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We are a UK couple moving to Bergen County in mid October, husband being transferred with job, will be working in Glen Rock. Just trying to scope out rental properties. We have no children and from what I understand, picking somewhere like Ridgewood or Glen Rock in Bergen County comes with the price tag of the great school district but would we be throwing money away to be in a good school district that we effectively don't need? Ridgewood is top of our list as we love the town centre and walkability to bars and restaurants and train to NYC but when we look at somewhere like Hawthorne we see that we can get a lot more house for our money. Think I'm right in saying Hawthorne is outwith Bergen County?
Just trying to work out where we'd be happy to compromise. A bigger place in Hawthorne for less rent but still a decent, nice safe area and good access to Ridgewood and Glen Rock and surrounding areas, or pay top rent in Ridgewood for perhaps a smaller, older property but have access to the Ridgewood amenities.
Just a bit more info, we are early 40s, like to eat out, shop, travel into NYC once or twice a month. Looking in the $1500 - $2000 per month for 2 bed 1 bath ideally newer inside (new or renovated) with a little outdoor space and husband would like short commute to Glen Rock.
Thoughts welcome on where would be a good fit for us.
We are a UK couple moving to Bergen County in mid October, husband being transferred with job, will be working in Glen Rock. Just trying to scope out rental properties. We have no children and from what I understand, picking somewhere like Ridgewood or Glen Rock in Bergen County comes with the price tag of the great school district but would we be throwing money away to be in a good school district that we effectively don't need? Ridgewood is top of our list as we love the town centre and walkability to bars and restaurants and train to NYC but when we look at somewhere like Hawthorne we see that we can get a lot more house for our money. Think I'm right in saying Hawthorne is outwith Bergen County?
Just trying to work out where we'd be happy to compromise. A bigger place in Hawthorne for less rent but still a decent, nice safe area and good access to Ridgewood and Glen Rock and surrounding areas, or pay top rent in Ridgewood for perhaps a smaller, older property but have access to the Ridgewood amenities.
Just a bit more info, we are early 40s, like to eat out, shop, travel into NYC once or twice a month. Looking in the $1500 - $2000 per month for 2 bed 1 bath ideally newer inside (new or renovated) with a little outdoor space and husband would like short commute to Glen Rock.
Thoughts welcome on where would be a good fit for us.
Hawthorne is in Passaic County, but is adjacent to Bergen towns like Wyckoff and Glen Rock and Fair Lawn. It's a nice town with both garden apartment complexes and rentals in two-family houses. It also has a small downtown area with a movie theater. You would definitely get more for your money, but you'd still have access to everything you need to have access to.
Check out Fair Lawn. Your budget sounds spot-on for the town, and there are quite a few apartment complexes in the town. It's not as elite as Glen Rock or Ridgewood, but it's nicer than Hawthorne. (Think of it as the midpoint between the towns.) You're right next to Glen Rock and Ridgewood (5-10 minute drive in most scenarios) if you want to go browsing in the downtowns as well. The town has two train stations as well.
Ridgewood does have some apartment complexes, but they're older and cost a pretty penny. Glen Rock doesn't have too many. Hawthorne should have some apartment complexes. Hawthorne isn't a bad town, and actually has a pretty nice, unpretentious downtown area as well, but the schools are average (especially the high school). If the schools aren't a factor, Hawthorne is a fine choice.
Fair Lawn - I take it we'd want to be closer to the Highway 208 rather than toward the Paterson side over the river? Difficult to know sometimes where one town stops and the next one starts!
I've read about Fair Lawn being a predominantly Jewish community - is this case?
We've looked at some of the garden apartment complexes in Ridgewood and while the locations would be perfect for us right in the center of town, most of them are coming in at $2500 which we just feel is way overpriced.
Does anyone know of any new build (within 5 years) apartment complexes or townhouses in any of these areas? We'd probably pay a premium for a nice, shiny new kitchen with the stainless steel appliances, granite worktops and the like.
I have a very close friend who has lived in Hawthorne almost 15 years. The town is lovely....quiet, friendly people, convenient to your husband's job, convenient to nearby grocery stores or just drive down Route 4 to go to the shopping malls. There are varied houses of worship nearby. Township services like police, fire dept, ambulance, snow plowing and garbage collection are also very good. There are a few newer apartment complexes, too. Keep Hawthorne on your short list....you get good value for your money.
Glen Rock really doesn't have much in terms of rental properties but what you can do is look for homes in Hawthorne close to the GR border and be pretty close to both. During warmer months we walk from GR to RW often. If walkability is your top priority than GR/RW choice makes sense. But other towns also offer some solid options that you may want to consider : Rutherford and Westwood come to mind as they offer a downtown mix and have NYC train access. However, in any of these mentioned towns, new 2br, 1bth, with tons of amenities > $2000.
Ridgewood is nicest of all three but property taxes are very high, but worth it if you have the money.
Stay away from Hawthorne, NJ... it's in Passaic County and not that great town.
Fair Lawn is an OK town...kind of boring.
Why not check out other nearby towns of Oradell, River Edge, Emerson and Haworth? Excellent schools, great towns and beautiful!
But since you are in your 40s, why not check towns of Fort Lee, Hackensack, Palisades Park, Englewood?
Ridgewood is nicest of all three but property taxes are very high, but worth it if you have the money.
Stay away from Hawthorne, NJ... it's in Passaic County and not that great town.
Fair Lawn is an OK town...kind of boring.
Why not check out other nearby towns of Oradell, River Edge, Emerson and Haworth? Excellent schools, great towns and beautiful!
But since you are in your 40s, why not check towns of Fort Lee, Hackensack, Palisades Park, Englewood?
Passaic County doesn't automatically mean "not great town". Hawthorne is a very nice town. The people who live there are on it to make sure that it doesn't become influenced by Paterson--as a matter of fact, a few years ago they were riding around at night looking for lights on in basements, etc., and busting illegal "rooming" type houses to get those types out.
Ringwood is nice, Pompton Lakes is nice, West Milford is nice, Little Falls is Wayne is nice--all Passaic County. West Paterson is also nice, although they ridiculously renamed themselves "Woodland Park."
Ridgewood is nicest of all three but property taxes are very high, but worth it if you have the money.
Stay away from Hawthorne, NJ... it's in Passaic County and not that great town.
Fair Lawn is an OK town...kind of boring.
Why not check out other nearby towns of Oradell, River Edge, Emerson and Haworth? Excellent schools, great towns and beautiful!
But since you are in your 40s, why not check towns of Fort Lee, Hackensack, Palisades Park, Englewood?
The OP wrote that they did not need the schools. I'm not clear on why you are hating Hawthorne and Passaic County so much. The OP also said that they would be renting, so taxes aren't an issue for them. I think that the Passaic County haters need to take a tour of the many parts of Passaic County....the ignorance about it from some people is disturbing.
Passaic County doesn't automatically mean "not great town". Hawthorne is a very nice town. The people who live there are on it to make sure that it doesn't become influenced by Paterson--as a matter of fact, a few years ago they were riding around at night looking for lights on in basements, etc., and busting illegal "rooming" type houses to get those types out.
Ringwood is nice, Pompton Lakes is nice, West Milford is nice, Little Falls is Wayne is nice--all Passaic County. West Paterson is also nice, although they ridiculously renamed themselves "Woodland Park."
North Haledon is a very nice town as well, but they share schools with Haledon+Prospect Park...but, as the OP said, they don't have kids in school, so definitely give North Haledon a look.
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