Why more families are moving to suburban neighborhoods in New Jersey: 10 real advantages

Ten years ago, cities focused on revitalizing their central districts and increasing their appeal. This made a lot of sense, given that young millennials had few family responsibilities and wanted to be closer to the city center. Building apartments downtown worked for cities during the recession, because adding housing options required only a small investment in infrastructure. In addition, more people rented than bought because loans were harder to obtain, and all of this slowed down moving to suburban neighborhoods.

But in the last few years, the suburbs have been revived. Even millennials are now moving to suburban neighborhoods, and they are shaping future development outside of cities. The renewed interest in the suburbs is mainly due to millennials getting older and starting families. But there are many reasons why more and more people hire moving companies Bergen County NJ and move to the suburbs. In this guide, we break down the 10 biggest advantages of moving to suburban neighborhoods in New Jersey, compare suburban and city living side by side, and share how to plan the move without stress.

Table of contents

1. Why moving to suburban neighborhoods is on the rise
2. More space: the top reason for moving to suburban neighborhoods
3. Best price per square foot
4. Less crowded areas
5. A better general school system
6. More privacy when moving to suburban neighborhoods
7. Convenience is closer than ever
8. More nature to enjoy after moving to suburban neighborhoods
9. Safety and a stronger community voice
10. Quality of life: suburbs vs. city
11. Why choose Moving of America
12. Frequently asked questions

1. Why moving to suburban neighborhoods is on the rise

The shift back toward the suburbs is not a trend that happened overnight. Several forces are pushing families, young couples, and even retirees toward moving to suburban neighborhoods:

• Life stage changes: millennials are marrying, having children, and needing more bedrooms and yard space.
• Remote and hybrid work: fewer days in the office make a longer commute far easier to accept.
• Housing costs: city rents and condo prices keep climbing, while suburban homes offer more for the money.
• Amenities have followed people: suburban downtowns now have the restaurants, gyms, and coffee shops people once found only in cities.

Housing research from the National Association of Realtors has long shown strong buyer demand for suburban homes, and New Jersey is a textbook example. Its suburbs sit within easy reach of both New York City and Philadelphia, which makes moving to suburban neighborhoods in the Garden State especially attractive. If you are coming from the city, our New York movers handle city-to-suburb moves every week.

Here are the ten benefits of moving to suburban neighborhoods that keep encouraging people to return there.

2. More space: the top reason for moving to suburban neighborhoods

Home size data from the U.S. Census Bureau reflects what buyers already feel: the popularity of the suburbs keeps growing because they offer more room to spread out. The closer you get to the center of the city, the smaller the size of the dwelling, which is exactly why so many families end up moving to suburban neighborhoods. This can work for single professionals or couples, but for families, it quickly becomes a problem.

What extra space looks like after moving to suburban neighborhoods

• A dedicated home office instead of a laptop on the kitchen table.
• A backyard for kids, pets, gardening, and summer barbecues.
• A garage or basement for storage, hobbies, and a home gym.
• Room for guests and extended family to visit comfortably.

For many households, extra square footage is the single biggest reason for moving to suburban neighborhoods, and it is the advantage people say they notice first.

3. Best price per square foot

As homes become less affordable in urban centers, people keep moving to suburban neighborhoods. Although the houses you find when moving to suburban neighborhoods are bigger, they often cost less per square foot in the suburbs. When you want to get the most house for your money, the suburbs are the place to hunt.

How to stretch your budget when moving to suburban neighborhoods

Price per square foot is only part of the picture. Property taxes, commuting costs, and home maintenance also matter, so compare the full monthly cost of a suburban home against your current rent or mortgage. Towns a few stops farther down a rail line often offer noticeably lower prices while keeping a reasonable commute. Our guide to moving to New Jersey on a budget covers more ways to keep costs down.

Renting vs. buying when moving to suburban neighborhoods

You do not have to buy a house to enjoy the suburbs. Many people moving to suburban neighborhoods start by renting a townhouse or a garden apartment to test the commute, the schools, and the community before committing. Renting first gives you flexibility, while buying builds equity and locks in more space for the long term. Either way, moving to suburban neighborhoods usually gets you more room per dollar than a comparable city rental.

Financing help for moving to suburban neighborhoods

If you are buying your first home, moving to suburban neighborhoods may be more affordable than you think. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency offers programs for eligible first-time buyers, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has free tools to compare loan offers. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also lists approved housing counselors. Using these resources before moving to suburban neighborhoods can save thousands over the life of a mortgage.

