If one wanted to work in Avenel, NJ…what public transportation might service that area? (NJ Transit busses or trains?) If someone can give me the names of the public systems in N. NJ at least, as a starting point, I can search the web for more info… (FYI: Avenel is roughly between Perth Amboy and Elizabeth with Staten Island to its east.)
Also, what’s rent like in that area, or a little further out like Edison, New Brunswick, or Sayreville? Any suggestions where life may be affordable in N NJ?
Avenal is on the North Jersey Coast Line. I can’t comment on the town proper.
It’s not a “great” area. Pretty busy. One train stop south of Rahway, which has some nice neighborhoods, but also has Rahway Prison. Woodbridge and Perth Amboy to the south. You are still north of (but on the right rail line) for the Jersey shore, but disconnected from Atlantic City.
Consider living on the Northeast Corridor Line.
Getting to Avenel from anywhere involves going through Newark (lots of slums), but it is a major bus/rail hub, so any town on a rail line to Newark, would be “commutable”.
My home town is South River, right between the Syreville and East Brunswick you name. I don’t know what rent is now, but I think it’s not too bad. Check out the listings in the Newark Star-Ledger or the Daily Home News on-line.
Where do you want transporation to? Suburban Transit runs a lot of commuter buses, and there are trains, but if you want to go anywhere in NJ you’d better have a car. Buses don’t connect most of the towns of central NJ. If you want to go to, say, New York, then you’ll still need a car to get to the train or bus station. There used to be buses from downtown South River to NYC. No more. I don’t think Sayreville has them. There are two places in East Brunswick where you can catch an express to The Big Apple – but East Brunswick is pretty big, and it’s a long walk from, say, the EB High School to either of them.
I actually live in a lovely town quite close to Avenel. Stating my exit in my location line is, of course, the oldest Jersey joke in the book–but I use 135 or 137. For Avenel, you would use 135 or 131, depending on whether you’re going north or south. (the exits are at the mile marks). In other words, it’s real close by.
Avenel itself isn’t especially nice, although I have been to some nice apartments there. But there are some great towns nearby.
Feel free to email me (you don’t have an email link).
Besides NJ Transit, check out the site for DeCamp bus lines, which serves Northern NJ. Very good company, and you get to sing “Ohhhh, DeCamp bus drivers sing dis song, doo-dah—doo-dah . . .”
I moved out to New Jersey in May, 2001 from South Dakota. My fiance, in order to save $$$, is staying with her father; I’m in a boarding house. One room; $560/month, utilities paid.
The best deal I could find for a true apartment (one bedroom) was $1200/month, plus one month security deposit, with first and last month’s rent up front. Total to move in (not counting utilities) was $3600.
Who the **** has THAT kind of money FOR AN APARTMENT??? Hell, the house we’re looking at has closing costs of less than that! Granted, we’re going through a VA loan (so no down payment), but for crying out loud, it’s cheaper for us to buy a house than to rent!!!
And just for comparison…in Rapid City, SD, where I moved from, I had a one-bedroom apartment there for $200/month, all utilities included. Yes, a real apartment, with a full kitchen, laundry, good-sized bedroom and a living room that was 12X24 (I measured once for a carpet).
C’mon Toaster! Comparing central Jersey to South Dakota is like…comparing central Jersey to South Dakota. It just don’t work.
Anyway, you’re right in that it often costs less to buy a house than to rent in this area. But I think you may be able to do a lot better on rent, I think. What town are you in?
By the way, Jinx–The area you’re referring to is generally considered central Jersey, not North Jersey. the map can be quite deceiving, in that South Jersey is much much bigger mileage-wise than the rest of the state put together. The fat part on the bottom is South Jersey. The skinny part in the middle is central Jersey. The somewhat pudgy part on top is North Jersey. I hope that makes sense. (And I’m sure some other Jersey folk will vehemently disagree with me soon. Gawsh, I love this state!)
