An Expat Talks about Living in Chatham, New Jersey

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Chatham

What activities, clubs and organizations would you recommend to newcomers to help them meet others?

The Chathams consist of the Borough and the Township - both served by the same school system since the late 80s. The town has a friendly atmosphere with churches, schools and community clubs serving as the centers for activities and relationship building.

In terms of religious, racial, economic and cultural diversity, are the people of this city or town diverse? Are they accepting of differences? Describe.

While there is a good cross-section of people living in Chatham, there is not a large percentage of minorities. At the same time, people are very open to others with different backgrounds and perspectives.

What are the main industries in this city? What types of career opportunities commonly exist? How do most people find new jobs?

Many people use the train line which features midtown direct service to commute to jobs in NYC. The trip is about 45 minutes. Or, the Hoboken line takes commuters downtown via Hoboken terminal. Others work in the NJ area which is home to several pharmaceuticals and telecommumications firms (AT&T, Lucent, Merck, Novartis).

In general, what are peoples' priorities in this city? For example, do lives revolve around work, family, socializing, sports, etc.?

You will find a large percentage of the working-age population is engaged in professional occupations. People are very career oriented. There is a mix of one and two income families.

Family life is also very important to people. Many young people move to Chatham after living in New York City to start and grow their families.

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If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.

There is a strong sense of history with several homes on Main Street having served as lodging for George Washington during the Revolution. Most towns in the area make similar claims :-)

This is a great place to raise a family and develop a network of stimulating friendships. It is safe, well-governed town, with a mix of history and contemporary living. It offers easy access to work both in NYC and the surrounding area.

The town has grown to offer a wide range of newer housing -- but this is not the area for starter castles which are common in nearby areas.