Metuchen - one of NJ's best kept secrets
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10/14/2010
I have lived in Metuchen for over 20 years. I moved from Brooklyn, NY where I was born and raised, after meeting my NJ born wife. We raised our two sons here, and have truly come to love this little 2 mile by 2 mile wide town. If you work or just enjoy NYC, it's an easy (if a little expensive) train ride from a train station that is pretty much walkable from anywhere one lives in town. Main St (no kidding, the name of the main street in town, is - Main St!)has some great restaurants, a few banks, and a small town-like drug store. There is a wonderful little theatre (The Forum Theatre) that is always ready to go out of business, but continues to find new ways to leverage it's charm. You might giggle at the thought of a YMCA being a center of town activity, but it's got a wonderful pre-school program, swimming program, fitness center and an incredible volunteer program for every different talent or want you can think of. Convenient to Middlesex County College and Rutgers, and not too far to Princeton University or Rider University. Less than 30 minutes to Newark airport. There are town wide garage sales, town fairs, and lots of things for families to enjoy. St. Francis Cathedral is a beautiful old church and the town's public library is neat, clean and up-to-date. St. Joseph's High School is my eldest son's alma matter and he loved it. My youngest chose Metuchen High School which has had extensive renovations in the last few years, and is at least on part with JP Stevens, Edison HS or any of the other neighborhood schools. Metuchen is a safe, diverse town with many different (and appreciated) cultural backgrounds, living and working together. While Edison's Indian community continues to grow, Metuchen has a more balanced blend of people - young, old, black, white, brown, gay, straight, white-collar, educated, and friendly.
The negatives are very. VERY expensive housing costs and ever-increasing real estate taxes. Entry-level jobs are tough to come by unless you want to work at the nearby Menlo Park mall or one of the restaurants in town.
I hope this description helps someone learn more about Metuchen. As a former New Yorker for more than 30 years, I look forward to living in Metuchen for at least as long, and longer if possible :-)
Ed | Metuchen, NJ