Today "Money" magazine announced its list of the top 100 places to live in the United States. To the surprise of many of our neighbors, Hillsborough made the list at number 23. It is no surprise however to the people that live here. This is indeed "the good life".
My question for you is, What made you choose Hillsborough? Let me know why you moved here in the comments section. The things that attracted us to Hillsborough are the things that make Hillsborough a great place to live.
And who knows, maybe next year we can be number one!
Hi Greg:
ReplyDeleteI’ve been reading your blog and thought I’d chime in. My family does not live in Hillsborough but we wish to soon. My wife and I have lived in Somerset county most of our lives so we know the towns pretty well. We currently live in a small town nearby and our house is on the market. We enjoy reading your blog as it’s another source for us to help decide where we want to live. We want to live in a clean, friendly neighborhood with at least “pretty good” schools. We mostly look at Hillsborough and Bridgewater and maybe a little Branchburg. I think Money Mag. was correct that Hillsborough has great parks, rec. centers and open space. Our town’s parks have graffiti and weeds growing all over the place. They don’t really have much for kids activities and we don’t like the public schools at all. Our daughter is 2 so we still have a couple years to go. We like that Hillsborough at least has a vision of having a town center although I’ll be 70 when it’s finished. We like that there is a YMCA and our church is actually in Hillsborough as well. I know some residents complain that you have to get approval to do anything on your property (fence, even heard you need a permit to get a dog house?) but if you look at some of the older towns you can see that not regulating anything turns into a mess. Hillsborough is a really pretty place. We just need to decide if we want to live closer to the municipal complex or in the older Belle Mead section. Are there any parks in the Belle Mead section?
Thanks, Mike
I have always found it fascinating to read documents such as this one. They remind me of a simpler time when attractions such as canoeing, farmland and an "ample water supply" were considered noteworthy. Most of all, the style of writing is superior to what is found in so many publications today.
ReplyDeleteI choose to live in Hillsborough for a variety of reasons. Even today, the town offers a very nice blend of rural areas, modern suburban areas, and small-town settings. Major roads are reasonably close, and it's easy to access shopping and recreation. There are reasonably priced (caveat: by central NJ standards) neighborhoods with well-kept homes and friendly neighbors who I know by name. I know that if our dog elopes from an unlatched fence gate, a neighbor will help, just as I would and do help them. There are lots of parks where I can bring my dog, and the dog owners generally are responsible about cleaning up after their companions.
ReplyDeleteYes, we need permits for seemingly minor things but I've found the town inspectors to be very reasonable people. I worry about code enforcement though - as our housing stock ages, dilapidation seems to be setting in to a few areas. The town could be perhaps a bit less laser-focused on children and families with children, too. For those of us without kids of the two-legged variety, it's hard to find a quiet restaurant without loud children here - even the better places at late hours! Maybe this is a business opportunity for the new town center.
Thanks Mike for your comments. Hillsborough Schools are more than "pretty good", I would say they are very good, and can one day be great.
ReplyDeleteI will be writing more about the town center in a future posting. There are some influential people in town who believe the town center will never be built. But there are just as many who believe it will. In either case, we shouldn't let conflicts about what the end product will be get in the way of making improvemnets incrementally along the way.
Check the blog on Sunday Mornings for my "Saturday in the Park". The big one south of Hillsborough/Mountainview Rd. is the Sourland Mountain Preserve.
I hope you decide on Hillsborough. Let us know!
jmingnj, thanks for your comments. The biggest problem I foresee with housing is vacant homes. This can occur with older homes, and in the developments. As long as Hillsborough remains desirable, we should be able to keep that problem in check.
ReplyDeleteI understand and share your view about the town being children-focused. I look at it like this - children and families have their advocates and they will always be pushing for more - and that's great. Single people and empty-nesters don't seem to have as big a voice, so their concerns can sometimes be overlooked. Ultimately you are right - people will "vote" with their pocketbooks. Give them some restaurants or other activities that they are willing to pay for, and you will surely have a win-win situation.