what the schedule says in the morning. Sometimes at night you have to wait a few minutes for it. Good luck in your search! 


I live in the 'Flamingo' neighborhood.  Homes on my block are in both Maplewood and South Orange.  It is about a 20 minute walk to either station and jitneys from either town are about a block away.  If I walk home from the South Orange station the walk up the hill is gradual in contrast to the steep grade from the Maplewood station.  


STANV said:
Why not look at a map?
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Maplewood+Station/@40.7310658,-74.2840952,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x89c3ac609613ecb7:0xbfec83fe47282be9!2sMaplewood,+NJ!3b1!8m2!3d40.7299793!4d-74.271992!3m4!1s0x89c3ac5b43989e31:0xd2d3fcd41c66031!8m2!3d40.7310658!4d-74.2753404

Thanks, I should have clarified we have been to the town many times and walked to all of these houses etc. Just looking to see if there's a particular neighborhood feel block by block which may make one of these areas more or less suited to us, anything I can't find online  


krnl said:
I live in the 'Flamingo' neighborhood.  Homes on my block are in both Maplewood and South Orange.  It is about a 20 minute walk to either station and jitneys from either town are about a block away.  If I walk home from the South Orange station the walk up the hill is gradual in contrast to the steep grade from the Maplewood station.  

 Good to know, great to have both options. 


Burr Road.

Near Schools and Underhill Field


We are on Park Road, which runs between Valley St. and Prospect. It's a friendly block, easy walk to Maplewood Village, the train, Maplewood Middle School, Columbia High School, Tuscan School, Memorial Park, tennis courts, platform tennis courts, basketball court, community garden.... There has been a good deal of turnover in the past 5 years or so, with older couples moving out and families with school-age children moving in. We were one of the young families 40 years ago, now we are one of the seniors (but we get to enjoy a bunch of really cute kids and I love having a mix of ages on a street - would hate to live in a 55+ community!) Walkable to Our Lady of Sorrows, easy walk to Prospect Presbyterian, there is a Jewish synagogue on the corner of Prospect and Parker and the Ethical Culture Society is right across from that. 

I think most people like their neighborhoods and find a fun mix of neighbors in town. We've made some wonderful friends and, in all the years we have lived here, only had one neighbor who we really didn't click with. And they moved quite a while ago.

Hope you find the perfect house in a lovely neighborhood and enjoy many years in Maplewood!


When you are old and grey move into Maplewood Village.  5 minute walk to the train station..........3 dedicated coffee houses........bit my tongue on that one.  Number of restaurants ever changing but figure in the area of 15.  4 liquor serving establishments.  2 bottled liquor stores.  Miracle of miracles King's Supermarket remains.  What seems like a zillion novelty stores......2 realtors......3 nail establishments and quaint movie theater with Senior Discounts and I believe $6.00 admission on Tuesday.Three pizza establishments  Republicans are summarily executed but given a proper burial.


How have I lived in Maplewood for 33 years and never heard for the "Flamingo" neighborhood??


43 Burr Road may have open house this weekend.

No, I do not own this property.


sac said:
How have I lived in Maplewood for 33 years and never heard for the "Flamingo" neighborhood??

Where is this “Flamingo” neighborhood?  I’ve also never heard of it.  


Years ago friends of mine lived on Richmond Avenue. There was some sort of tradition. Families would take turns entertaining their neighbors. If you found flamingos in your yard it was your turn to entertain. This was a while ago but maybe the tradition continues.


it never occurred to me to choose a “neighborhood” within the town I decided on. We just picked the house that was the “best deal” that we liked the most.


galileo said:
Years ago friends of mine lived on Richmond Avenue. There was some sort of tradition. Families would take turns entertaining their neighbors. If you found flamingos in your yard it was your turn to entertain. This was a while ago but maybe the tradition continues.

 Yes, the Flamingo party tradition continues on Richmond Ave. and the community is so labeled on some maps. It's a great community.


sac said:
How have I lived in Maplewood for 33 years and never heard for the "Flamingo" neighborhood??

 me either-i am here 36 years


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