When Jessica and her husband Jon left Brooklyn for Jersey City, it was a leap toward more space and a slower pace. Then came another leap, this time to Westchester’s Chappaqua. But it wasn’t until they made the third move, with two young kids in tow, that everything finally clicked.
“We had done a lot of work to the house in Chappaqua and really made it ours,” Jessica says. “But it just felt like something was missing.”
Jessica, in-house legal counsel for a health and wellness brand, was commuting into Manhattan. Her husband was going to start commuting more often to New Jersey. Each way: over an hour. With a toddler and a baby at home, they were barely present in their new town—let alone connecting with it. Despite the tough decision, Jessica and her husband knew it was time to make another move.
A Different Kind of Search
Jessica heard about Suburban Jungle twice in two months—once from a coworker, and once from a fellow mom she met on a park bench in the Hamptons—so she reached out. That’s when she and her husband met their Strategist, Alli Levine.
“Jessica was thoughtful, self-aware, and ready to dedicate time to their search,” Alli says. “They had been through one suburban move that didn’t align, so they came in with a strong sense of what wasn’t working, and that gave us a great foundation.”
After their initial conversations, Alli recommended several communities in New Jersey, including Westfield, Summit, Chatham, and Montclair. Jessica says the vibe shift was immediate in Montclair.
“We realized we didn’t have to give up walkability to live in the suburbs,” she says. “In Montclair, we wouldn’t need a car for everything. We had the option to be within walking distance to parks, coffee shops, and even ride our bikes to our favorite spots.”
More than logistics, though, it was the feel of Montclair that drew them in.
“We wanted something different,” Jessica says. “We wanted a town with more variety and options. That was really important to us and that’s what we felt there.”
The Right Move at the Right Time
By the time they zeroed in on Montclair, Jessica and her husband had a detailed checklist—and they knew how to ask the right questions.
She says the guidance they received about bussing, daycare, or school culture was real—even if sometimes, not what they wanted to hear. “That transparency made such a difference.”
Alli says “We are hearing from so many families that moved to the suburbs in the last few years and feel that they chose the wrong town. Many were drawn to a house and didn’t know enough about the community to understand what life would be like and if that would align with their personal priorities. These second moves are what we call ‘re-suburbing’—because the first search was house focused. Our process is town-first, helping clients lead with lifestyle, and that’s where Suburban Jungle can really help.”
Jessica and her husband moved to Montclair in August. Less than a year in, it’s already changed everything.
“There’s always something happening,” she says. “There’s energy here. I just signed my two-year-old up for a little soccer league that we can walk to on Saturday mornings.”
They’ve met neighbors at parks, at daycare drop-off, at the local train station. Their neighborhood is green and serene, but they’re five minutes from great restaurants and amenities.
“We got the best of all worlds,” she says. “The natural surroundings and the community feel and convenience we were looking for. It finally feels like home.”
Jessica’s Advice for Other Families Re-Suburbing
Visit towns at different times. “We came on weeknights and weekends. It helped us understand what rush hour looks like, what the weekend vibe is, and how people use public spaces.”
Be honest—with yourself and with your strategist. “Don’t be afraid to say no. If a town doesn’t feel right, speak up. Alli always encouraged us to be candid, and that helped her guide us better.”
Shop the town. “Grab coffee, eat out, look at grocery stores, playgrounds, whatever matters to you. It’ll give you a real sense of whether the town fits your daily life.”
Talk to other parents. “We brought our kids to parks and just started chatting with people. That’s how we learned about neighborhoods, schools, childcare—it was so helpful.”
Get aligned with your partner before you start. “We made a list of what we didn’t like about our old town and what we hoped to find in a new one. That gave us direction and made our calls with Suburban Jungle much more productive.”
A Fresh Start, and Real Belonging
From a chance park bench chat to a whole new life in Montclair, Jessica’s story is one many families can relate to. The suburbs aren’t one-size-fits-all—and sometimes, it takes a few tries to get it just right.
“It wasn’t easy leaving our first house—we had put so much into it,” Jessica says. “But it’s so clear now that we made the right decision. We’re more present. We’re more connected. This is the community we were looking for all along.”
Thinking about making your next move? Whether you’re coming from the city or looking for a better suburban fit, Suburban Jungle can help you find your perfect town. Schedule your free initial strategy call today.
