Matawan, NJ: Home to the most well-known freshwater shark attacks in history - thankfully, they were 100 years ago.
Matawan is a small town in the shadows of New York City, close enough to be convenient, but far enough for separation from the rat race
Matawan, NJ: Home to the most well-known freshwater shark attacks in history - thankfully, they were 100 years ago.
Matawan is a small town in the shadows of New York City, close enough to be convenient, but far enough for separation from the rat race. It is a town that has grown over the years, with new residents adding to the bedrock of the community. It is a historic town that is in transition, becoming more urban while holding onto a village-like atmosphere.
Freneau: This well-established, older neighborhood is mostly owner-occupied. However, it does offer a handful of rental properties, from studio apartments to 3 bedroom houses for rent. This is a great neighborhood for the foodies, with international flavors including Amravathi Indian Restaurant, Shanghai Bun Restaurant and Peter's Fishery all close by. It's not bad for the outdoorsman either, encompassing Lake Lefferts for swimming and fishing. Best of all, it's the best neighborhood in Matawan for those on a budget.
Strathmore: This is a suburban area to the east of downtown. With an extremely low vacancy rate and a great majority of owner-occupied units, it can be very difficult to find rental properties here. That being said, these are also some of the nicest properties in town, so it's well worth a look.
Borough Center: This is probably the best spot to start your hunt for apartment rentals in Matawan. The middle of Matawan has the most renter-occupied units out of all of the neighborhoods in this city. This includes apartment buildings, condo rentals, and row homes -- many of them older, bordering on historic, but definitely not run down. Borough Center has a great small-town feel; it's very walkable and features tree-lined streets. It's also the best spot for commuters -- the neighborhood is right next to the Garden State Parkway and is centered around the train station. Yes, you have to deal with a little noise, but its worth it for easily accessible transportation.
Travel: Matawan is a massive travel hub, with the Aberdeen-Matawan train station providing direct service into New York City. This service makes it one of the most popular train stations along the North Jersey coastline. Bus service runs from Matawan to the Midtown Manhattan terminal as well. If you're not a fan of public transport -- although if you commute to the city, you should become a fan so you don't have to battle traffic -- Matawan touches all of the major routes of the area, including the Garden State Parkway. You will need a car if you live in Matawan though -- the residential areas are not all that convenient to the commercial and business parts of town.
Weather: The weather around Matawan can get a bit rough, thanks to being so close to the ocean. This can cause some high winds, and Matawan gets hit particularly hard by hurricanes that roll up the coast occasionally. It also can get blasted by blizzards, but those come and go from year to year. The good news is that being close to the ocean keeps the summers from getting too stifling. Keep a sweatshirt or windbreaker handy year-round -- even in summer, a breezy night might call for long sleeves.
Lead Time: With its convenient location, Matawan isn't cheap. You'll need to save up for a security deposit because there is high demand for rentals around here and landlords are happy to take financial advantage of that fact. Vacancy rates are low, and the town is constantly attracting folks who want to move out from New York City and stay close or who want to move a bit closer to the city from other areas of the state. Have references and pay stubs on hand -- you may need to jump on a property right away before someone snags it out from underneath you. All of this means that it could take two or three months to find an apartment in Matawan, especially if you're looking for the perfect fit.
If you like enjoying the fresh air on a daily basis, you could do a lot worse than Matawan, especially being so close to a major city. Lake Lefferts and Lake Matawan are hotbeds for activities throughout the year, as is Raritan Bay just to the north. The lakes are peaceful, except when the July fireworks light up the sky above Lake Lefferts. The area gets super cold in the winter, but that isn't so bad when you realize Lake Lefferts freezes over, offering the perfect opportunity for skating. A bit further away is the bay, which is great for fishing, boating and swimming. Both of the lakes and the bay offer boat and canoe rentals, along with tackle shops and marinas. If you want to travel a bit out of town, the beaches are within a half-hour, with Sandy Hook just over 10 miles from downtown Matawan.
One of the highlights of the year for many residents is the Matawan Day and Food Festival. This October event brings vendors, bands, and other entertainment to downtown Matawan, along with an outdoor beer garden and the many restaurants from around town showing off their best tastes. There's always a great variety of international flavors.
Many of the long-time Matawan residents are proud of the town's history, and the Matawan Historical Society loves to put it on display. Based in the historic Burrowes Mansion that still bears the musket ball holes from the American revolution, the society makes sure that history buffs will have plenty to discover around town.
Of course, many residents love to get out of town for entertainment as well. With the city that never sleeps nearby, all the shopping and entertainment you can imagine is but a train ride away.
