Westfield, New Jersey

The New York Times recently profiled Westfield, New Jersey, population 30,000:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/realestate/13Living.html?hpw

This is a mid-sized city that continues to experience moderate growth because it has a small town feel:

"The town has a coziness that stems from an intergenerational appeal. People who grew up here often choose to move back as adults — to be near parents and to be parents themselves. It’s the kind of community where children ride their bicycles and skateboards downtown, gathering at delis and Italian-ice stands."

One of the possible reasons this New Jersey city has remained relatively small is that though it's close to New York City, there is no direct train connection to the Big Apple. Thus, not as many New York City commuters live in this town as in other New Jersey towns.

But plans are underway to connect Westfield with Midtown Manhattan by 2016. And though the city seems happy about this development, it also hopes to keep its small town atmosphere in tact.