4. Less crowded areas

When moving to New Jersey, it can be hard to avoid the crowds. But when moving to suburban neighborhoods, it is possible. Of course, you may have to travel a little farther when you live in the suburbs, but that commute is often the only time you deal with city crowds. A suburb almost always has fewer people per square mile, which means less congestion. For example, 2017 estimates put Hackensack’s population density at about 10,563 people per square mile, while Upper Montclair had about 4,561 people per square mile.

One of the key areas where lower population density makes a big difference is schools. In the suburbs, as a rule, the ratio of students to teachers is better. Lower density also means easier parking, shorter lines at the grocery store, and quieter nights, all everyday perks of moving to suburban neighborhoods.

5. A better general school system

One of the main advantages of moving to suburban neighborhoods for families is the school system. Although charter schools are beginning to change the landscape everywhere, suburbs, as a rule, have schools with higher ratings. In New Jersey, this is certainly the case, with suburban school districts such as Millburn and Princeton consistently ranked among the highest in the state.

Researching schools before moving to suburban neighborhoods

Before you commit, review each district’s official data on the NJ Department of Education website, compare ratings on GreatSchools, visit the schools, and talk to local parents. Our guides to the best schools in New Jersey for your child and choosing the perfect school can help you compare. For families with young children, school quality is often what turns interest into actually moving to suburban neighborhoods. Planning a move with little ones? See our tips for moving with kids.

6. More privacy when moving to suburban neighborhoods

Thanks to fewer people and wider, open spaces, moving to suburban neighborhoods offers more privacy than city life. This is especially true when comparing a suburban home with a downtown apartment. No shared walls, no neighbors above or below, and a private driveway are small details that make a big difference day to day.

Privacy is also a matter of noise. Many people moving to suburban neighborhoods say the biggest surprise is simply how quiet their evenings become, with no sirens, late-night traffic, or hallway chatter.

Health and wellness perks of moving to suburban neighborhoods

Quieter streets, cleaner air in many areas, and easy access to parks encourage a more active lifestyle. Walking the dog, jogging on local trails, and letting kids play outside become daily habits. Many families say that moving to suburban neighborhoods helped them sleep better, spend more time outdoors, and feel less stressed overall.

For remote workers, moving to suburban neighborhoods also means a proper home office with natural light and fewer distractions, which many people say makes them more productive than they ever were in a cramped city apartment.

7. Convenience is closer than ever in suburban areas

This is just one of the ways millennial migration to the suburbs is changing development. As more people kept moving to suburban neighborhoods, the choice of amenities grew and changed with them. The design movement known as New Urbanism brings more diversity and opportunity to suburban residents, from farmers markets to entertainment, and all of these amenities are closer than ever. Many new communities are designed to be walkable, which makes moving to suburban neighborhoods feel far less car-dependent than it once was. Today, even in the suburbs, mixed-use spaces are developing. More and more suburbs are starting to feel like small cities without the higher price.

Commuting after moving to suburban neighborhoods

In New Jersey, convenience also means transit. NJ Transit rail and bus lines connect dozens of suburban towns to Manhattan, Newark, and Hoboken, and you can check live road conditions for a driving commute on 511NJ. If a quick city commute matters to you, start with our list of the best NJ suburbs for NYC commuters before moving to suburban neighborhoods.

8. More nature to enjoy after moving to suburban neighborhoods

Although some cities, such as Jersey City and Newark, have plenty of green space, that is not always the case in every big city. However, more greenery and nature exist in the suburbs. For outdoor enthusiasts, the best NJ suburbs offer much more nature, trails, and parks. Many communities even have their own hiking and cycling routes for local residents.

New Jersey’s state parks and forests are often just a short drive from suburban homes, and you can browse hundreds of local hiking and biking routes on AllTrails. Weekend hikes, lake days, and bike rides become part of normal life after moving to suburban neighborhoods, rather than a special trip.

9. Safety and a stronger community voice

Safety after moving to suburban neighborhoods

A few years ago, many people were moving to suburban neighborhoods mainly because of safety concerns. Cities are safer today than decades ago, but in most of them, the crime rate is still higher than in the suburbs. Gated and planned communities are also more common in the suburbs. You can review statewide crime reporting from the New Jersey State Police before choosing a town.

