This New Jersey Town Is One of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. — and It's an Easy Commute to New York City

Life in New York City can be expensive and noisy. But if you're willing to sacrifice immediate access to the Big Apple’s amenities, there is an affordable community an hour’s drive from Manhattan that was recently named one of the best places to live in the U.S. by the financial publication, Money: Metuchen, New Jersey.

As part of its analysis, Money evaluated thousands of American cities using metrics like the average cost of housing, the quality of public schools, as well as the strength of the local job market. It then narrowed down the list to 50 winners that offer "an exceptional quality of life." The New Jersey borough of just under 15,000 people, with its close proximity to New York City and suburban lifestyle, emerged as one of the top places to live in the U.S.

"This small commuter town ... has undergone some big changes — and these days, it's giving other Jersey suburbs a run for their money," Money reported in a press release obtained by Travel + Leisure. The publication also highlighted Metuchen's vibrant Main Street, which won the Great American Main Street Award in 2023 for its family-friendliness, public art programs, fun community events, and walkability. But the town as a whole is pretty pedestrian-friendly — Money notes that "unlike most areas of busy Central Jersey, Metuchen is a walker's paradise where residents can run errands without a car." The borough is also on the Middlesex Greenway, a 3.5-mile-long, hike-and-bike trail that passes through a few New Jersey towns.

Additionally, Metuchen's kid-friendly amenities and high-quality public school system have made it extremely popular with families. This year, Niche (a website that reviews and ranks schools) said it was the best place to live in Middlesex County and the eleventh best place to live in New Jersey.

However, Metuchen's primary draw remains its relatively low cost of living (in comparison to other nearby New Jersey suburbs) and its proximity to New York City. If your work requires in-office hours in New York City, urbanites can easily reach Penn Station in about an hour thanks to regular New Jersey Transit trains.

You'll also be able to find a lot of bang for your housing buck here. According to Zillow, the median home value in Metuchen is $637,692. Data also indicates real estate prices have been on the rise since 2016. And just over the last year, home values have increased an impressive 11.4 percent — not a bad choice for those who want the best of both urban and suburban life.

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure