Teach me about Woodbridge Township, NJ

I have an interview early next week for a position in the Woodbridge Township, NJ area. Before anyone says:
1.) Don't go north!
2.) Especially don't go to NJ! and
3.) WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME

I expect, from reading a ton of salary data for this position, that it would roughly double my salary, before counting signing and stock bonuses that this company is known to provide. I also expect that I will sincerely enjoy the ass-kicking that the position will give me. It basically ties together everything that I have learned over the last decade. Because of how quickly the process has progressed so far, my prediction is that the company wants to fill the role very quickly, so if I receive an offer, I need to be prepared.

Basic questions: What areas should I avoid, and how much should I budget for a studio or 1br/1ba apartment? How do I need to prepare for winter? What expenses and cultural differences will catch me by surprise coming from Florida?

Oh, and regarding cars: I would plan to keep my car until it dies a slow, ferrous death.

I used to live there, but I don't think I can be of much help. It's been 30+ years.

Congrats on the opportunity.

Make sure you also do a little study on expenses in NJ. It's the highest taxed state in the union, and expenses are pretty high.

You can't pump your own gas.

I live in PA, work in NJ, so I'm not sure about housing costs there, but Craigslist seems to indicate about $1k/month for an apartment. Avoid Patterson and Newark, and direct proximity to the NYC area. You'll need to budget for increased heating cost in winter, snow (or at least decent all-season) tires, and replacing/repairing your car thanks to rust- depending on what you drive, that ferrous death may occur within 2 years.

The main culture shock will probably be that people are, generally, dicks. It actually makes me feel out of place when I go South because everyone is so polite.

And you can totally pump your own gas, just as long as you're on a motorcycle.

Depending on where in Florida the culture shock won't be too bad, it may even explain some of the messes wandering around down there. Like Nonack said avoid Newark and Paterson. Don't move there, don't drive through there, if your family calls lost from there wish them well and start shopping for replacements. From what I remember Woodbridge and points south are generally good and you are a short train, boat or bus ride away from civilization.

NONACK wrote: I live in PA, work in NJ, so I'm not sure about housing costs there, but Craigslist seems to indicate about $1k/month for an apartment. Avoid Patterson and Newark, and direct proximity to the NYC area. You'll need to budget for increased heating cost in winter, snow (or at least decent all-season) tires, and replacing/repairing your car thanks to rust- depending on what you drive, that ferrous death may occur within 2 years. The main culture shock will probably be that people are, generally, dicks. It actually makes me feel out of place when I go South because everyone is so polite. And you can totally pump your own gas, just as long as you're on a motorcycle.

living in the southern part of NJ... I have not had a decent car rot out from salt since my 76 fiat spider. I do not claim the BMW 318ti because it had shoddy welding done on it before I got it.

Generally anything from the 90s on will not really rot in NJ unless badly abused.

Places to avoid? New Jersey.

I live in south NJ, I work up in Princeton, Woodbridge is a bit North of that. Would not by my choice of places to live but its not bad. Cost of living will be high. You really need to visit and see areas to determine what is "good" and what isn't as it can vary greatly within very short distances.

I choose to commute 70 miles each way every day so as not to live in Northern NJ, if you are up to such a challenge then I can recommend some great places to live further south :)

indeed.. the difference between North Jersey and South almost warrant the two being separate states.

How to tell where somebody is from in NJ.. ask them what part of NJ Trenton is in. If they say "north" they are from Southern New Jersey, if they say "south" then they are from North Jersey

mad_machine wrote: indeed.. the difference between North Jersey and South almost warrant the two being separate states. How to tell where somebody is from in NJ.. ask them what part of NJ Trenton is in. If they say "north" they are from Southern New Jersey, if they say "south" then they are from North Jersey

What if they say central nj?

Ick.

All I can say for those that dislike NJ.. get away from the I95 corridor between Philly and NYC and either go south or north.. it really is a pretty state once you get away from 95

mad_machine wrote: All I can say for those that dislike NJ.. get away from the I95 corridor between Philly and NYC and either go south or north.. it really is a pretty state once you get away from 95

From someone who grew up in the rural northwest corner of NJ, I can attest that this is true. That said, Woodbridge Township is not rural. NJ is easily the most densely populated state in the nation. Get ready for congestion. And did I mention that NJ roads suck?

