Guide Me Home to North Jersey

New Jersey Monthly Magazine has just published its “Best Places to Live 2010” article, and Chatham Township is ranked #2 (Bedminster Township is ranked #1.) The data is compiled by Monmouth University’s Polling Institute. They consider eight categories which best represent the quality of life in New Jersey’s 566 municipalities: population growth, home values, property taxes, land development, employment, crime rate, school performance, and proximity to services. Household income was not included, and home values were measured by the rate of increase or decrease over three years rather than by current prices.

In March of 2008, New Jersey Monthly Magazine ranked Chatham Township #1 once again. James O’Neill, the Superintendent of Schools for the School District of the Chathams, was quoted as saying “Chatham is a very unique place to live … there is a disproportionate number of terrific kids and talented teachers …and dedicated parents who spend an inordinate amount of time supporting the district. Chatham schools excel in academics, in the arts, and in athletics.”

The State Department of Education released its “School Report Card” on February 9, 2010, and once again Chatham schools came out on top. Chatham High School - a nationally ranked “Blue Ribbon School” - had the top SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores in Morris County, and ranked 22nd in the state.

Even CNN’s Money Magazine was impressed with Chatham – in 2005 - naming the combined towns of Borough and Township the ninth best place to live in America! With the opening of New Jersey Transit’s Midtown Direct train service to Manhattan in the late 1990s, land values in Chatham shot up.

Chatham continues to be recognized as one of the top towns in New Jersey, and a great place to live!

Posted by:Cynthia Edgar