Bergen vs Sussex County (Bloomfield, Hackensack: appointed, neighborhoods, high school)
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My husband grew up in Lake Mohawk and his parents still live in the area. The town is beautiful as well as other towns I have visited in Sussex.
It is a shame that I feel a bit uncomfortable about moving to Sussex. A few years ago we went to visit my husband's friend and got lost due to road construction and detours. We stopped at a local 7-11 and saw a skinhead. Luckily I was in the car waiting.
Growing up in my area (Hudson County -believe it or not) I was confronted by the KKK and a decade later by a skinhead in Bergen County. This was 20 years ago. The population in those areas have change greatly as many other counties.
I'm sure if we do move to Sussex we will be fine. I just worry a bit too much.
Thanks again. The comments are helpful.
I live in Sussex county, in Hopatcong, close to Route 80... and I commute to Clifton (35 miles) away, and I can tell you the commute is 1 hour and 30 minutes each way most days b/c of horrendous traffic. There is no mass transit out here aside from the train - but that only goes to specific areas & NYC. Most people in Western NJ are only able to commute by car... that would be a big factor is determining the difference b/n bergen or sussex county. Do you or your husband (assuming you will commute to bergen co. area) want to spend 3 hours a day in your car,not to mention $100 a week or more on gas?
The taxes here are still very high and so are the housing costs.
I enjoy it here b/c I Love the lake, and the trees, the mountains, and the scenery, and there is not as much traffic in this area of NJ as in the bergen/passaic county area (Although lately it is getting there).
Everyone has different goals and motives for living where they do. Some love the hussle and bustle and don't mind the constant traffic jams in NorthEast NJ, in turn for being very close to NYC, and everything else. For me, that was not important. I enjoy living a little further away so I can have a little larger property and the houses are spaced out a little more than bergen co.
As far as shopping... I am within 5-10 minutes of major shopping malls and many foodstores, walmarts, target, etc... that is not an issue at all. Convenience is here.
Whatever you do, research all the areas and decide what is best for you and your family... Good luck!
I live in Sussex county, in Hopatcong, close to Route 80... and I commute to Clifton (35 miles) away, and I can tell you the commute is 1 hour and 30 minutes each way most days b/c of horrendous traffic. There is no mass transit out here aside from the train - but that only goes to specific areas & NYC. Most people in Western NJ are only able to commute by car... that would be a big factor is determining the difference b/n bergen or sussex county. Do you or your husband (assuming you will commute to bergen co. area) want to spend 3 hours a day in your car,not to mention $100 a week or more on gas?
The taxes here are still very high and so are the housing costs.
I enjoy it here b/c I Love the lake, and the trees, the mountains, and the scenery, and there is not as much traffic in this area of NJ as in the bergen/passaic county area (Although lately it is getting there).
Everyone has different goals and motives for living where they do. Some love the hussle and bustle and don't mind the constant traffic jams in NorthEast NJ, in turn for being very close to NYC, and everything else. For me, that was not important. I enjoy living a little further away so I can have a little larger property and the houses are spaced out a little more than bergen co.
As far as shopping... I am within 5-10 minutes of major shopping malls and many foodstores, walmarts, target, etc... that is not an issue at all. Convenience is here.
Whatever you do, research all the areas and decide what is best for you and your family... Good luck!
Oops, I realized I replied to the wrong person, I was shooting for the person that started the post! Sorry about that
Oops, I realized I replied to the wrong person, I was shooting for the person that started the post! Sorry about that
I am the same person that started the post.
One of my concerns is the commute. I work in Secaucus and my husband in Newark. A few of my coworkers live in Sussex. They say on a good day the commute is about an hour more or less.
Thanks for your feedback. We will do some research and decide the best place to live.
Growing up in my area (Hudson County -believe it or not) I was confronted by the KKK and a decade later by a skinhead in Bergen County. This was 20 years ago. The population in those areas have change greatly as many other counties.
I went to college in Morris County ('99-'01) and it was known that there was a KKK group in the area. I was told they would have an annual parade. Can you imagine? Unfortunately, I think no matter where you go or who you are, there will always be at least a small handful of people that dislike you for completely irrational reasons. On a positive note, I think there are few other places in the country that celebrate and embrace diversity as much as the mid-Atlantic region does, in general.
Sussex County, to the best of my knowledge, has caused no problems for mixed racial couples. Something you should know about Lake Mohawk, Sparta, though...It wasn't too many years ago that blacks were not allowed to buy homes in Lake Mohawk, and back in the fifties, Italians weren't allowed to buy in Lake Mohawk, either. Personally, I would never want to live in a community like that, even though NOW they accept blacks and Italians -- how nice of them, huh? My grandfather was Italian and did actually buy a home in Lake Mohawk many years ago and I was ticked off about that...no community should EVER exclude any race/nationality/religion.
However, I love Sussex County and most of the people are extremely friendly and I doubt you would have any problems in the majority of the towns there. Welcome!! I hope you find the home that you want.
The Sussex County atmosphere is slowly changing. More people from Bergen COunty are moving there which is helping the attitude change to be more accepting. I will be honest, I think you would feel more at home in Bergen County. The towns are definatly more accepting, a huge mix of people and they would accept anything with open arms. It will take a little while until Sussex will be more tolerent. Bergen people love different types. You would have friends much more easily. One town that comes to mind in BC that would be very easy for you to make friends is Woodcliff Lake, Englewood, Midland Park. I think these towns are very open minded.
I don't agree, I knew a lot of bi-racial couples , two lived in Midland Park and were thrilled. With all theAsian, Indian and Spanish in that area, plus there are Africian AMericans there I don't think Bergen is like that at all. In Sussex, there are still a ton of red necks and the PA border, which is very white power. Alot of red necks hate bi racial couples, blacks and anyone who does not fit in with them. I think Sussex County has a lot of red necks and mostly White. Just my opinion.
In the wealthier north than I can understand, because rich people always have to appear politically correct, but it may not be what they feel deep down inside.
I went to college in Pennsyl-tucky, and my experience is the rednecks, and hicks, and hillbillies are much more polite, considerate, accepting, and kinder overall than NYC suburbanites
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MC0715 - Lake Mohawk