The place where I am interviewing is in Avenel? Which looks to be the northernmost part of Woodbridge.

I'm not married and don't have kids, so school districts are not a priority. I plan to rent. Would it be cheapest to go northwest to be slightly further away from City access?

You are REALLY not going to be able to judge rentals without seeing them.

It is such a dense area, that neighborhoods literally change block by block.

I suggest talking to a rental agent, and look around while you are there interviewing.

The interview is in another state, so I will have to make a separate trip.

Thanks for the heads up.

Don't take the job until you have seen Woodbridge.

It's not a bad place, but it is a crowded place, and an expensive place.

It is not similar to other places you have lived, and you will be making a rash decision if you take the job solely because it has a "big" paycheck.

I moved my mother out of the area about 7 years ago. As a single person on a fixed income, she was going $2000 per month negative on a $60k income. Her property taxes alone were $15,000 per year (more than 10X mine in GA).

She now Ives in GA and is about $1500 per month positive, with the same gross income.

Excellent advice. Should I receive an offer, I will head up there prior to accepting.

I do agree that NJ is an expensive place to live... there is a reason a lot of people who work in NYC take the train to upstate or even back to PA rather than live in the city, NJ, or Conn.

Traffic, traffic and more traffic in that neck of the woods.

I know nothing about NJ, but I do know about moving to from (relatively) low cost of living to high cost of living. Before you sign anything, be sure to figure out just how far your dollar will go.

Assuming you are in Orlando right now, and Woodridge township is in the Newark area, NJ is going to be 33.9% more expensive. Sounds like it would be a 100% raise though, so it doesn't matter. Just be ready for it.

http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-living-calculator.aspx

I live in PA, but work in Somerset - which is about 10 mile due-west of Woodbridge off I-287. I actually drive through that area a number of times going to a client in Rahway.

I'll say this much: if you are one of those in past thread who would comment about how/why some of us in this area do insane 50-70 mile commutes (each way), visiting this area will help you understand.

Make sure the job offers flex-time and doesn't follow strict 8-5 working hours. I work 7-4 which allows me to beat (or at least reduce) most of the traffic.

Yes, the taxes suck - but there are little havens of tolerable taxes in the area: Plainsboro and Hopewell, for example. Not GA-low, but reasonable for NJ. Granted, house prices are probably double that in FL.

On the plus side, the SCCA NNJ region runs a good program and there are a variety of tracks within a day-trip drive: Pocono, NJMP, Lime Rock - maybe even Watkins Glen.

I agree North and South Jersey are practically two different states. As a 34-year PA resident, I've always found this amusing.

And I agree that once you get away from the NJTP/95 corridor, it's a beautiful state, but most states are...

I expect hours of 5 - 3 at minimum, probably a bit earlier to a bit later during "peak" season.

Wife's family is all from north Jersey (Wyckoff/Ridgewood area). Her friend still lives there. 2 bedroom crappy(by midwest standards) apartment costs her $1600/month. That's almost twice what Our mortgage is. The CoL there is just silly. Taxes, costs and congestion are enough that unless you just have to have this position, I would turn it down.

There's a reason none of her family still live there.

I live in PA and have worked in NY/NJ for years.

Housing is why I live in PA. NJ property taxes and home costs are astronomical comparatively. I have friends paying $13.5k/yr tax for a $400k 1/3 acre 2400sq ft home in Mt Laurel in a good school district. It gets worse the closer you get to either city (NYC or PHL). The actual buy in for an "ordinary" size family home isn't too heinous (it is a lot - but not out of the ordinary for proximity to good employment) but the annual nut is a deal breaker for me.

The upside is that you do get pretty good schools, clean water, great restaurants, airports, cell coverage, pretty much anything you are into is represented somewhere close by. Salary will be one of the most competitive in the country. Most things are reasonable and plentiful (groceries, gas, good chinese, cars/parts/race tracks etc). Rural activities are only a few miles north, south or west.

Downside... lots of berkeleying people. Everywhere. If you are a gun nut, like to pump your own gas or took off your cats on your street car, NJ is not for you.

I'd say GPS pretty much nailed it.