thinking back to the show, it couldn't be set in (the city of) new brunswick, nj. there were no bullets flying by, no drug dealers visible in the background of outside shots and charles was never wearing a bulletproof vest when he went to class...
kidding, folks! but it does say on imdb.com that in the first season before it swtched solely to syndication, they never mentioned where charles went to school or where they lived. only after it was syndicated did they specify that he went to rutgers and lived in new jersey.
that explains why the family changed. in new brunswick it is customary for families to muscle in on other family's homes - they just barge in and set-up house. it's a little known, but disturbing trend that needs to be talked about!
XING
PED