Westwood, NJ or Ridgewood, NJ (Hoboken, Fort Lee: affordable apartment, rent, house)

[J-Star]

Just got a new job in Woodcliff Lake, NJ and I am 27 years young.

I am looking to move to an area which is a close/easy drive to Woodcliff Lake, but also in walking distance to bars and restuarants, a nice gym close by, and maybe a train to take me to Hoboken/NYC.
First year I will rent and would like to pay under $1800/month.
Attached Garage big plus!

So far the places I like the best are Westwood and Ridgewood.
Does anyone know any PROs / CONs of each?
Any good places I should check out in those towns?

Thanks so much!

[joe moving]

what do you want with the garage to store something, or to work on something?

I think the "Pascack valley" train line isn't that great for getting into and out of Hoboken on off hours.

I don't think many apartments will have garages though.

[ira]

Originally Posted by J-Star

Just got a new job in Woodcliff Lake, NJ and I am 27 years young.

I am looking to move to an area which is a close/easy drive to Woodcliff Lake, but also in walking distance to bars and restuarants, a nice gym close by, and maybe a train to take me to Hoboken/NYC.
First year I will rent and would like to pay under $1800/month.
Attached Garage big plus!

So far the places I like the best are Westwood and Ridgewood.
Does anyone know any PROs / CONs of each?
Any good places I should check out in those towns?

Thanks so much!

For bars/restaurants/train - RIdgewood, hands down. But Westwood is less expensive so you'll probably get bigger/better place in Weswood. I'd say, stay in Westwood and come to Ridgewood for entertainment (it's only 10 min drive)

[Busch Boy]

Ridgewood has better connection to Hoboken/NYC and a great downtown. I say go with Ridgewood and give up the garage!

[KewlGuy]

Ridgewood is very expensive. I'd recommend Park Ridge as it's a nice town and much more affordable.

[hackwriter]

You're more likely to find an affordable apartment in Westwood than Ridgewood, and Ridgewood, as another poster said, is 10-15 minutes away. The Pascack Valley line recently added off-hours service because of sidings added along the line (there is only one track). There is also a bus that goes into NYC. Westwood has a number of restaurants -- The Iron Horse and P.J. Finnegans for pub food, It's Greek to Me, Granita Grille, the new Mountain House for thin crust pizza -- and there's even a tearoom. Westwood has also indicated a commitment to get town functions off the power grid within 10 years, which MIGHT help keep taxes (and as a result, rents) down.

[Busch Boy]

Originally Posted by hackwriter

Westwood has a number of restaurants -- The Iron Horse and P.J. Finnegans for pub food, It's Greek to Me, Granita Grille, the new Mountain House for thin crust pizza -- and there's even a tearoom

Isn't "It's Greek to Me" in Cliffside Park?

[hackwriter]

Yes, there's one in Cliffside Park. And one in Ridgewood. And one in Westwood. And one in Fort Lee.

[J-Star]

Thanks for the help so far.

The garage is so I never have to go out into the snow, covered parking would be better than nothing if I cannot find a garage.

I will go check out Ridgewood tonight. I really like the idea of not walking home from a bar instead of driving, so somewhere in walking distance to a bar would be great. But I do not need to be in walking distance to 20 bars, just 1 or 2 that I like.

How is Park Ridge for walkable downtown bars? That seems to be very close to Woodcliff Lake.

[J-Star]

BTW, Ridgewood apartments seem to be the same price of the place I would rent in Westwood.
If price is equal, then which place is best?