Thinking about leaving Millburn for a fresh start a few streets over in Short Hills, and wondering whether it is the right call? That is a smart question to sit with before you commit. The very first piece of any relocation, large or small, is lining up a dependable crew you can trust with your things. Nobody has to shoulder a move alone, and leaning on trained professionals almost always beats roping in relatives and neighbors. We are Teddy Bear Moving, a family-owned company based in Fairfield, New Jersey, and we help households make this exact hop every season.
Is Short Hills the right fit
Let us cut to the heart of it. You clearly want something different, and picking up your life is a genuine change of pace, so it deserves a bit of reflection before you sign anything. The good news is that Short Hills makes room for just about everyone, whether you are a couple starting out or a family raising kids. If the thought of boxing up an entire household feels overwhelming, that is exactly where our packing services earn their keep, taking the pressure off so the whole transition stays calm rather than chaotic.
A closer look at Millburn
Millburn Township sits in Essex County and regularly ranks among the most desirable spots to settle anywhere in New Jersey. The feel is easygoing suburban, with plenty of stretched-out lots, and homeownership runs high across the community. Should you ever choose to leave, rest assured the door back to Millburn stays open.
You will find a healthy mix of restaurants, cafes, and green space scattered throughout the township. It draws a lot of families, residents tend toward middle-of-the-road politics, and the local public schools carry a strong reputation.
Here is the reassuring part: this is barely a journey at all. The two towns sit roughly 0.99 miles apart heading north and about 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) to the south if you take the Great Hills Road route. Drive it without stopping and the whole trip runs about five minutes. Handling everything yourself is perfectly doable, but if you would rather not sweat it, our crews specialize in precisely this kind of short-hop local moving.
Weighing the upsides and downsides
Because these two places are only minutes apart, the change is far from dramatic. Anyone you care about who stays behind remains an easy visit away, so there is no cause to fret over losing touch.
As noted, Millburn is a well-rounded community with quick access to great dining, parks, local businesses, a movie theater, and a rail line running straight into New York City. That makes it a terrific base for commuters and for families putting down roots. So what sits on the other side of the ledger?
Shopping around town
Millburn pulls off a rare trick, pairing upscale, Fifth-Avenue-style retail with the charm of a classic small-town main street. The Mall at Short Hills, perched on the western edge of the township, is a standout regional destination packed with quality stores and boutiques. Meanwhile the downtown and surrounding shopping districts brim with one-of-a-kind specialty shops, service-based businesses, and professional offices.
The drawbacks
On the critical side, some say the culture here leans heavily toward money and status, which can wear on you over time. A fair amount of neighborhood theft has also been flagged as a recurring concern.
Settling into Short Hills
Short Hills also falls within Essex County, tucked inside Millburn Township, and it has long been a favorite among people commuting into New York City. This is a well-heeled neighborhood, home to both handsome older residences and newer construction. The area has a way of surprising you right when you assume you have seen and done it all. Bring a partner, gather a group of friends, or pack up the children and plan a day worth remembering. Certain venues cater to larger gatherings and occasionally run group discounts, so it pays to check ahead before you go.
The schools in Short Hills
Families relocating here can feel good about the education on offer. There are several schools worth looking into, among them:
- Millburn Senior High School
- Glenwood Elementary School
- Deerfield Elementary School
- Heartstorm Elementary School
What homes cost in each town
The gap in real estate prices between the two towns is not enormous. Listed homes in Millburn hover around $1,130,100, while over in Short Hills they run closer to $1,386,600, so on the sale side the two stay fairly comparable. Renting tells a slightly different story. A house in Short Hills averages about $2,798 a month, whereas Millburn is noticeably gentler on the wallet at roughly $1,816.
The good and the not-so-good in Short Hills
There is a long list of reasons people fall for Short Hills. Near the top, the public schools are excellent, and with so many young people and students around, fitting in comes easily.
Day-to-day expenses also tend to run below the national average and below plenty of other towns in the state. Some communities cost more than others, but taken together, the typical spend on housing, utilities, groceries, getting around, medical care, and similar services lands on the lower side here.
Safety is another draw. Crime figures in Short Hills come in under what you find across many suburbs both statewide and nationwide. A large share of people weigh safety heavily when choosing where to live, and residents here generally have less to worry about on that front, which counts as a real point in the town’s favor.
On the flip side, the trade-offs include hefty taxes, less diversity than some would like, and a quiet nightlife scene. Then again, everything is so close by that popping back to Millburn for an evening out is never a hassle.
After the boxes are unloaded
Once you have arrived, you may still want a hand with unpacking and muscling furniture into place. That is no trouble at all. Reach out to us and our crews will take it from there. And beyond the move itself, Short Hills has plenty to keep you busy once you have settled in.
Planning a move? We can help
Free, no-obligation quote from our New Jersey team.