More voice in local government and community development

To be fair, no matter where you live, you can always participate in your local community. However, in a small suburban community, it is much easier to be heard and take on a role in local government, your children’s schools, and neighborhood groups, because there are fewer people competing for attention. Libraries, recreation departments, youth sports leagues, and volunteer fire and ambulance squads all welcome new residents, so moving to suburban neighborhoods is a natural way to build real connections. Many residents say that getting involved locally is one of the most rewarding parts of moving to suburban neighborhoods.

10. Quality of life: suburbs vs. city

After moving to suburban neighborhoods, you are still close enough to get to the city for work and cultural events, but you can also use shops, restaurants, medical services, and emergency services right in your own community. If you want to be in the center of the city, or surrounded by farms and rolling hills, you may find the suburbs are too big a compromise. But if you are looking for a taste of both worlds, the suburbs are probably for you.

How to plan a smooth move to the suburbs

A little planning goes a long way when moving to suburban neighborhoods, especially if you are leaving a city apartment for a larger home.

• Visit at different times: check the neighborhood on a weekday morning and a weekend evening.
• Test the commute: ride the train or drive the route at rush hour before you sign.
• Declutter first: moving to suburban neighborhoods from a small apartment is the perfect time to start fresh.
• Plan for bigger furniture: a larger home may need new pieces, so measure before you buy.
• Book movers early: moving to suburban neighborhoods peaks in summer, when families time moves around the school year.
• Forward your mail: set up a USPS change of address about two weeks before moving to suburban neighborhoods.

Still deciding whether moving to suburban neighborhoods is right for you? Read our guide to the ideal neighborhood for young couples, or, if you are planning for retirement, the best NJ boroughs for seniors. For a closer look at one of the state’s most popular suburban areas, see moving to and living in Bergen County NJ.

11. Why choose Moving of America

Moving of America has helped New Jersey and New York families with moving to suburban neighborhoods since 2007. Whether you are leaving a Manhattan walk-up for a Bergen County colonial or upsizing from a starter home, our team plans every detail so your first day in the suburbs feels like home.

• A dedicated Move Advisor who builds your timeline and walks you through every step.
• Apartment movers who know city building rules, elevator reservations, and certificates of insurance.
• Full packing services to protect furniture, art, and fragile items.
• Flexible short-term storage, with free storage included on every move when closing dates do not line up.
• Local experts through our local movers NJ crews serving every New Jersey location.

Moving of America is fully licensed, insured, and accredited: US DOT 1601312, MC 592337, NY DOT 38444, and NJ License 39PC00096600. Before hiring any mover, check its rating on the Better Business Bureau and review New Jersey mover rules through the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs.

12. Frequently asked questions

What are the main advantages of moving to suburban neighborhoods?

The biggest advantages of moving to suburban neighborhoods are more living space, a better price per square foot, fewer crowds, highly rated schools, more privacy, access to nature, and lower crime rates.

Is moving to suburban neighborhoods cheaper than living in the city?

Usually, yes. Moving to suburban neighborhoods typically costs less on a per-square-foot basis. However, you should factor in property taxes, commuting, and car costs to see the full picture before moving to suburban neighborhoods.

Why are millennials moving to suburban neighborhoods?

Many millennials are starting families and want more space, good schools, and yards. Remote and hybrid work has also made a suburban commute much easier to manage.

Which New Jersey suburbs are best for NYC commuters?

Towns with direct NJ Transit rail or bus service to Manhattan are the most popular. Our guide to the best NJ suburbs for NYC commuters lists strong options across several counties.

How far in advance should I book movers when moving to suburban neighborhoods?

For moving to suburban neighborhoods, book 4 to 6 weeks ahead for most local moves, and 8 weeks or more for summer dates, when families time their moves around the school calendar.

Can movers help if my new suburban home is not ready yet?

Yes. Moving of America includes free storage with every move, so your belongings stay safe until your new home is ready.

Are there programs that help first-time buyers moving to suburban neighborhoods?

Yes. New Jersey’s housing finance agency offers first-time buyer programs, and federal resources from HUD and the CFPB can help you compare loans before moving to suburban neighborhoods.

Is it hard to adjust after moving to suburban neighborhoods from the city?

Most people adjust quickly after moving to suburban neighborhoods. The biggest changes are relying more on a car or train schedule and a slower pace in the evenings. Joining local groups, visiting the downtown, and meeting neighbors early all help you settle in faster.

More space, better value, strong schools, privacy, nature, and a real sense of community: the advantages of moving to suburban neighborhoods are hard to ignore. When you are ready to make the leap, Moving of America’s Move Advisors are here to make your move to the New Jersey suburbs smooth, safe, and stress-free.