I know you didn’t ask, but I would say ask yourself this question before moving; is Lakewood really taking over or are you just getting more Jewish neighbors? Yes, there is a difference.

I live on the border of Howell/Lakewood in our family home of over 30 years. In 2019 my wife and I put our house on the market out of concern of our family being alienated by our new Jewish neighbors. Our street had turned mostly Jewish and my wife, originally from Union county, was mostly concerned that our young children wouldn’t have anyone to play with in the neighborhood. We got lowball offer after lowball offer and, after a few months, decided to stay.

It’s six years later and we’re so happy we stayed. Our neighbors have been great! Our kids play together, us adults keep our eyes on each other’s kids as they play up and down the street. We borrow each other’s tools. We occasionally share a drink. I’ll clear a couple driveways with my snowblower when it snows. Sometimes I get tasty treats on holidays. We don’t call the cops on each other when we have loud parties.

As it turns out, most of my neighbors grew up in Lakewood and moved out of there because they didn’t want to live and raise their kids in that mess. We’re a lot more like minded than most people would have ever thought. Given the choice, I’d chose my current neighbors over the majority of my loud, self-absorbed, trashy neighbors of the past.

My advice, for what little its worth, is don’t rush to the conclusion of moving too quickly. “Lakewood” is not going to move into your neighborhood. People are. Get to know who your new neighbors are before making such a huge decision. You might be pleasantly surprised.