So far, this column has been intended to help readers find options to consider for relocating to far-flung communities that may offer a very different quality of life—cities like Las Vegas and Orlando that offer different climates and geographic terrain.

While there are so many opportunities for young people searching for something different, it’s obvious that many people are choosing to stay in the New York metro area for any number of reasons, including family, friends and employment. There are some towns in this area that can accommodate new homeowners searching for homes under $500,000 that are still close enough to benefit from the infrastructure of the New York metro community.

Highland Park/Edison is a well-established community with a 50-year history and more than 1,500 families. There are 10 shuls that satisfy the needs of many different hashkafot, including Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Yeshivish, Modern Orthodox, etc.

There are three elementary schools: Yeshiva Shaarei Tzion with approximately 400 children in separate classes; RPRY, a co-ed school with 300 students; and Netivot, a Montessori school with 100 students. There are also three high schools in the community, including Reenas Bais Yeshiva for girls, RJJ for boys and Bruriah/JEC, which is about 45 minutes away.

There are even two local colleges. Rutgers University is just five minutes away and has a large Jewish student population, while Ivy League Princeton University is just 20 minutes away.

Many residents of this area commute less than an hour to work in New York City. There are also many people who work locally. Some of the larger local employers include Johnson & Johnson, Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Amazon and a number of pharmaceutical companies.

The community is experiencing tremendous growth with approximately 30 to 40 new families settling here within the last few years. Many of the newcomers migrated from Brooklyn, Bergen County and Monsey, and the community has seen growth in both the Yeshivish community as well as the Modern Orthodox.

While it shares the benefits of being near the New York metro area, the community also exhibits a small-town, suburban feel. A perfect example of this tight-knit sense of community is on Shavuot, when the different ravs go to other shuls to lead shiurim.

Nearby is also East Brunswick, which is home to 250 families and is just 10 minutes away. This community tends to be a little more expensive than others in the area.

The availability of kosher food is important to any community, and Highland Park doesn’t disappoint. Groceries and prepared foods are available at the Glatt 27. The ShopRite in East Brunswick provides kosher meat, fish and prepared food. There are a number of kosher restaurants and cafes, including Sushiana, Mordy’s Bakery, Jerusalem Pizza, China Lee, Park Place (a hamburger and schnitzel restaurant,) kosher Dunkin’ Donuts and the Turkish restaurant The Bridge.

Yishai Valter is a recent arrival with his wife, Shulie, and their 2-year-old daughter. “We were ready to leave Kew Garden Hills, which is becoming more crowded and expensive,” he said. “When my job moved within 20 minutes of Highland Park, we jumped at the chance to move. We left a basement apartment rental and bought our own home.”

Valter speaks highly of his new town of Highland Park, and says they feel comfortable and welcome in the shuls and diverse community. An additional benefit is having Shulie’s parents nearby in Teaneck. Highland Park has worked out to be the perfect solution for them, he says.

Homes in Highland Park tend to be more affordable than in most communities that are closer to the city. As you can see from the list of recent sales below, it’s still possible to find a home below $500,000 and taxes below $12,000.

See the list below of homes recently sold in Highland Park, according to information from Realtor.com.

Highland Park offers affordability and a small-town flavor with proximity to the education and cultural opportunities of the big city. The community provides the best of both worlds.

For further information, please reach out to Josh Pruzansky, President and CEO of The ROC of NJ at [email protected]

David Siegel is a vice president of mortgage lending with Guaranteed Rate Affinity (GRA), a leading national retail mortgage lender. GRA is licensed in all U.S. states except Hawaii and works with many investors, which allows it to provide competitive pricing and a broad channel of unique options to handle the often very specific needs of the community. David has over 15 years of experience at both major banks and mortgage bankers and understands the guidelines of different lenders to help direct his customers to the best loan type for their needs. No one lender is the best option for everyone. David will help you find the right choice for you. He is located at 16 Arcadian Avenue 3rd Floor, Unit C-6, Paramus, NJ, 07652. Contact him via email [email protected] or phone 201-725-9527.

NMLS 277243 Guaranteed Rate Affinity NMLS 1598647 Equal Housing Lender.

For licensing, go to nmlsconsumeraccess.org, 16 Arcadian Avenue 3rd Floor, Unit C-6, Paramus, NJ, 07652. Licensed by the NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance.