Holmdel is a commuter area to New York City with a lot of extra perks
Located about 40 miles from New York and minutes from Raritan Bay, Holmdel is close to buses, trains, ferries and highways that go into the city. But while Holmdel is popular among commuters, this township's entertainment venues, sprawling parks, well-rated schools and innovative mixed-use development keep residents local. "When I moved here 30 years ago, it was underdeveloped. It was rural. But a lot has changed, and life here has become much more convenient," says Ranka Vucetic, Realtor at Christie's International Real Estate Group. "I looked around, and Holmdel is now incredibly accessible."
Attractions include Bell Works, a research lab turned suburban hub
While countless theaters and cultural attractions are an hour away in New York City – or an hour and a half away in Philadelphia – Holmdel itself has plenty to do. PNC Bank Arts Center is an outdoor amphitheater that holds around 17,000 people and hosts major acts like Lil Wayne and The Offspring.
Bell Works, once the Bell Labs research facility, is now a mixed-use campus. "It used to have 5,000 employees working there, and then the business changed. Someone bought it and they really gave it a new lease on life," Vucetic says. "The building is an architectural masterpiece." In addition to some office space, the highly modern glass building has a library, indoor golf facility and escape room. Visitors can grab a drink at Bar Bella, a rooftop bar serving specialty cocktails, or enjoy pasta and wine at Mabel, among other businesses on-site. Bell Works also hosts a farmers market throughout the year; local artisans, business owners and farmers set up their tables each Wednesday for locals to peruse.
Down the road, Fox Hollow Vineyards serves charcuterie and glasses of made-in-house wine. "It's like Napa Valley," Vucetic says. "It's a great place to make a pit stop, to just relax for a little bit and look at this beautiful scenery." For errands, nearby Route 35 is lined with big box stores like Lidl, ShopRite and The Home Depot.
Suburban options range from modest homes to spacious estates
Holmdel's peaceful subdivisions wind through preserved farmland, and quiet residential streets are lined with mature trees. Cozy ramblers, ranch-style homes, bi-levels and smaller New Traditional homes typically start around $550,000 and go up to $900,000. More spacious New Traditional homes and Colonial Revivals start around $1 million, though sprawling custom homes on more than an acre of land can reach nearly $3 million. Although single-family homes are most common, there are a handful of condos and townhouses that sell for between $350,000 and $700,000. Holmdel's CAP Index Crime Score is a 2, less than the national average of 4.
Highly rated township schools prepare students for future careers
Holmdel Township School District earns an overall A rating from Niche. Students in the district begin at the Village School for pre-K through third grade and Indian Hill School for fourth through sixth. Older students continue to William Satz Intermediate School and Holmdel High School. All four of these schools earn A ratings from Niche. In addition to the standard curriculum, the high school offers programs for students interested in diving deeper into subjects like business and technology. Courses include marketing, finance, robotics, game design and studio production. The school also offers a work-based learning program, where high schoolers can be placed in internships where they get real-world experience in fields like healthcare, business and education.
Holmdel Park is one of several major outdoor spaces in the county
The 664-acre Holmdel Park has miles of trails along the pond and through the woods, as well as playgrounds and tennis courts. Visitors can spend the afternoon fishing on the pond during the warmer months or ice-skating during winter freezes. The park's hilly terrain is popular among runners, with steep trails like "The Bowl" challenging even seasoned athletes. "You will see people preparing for marathons in Holmdel Park," Vucetic says.
Other pockets of nature are throughout Holmdel. At Robert Wilson Park, locals can visit the Holmdel Horn Antenna, a preserved radio telescope that studied phenomena like the Big Bang in the '60s. On the northern side of town, Allocco Park has an updated playground and basketball court.
Take the bus, train or ferry into New York City
Located about 40 miles from Manhattan, Holmdel has several options for commuting into New York City. Drivers can take the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike to get to Manhattan in about an hour without traffic, and the Marlboro Park & Ride is one of several locations servicing buses to New York. The nearby Hazlet and Aberdeen-Matawan train stations take riders into the city on the commuter rail. Locals can also choose to take the Seastreak Ferry across Raritan Bay, especially during the warmer months. "There are beautiful views of Lower Manhattan [from the ferry]. You pass by the Statue of Liberty," Vucetic says. "People get tired of one mode of transit, so they use another one. When the weather is bad and you don't want to be on the ocean, you can take the train, bus or drive." The region is also home to several international airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport.
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Written By
Faith Wakefield
