Which Town Is Right For You?

Most buyers who are looking in these areas are most concerned with two factors: school system and commute to NYC. Use this table below for some general information about the train commutes and the school rankings, based on NJ Monthly’s 2018 Top High Schools in NJ. There is also information on busing options for students to their schools.

 

As it stands now, public schools are not required to provide busing to students unless they live 2+ miles from their elementary or middle school or 2.5+ miles from their high school. More information about public school busing provided here.

 

 

Town	2018 NJ Monthly High School Ranking	Busing to School?	Train? Name of station?	How many minutes to NYC via train?	Parking available at station? Waitlist?	Other Jitney service or Lyft service
Millburn/Short Hills	#3	Subscription busing ($775 /Student)	Millburn Station and Short Hills Station	36 minute commute from Millburn and 38 minute commute from Short Hills. Both stations have direct trains	First come first serve. Parking permit (Annual parking: $620 Additional car: $680) (Semi Annual: $455 Additional car: $505)	Lyft service available.
Summit	#29	No busing	Summit Station	42 minute commute. Direct train	Parking permit Daily: $4 Monthly: $80 Quarterly: $228 Annually: $864 Click here for more info!	Lyft program providing transportation to and from the Summit station. Cost will be included in daily parking fee. Participants must have a parking permit. Click here for more info!
Maplewood / South Orange	#88	A shuttle is provided between South Mountain and the Annex for grades 2-5. Click here for more info!	Maplewood Station and South Orange Station	34 minute commute from Maplewood and 33 minute commute from South Orange	Maplewood: $275 annually Click here for more info about Maplewood parking! South Orange: Permits on a waitlist. Monthly: $70 Quarterly: $210 Semi-annual: $420 Annually: $700 Click here for more info about South Orange parking!	Bus service that runs to and from the Maplewood train station 5 days a week. Click here for more info about Maplewood's Jitney program! South Orange's service is avalible to residents and non residents. Residents Annually: $300 Non residents annually: $450 Click here for more info about South Orange's Jitney program!
Livingston	#8	Subscription busing ($810 round-trip /student) ($405 one way /student) Click here for more info!	No Train Station	N/A	N/A	Express shuttle running between Livingston mall and the South Orange train station Monthly pass: $70 Click here for more info! Coach USA Bus to Port Authority in Midtown. NJ Transit bus service to Newark Penn Station. Stops located throughout Livingston.
New Providence	#9	No Busing	New Providence station and Murray Hill Station	52 minute commute from New Providence and 56 minute commute for Murray Hill. Transfer in Summit, 2 direct during rush hour	Permits do not guarantee a space, and permits work at either station Annually: $360 Non residents can puraches permits for the Murray Hill station Annually: $1,200 Click here for more info!	No Jitney or Lyft service.
Berkeley Heights	#30	Subscription busing ($800-$1,100 /student) Click here for more info!	Berkeley Heights Station	62 minute commute. Transfer in Summit, 2 direct during rush hour	Waitlist Monthly: $25 Quarterly: $75 Annually: $285 Click here for more info!	No Jitney or Lyft service.
Westfield	#37	Subscription busing (transportation cost is determined by daily route cost of bus divided by total seats available) Click here for more info!	Westfield Station	54 minute commute. Transfer at Newark Penn Station	Waitlist for permits. Southside train station: $696 annually and $420 semi- annually Watterson street: $420 annually and $210 semi- annually Click here for more info!	No Jitney or Lyft service.
West Orange	#153	No Busing	No Train Station	N/A	N/A	Free shuttle to 3 train stations running 5 days a week. Click here for more info!
Chatham	#4	Subscription busing ($630 round-trip /student) ($315 one way /student) Click here for more info!	Chatham Station	51 minute commute. Direct train	Waitlist Annually: $480. Click here for more info!	No Jitney or Lyft service.
Madison	#26	Subscription busing ($650 /student)	Madison Station	53 minute commute. Direct train	Commuter parking is available in Kings Road lot, Prospect Street lot, and Maple Avenue lot. Annually: $450 Click here for more info!	No Jitney or Lyft service.
Springfield	#122	Subscription busing (fee set annually). Click here for more info!	No Train Station	N/A	N/A	Bus that travels from the Springfield town pool to the Short Hills train station. Daily: $3 Quarterly: $50 Click here for more info!
Cranford	#31	No Busing	Cranford Station	50 minute commute. Transfer at Newark Penn Station	Approx. 2 year waitlist. Permit Parking and Meter Parking. 12 Hr Permit: $600 9 Hr Permit: $500 24 Hr Permit: $800 Overnight Permit: $200 Click here for more info!	No Jitney or Lyft service.
Montclair	#115	Subscribtion busting ($400 for 1st child, $225 for 2nd child, and $100 for 3rd child. Anymore than 3 children and the busing is free) Click here for more info about busing! Montclair also has a Magnet Elementary and Middle School, click here for more info!	Bay Street, Upper Montclair, Mountain Ave, Montclair Heights, Watchung Ave, and Walnut Street	Bay Street: 37 minute commute Upper Montclair: 46 minute commute Mountain Ave: 48 minute commute Montclair Heights: 51 minute commute Watchung Ave: 42 minutes and Walnut Street: 40 minutes	Parking permits are now purchased monthly and are valid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click here for more info! Annual and monthly pricing also available for permit parking at several train stations.	An evening shuttle bus that takes Montclair residents from the Bay Street train station for a fare of $2. Click here for more info!

If you would like more information on specific train schedules, search for them at NJTransit.com.

Click here to see the 2018 NJ Monthly School Report.