Middletown has bragging rights to Top Places to Live
Mayor: Ranking is testament to people living & working in town
BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer
After living in Middletown Township for the past 70 years, Charles Rogers III wasn't surprised that the township has been recognized as one of the Top 100 places to live in the country.

MATT DENTON Charlie Rogers, who has lived in Middletown his entire life, says he can't imagine living anywhere else.

In fact, he can't imagine living anywhere else.

"You can find everything you can think of here in the township," said Rogers, who is known as "Charlie" and is coordinator of the township's Office of Emergency Management. "I don't see how you can live anywhere else."

For the second time in the last three years, Middletown has made it onto Money magazine's annual compilation of the nation's towns that offer the best quality of life for residents.

A low crime rate, great schools and an abundance of cultural and leisure activities are among the reasons cited by Money for ranking Middletown No. 86 among the Top 100 Places to Live in America for 2008.

Rogers said the beautiful natural scenery gives residents a broad picture of what Middletown has to offer.

"Between the flatlands and the hilly areas and the Raritan Bay, it's a beautiful place to live," Rogers said. "It's a very nice area."

"It is a great honor for Middletown to be recognized for a second time as one of the best places for families to live," Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger said.

Middletown moved up the list, having ranked last in the magazine's annual compilation for 2006.

"One of the oldest settlements in New Jersey, Middletown attracts new residents with its scenic hills and the beautiful Navesink River," the magazine's description of Middletown said. "The township's 41 square miles are broken up into 11 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Unfortunately, real estate here tends to come with an uppermiddle class price tag. Still, the town's many schools, popular arts center and proximity to the beach make it a draw for lots of families."

Scharfenberger said that Middletown's repeat spot on the list came as no surprise.

"This designation confirms that Middletown's efforts to offer its residents the highest possible quality of life have been and continue to be very successful," Scharfenberger said at the July 21 Township Committee meeting.

Middletown received some of its best marks in the quality of life category, which includes statistics about safety and air quality.

The 42-square-mile township is home to 68,000 people, making it the most highly populatedmunicipality in Monmouth County, according to the township Web site. The township encompasses a varied natural environment, stretching from the shore of Raritan Bay and the highlands of the Navesink River to the rolling wooded hills that border Holmdel and Colts Neck.

Money used the FBI's Uniform Crime Report to measure safety. Middletown has a personal crime ratio of 1 out of every 1,000 incidents, compared with the Best Cities average of 2 out of 1,000.

When it comes to property crime, Middletown scored 12 out of 1,000 incidents, which is some 2.5 times lower than the Best Cities average.

Money also reported that 92.3 percent of days reviewed had a "good" air-quality index. The Best Cities average was 75.9 percent.

Above-average rankings were also received in the education category. Residents have access to 128 colleges, universities and professional schools and 35 junior colleges/institutes within a 30-mile radius, the article said. The Best Cities average is 49 and 25, respectively.

Rogers said that it's the services that contribute to the high ranking.

"We offer so much between the department of public works, police department and emergency services," Rogers said. "We get our leaves picked up, which is something that a lot of towns can't say they do."

Scharfenberger agrees that the services make Middletown special, but also its residents.

"It's not just a testament to the people we have working here, but a testament to the people we have living here," Scharfenberger said. "To the people who volunteer their services, to the people who keep up their properties and are really into what goes on in town, it really says a lot."

The magazine cited students' reading test scores that are 16.6 percent above the state average and 36.3 percent above average in math test scores. The Best Cities average is 17.3 percent and 16.4 percent, respectively.

The township has 17 public schools, with a student population of more than 10,000, and according to the school district Web site, the overriding focus is to create an educational environment in which all students can thrive.

Middletown also scored above average in the leisure-and-culture category because of the township's proximity to movie theaters, restaurants, libraries and museums.

Among these resources are more than 48 parks spread out over 42 square miles, includingmany park locations that offer tennis and basketball courts, playground equipment, athletic fields and/or picnic areas, according to the township Web site. Among the cultural resources are the Middletown Arts Center and the new Middletown Main Library.

"A measure of credit for our ranking here belongs to the community for supporting the creation of a top-notch arts center and public library within Middletown's borders," Scharfenberger said.

Cities with populations greater than 50,000 but less than 300,000 were ranked by Money magazine on a set of factors, including economy, arts and leisure options, cost of living, income, housing, medical care and school quality.

"We weren't on the list last year," Scharfenberger said. "But being ranked two out of the last three years is a testament to how great Middletown is."

This year's goal was to zero in on the best small cities for families, according to Money.com.

Nine other Jersey towns were ranked in the top 100. Franklin Township ranked in the upper strata, coming in as the fifth best U.S. town to live in. Others are: Edison, which ranked 35th; Hamilton 51st; Howell 77th, Parsippany/ Troy Hills 13th, Piscataway 23rd, Union 75th, Washington 58th and Wayne 100th.

Visit ww.money.com for more information.

"When you think of all the towns that are in the state, then all that are in the country, it's pretty special that we are on this list," Scharfenberger said.