Submitted by SeriouslyDough282 t3_113k9v5 in newjersey
Partner and I are looking to move to Morris County. We're considering Dover as a possible option. Did some research on schools and searched through posts.
I've found this sub to be really helpful and seeing numbers on a grading site is different from hearing firsthand experiences.
Any thoughts on raising a family in Dover? How are the schools? We like having the train to the city nearby. Would love any input. Thanks!
Cheap housing quite honestly. The market is slim pickings with high demand low supply. We're trying to open up which towns we're looking in to increase options.
I like Dover but I wouldn't want to send my kids there, saying that as a Colombian (huge demographic in the town). Do you commute to work?
My partner does a few times a week. It's not the highest priority but a consideration. This location is also closer to our folks. Thanks for the input. Is it the schools?
These things matter you don't want them to drive an hour and be far from family support
He actually doesn't mind as he might leave his job. We decided together it's not the highest priority. The reason we're considering Dover is because it is close to our folks not the other way around actually
With that said then Rockaway is better school district for not much more, Jefferson has a similar cost and school but you get more for your dollar, succasunna/minehill but minehill I think goes to Dover schools while suc does Roxbury
Good to know. We actually like Rockaway so might stick to focusing there!
The only thing I know about Dover is that it’s named after the cliffs.
Source: The Soprano’s
Lol well can't hate on the Sopranos
Dover is not dangerous or a dump like a Newark or something like that, but it is obviously less nice than the rest of the county. Its schools are also lower ranked than the rest of the county.
There's a reason it is lower priced.
Yeah we suspected. My partner was excited about the prices so I reached out for due diligence. It's a more humble neighborhood from what we can tell and we like diversity so these things were attractive to us. Knowing it's lower priced without understanding what exact factors contribute makes it hard to parse through. Like schools are important to us so it's definitely a factor. Safety and quality of life are as well.
Wouldn’t be my first choice. Check out Mine Hill - they go to Dover High but have their own, good elementary school program. Most people I know in Mine Hill send their kids to private school once they hit high school, though.
I just realized that some parts of Rockaway have a Dover postal code/address but go to Rockaway schools and Morris Knolls. If that is the area you are looking at it is a really nice area and schools are good. It’s the area around Germania Park. That would be my first choice for that Dover/Mine Hill area.
I appreciate that! We actually are looking in Rockaway but were wondering if Dover was also a good candidate. The other factor is that the more West we go, the farther we are from our folks. We're actually focusing in on central Morris county I think for the most part. Thanks for the input!
Wharton is a better option than Dover, too
Dover has lots of positive attributes but there is more crime there than surrounding locations in Morris. If you are able to rent - there are lots of apartments in Randolph and the school system has a good reputation.
I live in the town next to Dover. There are some beautiful old houses there. Unfortunately the town gets a bad rap. The school system is overcrowded they are renting space in other towns to accommodate. Some are going to mine hill and I hear they are going to rent out the old American Christian school in Wharton. There was a bid to build a larger school in Dover but it was turned down.
Someone else mentioned mine hill, which I think is a worse idea than Dover. Mine hill has zero amenities - no library, no high school. Their Facebook group is just a giant rant about how the town doesn’t care - more than others.
Rockaway is a solid choice but houses are going to be a bit higher. I’d also recommend Wharton and the Roxbury towns.
What town does your family live in? Most places here are right off the highway so it’s usually pretty easy to get to one town or the other.
Any questions, please reach out. I’ve been living in the area a long time
Action_Maxim t1_j8r7rdv wrote
What are your motivations to move to Dover? If you could afford it I would live a little north of 46 to be in Rockaway because the schools are superior.