Bergen County, NJ or Nassau County, NY (Long Island) (high school, income)

[NEWJERSEY1]

Which county is better? Bergen County (In Northern New Jersey) or Nassau County, NY? (Which is basically Long Island, not too far away from Bergen County) .. I think Nassau is better because there's more diversity and I heard the people there are nice. I live in Bergen & I hate it especially my area. The education might be better but I'm not sure. What do you guys think?

[lammius]

Nassau is more diverse? Both counties are almost 80 percent white. The only difference demographically between the two counties is that Bergen has more Asians than Nassau and Nassau has more black people than Bergen. Also, Nassau has a bit higher median HH income (though we're splitting hairs here because both are very affluent overall, identical poverty %).

I prefer Bergen, because it has some great little towns, more rugged terrain for hiking, and it's on the US mainland. Nassau has some nice beaches, but Long Island is a pain in the tuchus to drive to from almost anywhere.

[TheWereRabbit]

I'd probably go with the north shore of Nassau only because I know it and don't really know Jersey but lammius makes a good point that L.I. is annoying to get to anywhere from. I guess if I was forced to live outside NYC it'd be Westchester.

...now can we move this thread to the NY forum

[Chicago60614]

I'd put this in the NY forum, not the entire united states

[nythecenter]

Both Bergen and Nassau Counties are wonderful places to live, but, in my humble opinion, Bergen comes out on top between the two.
Here's why:
1) Bergen County is more eclectic, with several eclectic downtowns, as well as bordering adjacent Manhattan directly. In fact, I've heard the expression that Bergen County is actually a suburban extension of Manhattan.
2) The beautiful (while simultaneously world's busiest) George Washington Bridge is right here.
3) The topography is more inviting, from the beautiful Palisades Cliffs overlooking the Hudson River to the beautiful Ramapo Mountains.
4) No offense to the rest of New Jersey, which is truly is an impressive state on its own merit, but Bergen County really is different from every other county in New Jersey. Bergen is a veritably chic and authentic combination of urban New York City and suburban New Jersey psyches.
5) The highways in New Jersey incorporate safety reflectors (raised pavement markers) between the lane stripes, which New York State highways for the most part do not seem to have. These reflectors are actually very functional and valuable at nighttime and in bad weather.
6) The park system in Bergen County is absolutely amazing.
7) The shopping is arguably better in Bergen.
8) New Jersey is more accessible than Long Island from the most of the Northeast.

[BPerone201]

Bergen County is home, so it gets my vote.

Bergen County has dozens of little walkable downtown's and so many different types of communities. It's a very interesting place- Sure it's mostly suburban, but it's the charming type of suburbia. Good public transportation, BC literally is a shopping mecca of the NYC region (there's over 5 shopping malls), rolling hills towards the north western area of the county (Ramapo mtns) and I can't forget the food! Growing up in BC, there was always great pizzeria's/italian restaurants, delis, bagel shops, asian cuisene, and of course... the Bakeries!
I also believe BC has one of, if not the highest graduation rates (high school) in the nation.

Nassau county is very similar really, it's just a bit more isolated and harder to break free from (not to sound dramatic, because it's not that bad)- Though you do get the beaches. I especially love the north shore.