Is Bergenfield a safe place to raise a family? (Ridgewood: 2010, renting)

[pennyfiasco]

My wife and I found an affordable home in Bergenfield NJ and was shocked to find that it had everything we wanted and the taxes were so low. Is it a safe place to live and raise a family??

[Marcian]

It's in Bergen County and it's safe! Where do you live right now?

[NJ Chutzpah]

The kids all have a tough guy attitude. I grew up in that area.

The schools are not considered the best. But the best schools are only in the rich towns.

There are no real gangs, but lots and lots of wannabes

[Kevin1975]

Originally Posted by pennyfiasco

My wife and I found an affordable home in Bergenfield NJ and was shocked to find that it had everything we wanted and the taxes were so low. Is it a safe place to live and raise a family??

Bergenfield just had a reassessment done about a year or 2 ago and the taxes skyrocketed. Taxes in Bergenfield are on the high side. Bergenfield is ok. I looked at a house there back in 2004 before I bought my house in Westwood.

[cmsvmom]

I live in Bergenfield. You found low taxes? Where are you coming from?

That said, I have lived here 20 years. I find that the neighborhoods are generally safe, houses nice, police department is really good and the streets are well kept. There is an uptick in juvvy crime, schools are crowded, but getting better. Somehow getting rid of the superintendant a few years ago has made a difference in allowing good teachers to do better, and so that benefits the students.

I would say it is fine for elementary, but for middle and high school you need to take a careful look to see if it fits your kid. If your child has an interest in music, sports, writing, computers, you likely will do well here. My son was a highly gifted student who just did not fit, so when he got a scholarship to a private school we saw a good opportunity and have no regrets. Bergen county also has a few magnet schools for high school

You will generally find more house for your money in Bergenfield than in most other places in Bergen County. But the taxes are a serious issue. The rate is very high.

If you want to spend money for a swim club, Bergenfield's is very nice and well maintained. It was a good experience for us when the kids were little.

You will also find that there are service organizations, and some kids are involved in scouts, CYO, clubs, Rainbow Girls, DeMolay, etc. The town sports groups are really good too. But yes, there are "wannabes" - kids who hang out on Washington Ave and appear to have nothing to do.

[carol419]

I am relocating from FL, how is the commute to the city from Bergenfield? I am trying to find a nice, safe town to raise children but with an easy city commute. I have been told Ridgewood and Ft. Lee are a good fit. Any suggestions?

[EEEPNJ]

Carol - Bergenfield is a town that is in decline. It's not what it was in the past. The schools are not great and I have friends there - there is some gang activity and you could do better. MANY people in town send their kids to private schools in or around Bergenfield. Taxes are also typically HIGH there.

Will you be renting or buying? How old are your children or what grades will they be going into? What is your budget. I know a lot about Bergen County and I can try to help you out.

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by EEEPNJ

Carol - Bergenfield is a town that is in decline. It's not what it was in the past. The schools are not great and I have friends there - there is some gang activity and you could do better. MANY people in town send their kids to private schools in or around Bergenfield. Taxes are also typically HIGH there.

Will you be renting or buying? How old are your children or what grades will they be going into? What is your budget. I know a lot about Bergen County and I can try to help you out.

this is the truth declining!! ANd low taxes, you should check again, no way!! Its going toward Philliipno/ some kind of Asian dont know what cant read the writing and their businesses. No problem with that but the like to deal with themselves. Traffic is getting crappy and its declining. Alot of old businesses are closing, look at the car dealers were there for ever and now gone. Its crappy!!

[rhe]

I've lived in Bergenfield for 29 years. I grew up here and now I raise my family here. I agree about the Filipinos, they have taken over, but all things considered, they're not the worst group to be around. They keep to themselves and they've always been kind to me, good food too. The elementary schools are good, the middle school is getting better though the superintendent now is claiming an overhaul of all administration throughout in 2010. The high school is full of wannabe's but always have been, they're harmless. Otherwise, minus the taxes, we're pretty spoiled here, 15 minutes to the GWB, surrounded by good hospitals, accessible to pretty much any major highway, and malls, malls, malls about 15 minutes away. The houses are older here but the prices have fallen so I'd say this is the place to be.

[pbergen]

bergenfield is a perfectly safe town. i grew up in a different part of the county but had friends from bergenfield and its surrounding towns (teaneck, tenafly, dumont, new milford, etc), so i was in the area a lot. the "punk" wannabe kids who used to always hang out in front of the 7-eleven on washington ave were the only thing we were somewhat wary of, but to be honest, they were completely harmless. my friends who still live in the area tell me that the level of safety is basically the same now as it was then - a few wannabes, but nothing to be afraid of. it's just that the demographics have changed to a degree, so some people will tell you that the town is getting worse, whereas in reality it's just a little bit different.

as others have mentioned, filipinos have a pretty significant presence (as do latinos from various countries). the schools are ok, although for high school your kids could do better. all in all, it's a modest town that's seen some demographic change over the past 10-15 years, but is still solid nonetheless. it doesn't have the cachet of some of its neighbors like tenafly, but you could do a lot worse.