Hillsdale, Fair lawn or Saddle Brook (Paramus, Elmwood Park: house, to buy, best schools)

[springb2b]

I am looking to buy a house in one of these areas. Can you tell me more about these towns, please. I have a 2 year old so school system is a big plus as we are looking to stay in this house for more than 5 years.

Thanks for your help.

[zhelder]

Originally Posted by springb2b

I am looking to buy a house in one of these areas. Can you tell me more about these towns, please. I have a 2 year old so school system is a big plus as we are looking to stay in this house for more than 5 years.

Thanks for your help.

You have the towns listed in the right order. Hillsdale is the nicest, with the best schools, and it's near a lot of wealthy towns. It's also the most expensive. Fair Lawn is a step down from Hillsdale. Fair Lawn is one of Bergen County's bigger towns, and the areas of the town vary quite a bit. The sections of town that border the wealthier towns, like Glen Rock and Paramus, are nicer and fancier than the sections of town that border the more working class towns, like Elmwood Park or Saddle Brook. The schools are very good, and the town is fairly affordable (by Bergen County standards anyway) given the quality of its school system. Saddle Brook borders Fair Lawn, and is a few steps down from Fair Lawn. It's a nice looking town for the most part, but the schools are average, and the high school especially has had its share of problems over the years.

If you can afford it, I'd stick to Hillsdale and Fair Lawn, especially if schools are a factor. Good luck!

[Kevin1975]

Totally agree with Zhelder. Hillsdale will also be the most expensive, depending on what section you buy in.

[GiantRutgersfan]

I don't know enough about Hillsdale to give much insight, but personally, I would rather live in Saddle Brook then Fair Lawn.

You can get a nicer property in Saddle brook then Fair Lawn for the same price. Schools in Saddle Brook are not bad. slight differential in "school rankings" does not mean much of anything in my opinion. I went to a small HS where I knew everyone, and really liked it. Think I would rather have my kids go to a small school with 100-125 kids in their grade where they know everyone then with 400 in the same grade. Even if the "ranking" is slightly lower or they don't have as many extracurriculars or honors classes.

I also like Saddle Brooks location a lot. Highway access is top notch

My two cents.

[Kevin1975]

There is more than a slight differential in school rankings between Fair Lawn and Saddle Brook. Saddle Brook was almost 100 slots lower on the NJ Monthly High School Rankings.

Fair Lawn High School was also recently named one of the top 1000 high schools in the United States by Newsweek.
America's Best High Schools - Newsweek

[nykstevenyg]

Obviously Hillsdale is the nicest of the three. Saddle Brook is a good town but Fair Lawn is much nicer overall as a whole. Again, nothing against Saddle Brook I would live there but if given a choice Id take Fair Lawn over it any day.