New Jersey

Best affordable suburb: Scotch Plains
Nearest major city: New York City
Population: 22,858
Median household income: $100,131
Median home price: $421,000
Unemployment rate: 4.5%
Violent crime index: 4

Scotch Plains, 25 miles west of Manhattan, is well-connected to New York by highway and commuter rail. It has golf clubs, antique shops, and an historic town center. About 42% of residents are married with children. The average commute is 28 minutes.

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