Closter, NJ or River Vale, NJ (Westwood, Hillsdale: work, diversity, invest)

[NEWJERSEY1]

Okay I want to know which town has a better school system (That is the most important for me as of now) and a downtown. I also what to know about the town's diversity - are the people in both towns racist? I know these two towns aren't too far from each other. Around 5-10 minutes. I've heard that these two towns are great and that River Vale has a large jewish population. Which town do I go for?

[Busch Boy]

I will tell you what I know about both towns.

I'm not sure how diverse River Vale is, but I know Closter is very diverse. There is a large Asian population there. I know an acquaintance (who is Hispanic) who lives in Closter and never had a problem there with racism. It seems like she really liked it there.

Both towns have great schools. Students from River Vale go to Pascack Valley Regional High School and students from Closter go to Northern Valley Regional in Demarest. NJ Monthly ranks Northern Valley a little better (at number 16) in NJ, but Pascack Valley is not far behind (at number 23). The person I mentioned above went to Northern Valley and she loved it. She was even a cheerleader there.

Both towns are a good choice, good luck!

[pbergen]

i don't think you can go wrong either way. both are great towns with acclaimed school systems. there are multiple threads on this board in which people have provided links to the most recent nj public school rankings, so you should look at them when you get a chance. fyi both towns send their kids to regional public high schools - river vale's kids go to pascack valley high school (shared with the neighboring borough of hillsdale) and closter's children go to northern valley regional high school at demarest (shared with the neighboring boroughs of demarest and haworth). honestly, you can't go wrong with any of these towns; they're all wealthier towns with plenty of resources for their school-age children and motivated, involved parents.

as far as a downtown area, it's no contest - closter in a landslide. closter has a traditional, old-school, walkable downtown with plenty of mom-and-pop shops. while there are strip malls in town (including one with a 4-plex movie theater), it's the main downtown area which has all the charm. by contrast, river vale doesn't really have a "true" downtown area; there are a couple of intersections with small strip malls, but that's about it; the town is almost entirely residential, although neighboring westwood has a very nice and busy downtown area (with a nj transit train station to boot).

river vale is definitely more homogenous than closter. closter has a very large asian community (primarily korean), which by the 2010 census will likely be 25-30% of the total population. river vale, on the other hand, is still around 90% white. if you visit the schools in both towns the difference in the racial demographics will immediately jump out at you.

is either town racist? i don't think so. racism can happen anywhere, but i really don't think it's worse in these two towns than anywhere else in north jersey. the people in both towns are generally upper middle class and well-educated, so i'd think most people are pretty tolerant. i do recall an incident in river vale from the early '90s in which there was some sort of racist or perhaps anti-semitic vandalism in town (i forget which), but it was a completely isolated incident and certainly not typical.

[stevemorse]

go with River Vale no doubt in my mind unless your Asian. River Vale goes to Pascack Valley HS and its very good. A mix of all types, where Closter is really all Asian. Your kid will be forced to keep up with the extremely diligent Asians, whose parents are very hardworking but very very demanding in school so basically the kids are geniuses!!! Asians are really not that open minded to non Asians especially the old school . Note I worked in Northern Valley Demerast two years ago, it was definately mostly Asians, nice kids but mostly Asian!!!!!! I would go with River Vale unless you are Asian. To add to this most people who live in Rivervale, go to the downtowns of Westwood, so close you could if in the right location walk, Hillsdale or Park Ridge. Rivervale has a few small shops off Westwood Ave, a strip mall type , where closter has a downtown but again most of the stores are all now Asian geared places. They are so close to each other and Rivervale is so close to Hillsdale and Westwood you can consider those towns all share the same downtowns!

[marye711]

I had no clue that you had children and seem to be so expertise at this?? What is the difference if they are asian or not? Why did you even bring that up? all your posts seem like you want people to believe you live in an upper class neighborhood,,,,,I dont beg to diiffer I already know.........

[AntoinetteNJ]

just wondering if you realized you mentioned the word "asian" nine times. :X

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by AntoinetteNJ

just wondering if you realized you mentioned the word "asian" nine times. :X

Yes, and Closter is mostly Asian, fact and truth, not putting down asians, thats just the truth. CLOSTER IN MOSTLY ASIAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I was ASIAN I would move to CLOSTER. This is not racist, if I was black would I want to live where there is all whites. Or if I was white would I be living where there is all blacks. Look I am just letting someone know. Its not like I said I hate Asains, or any race, its THATS WHAT IS THERE. Like we had little Italy, Irish sections, polish sections, you people are way too sensitive.

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by marye711

I had no clue that you had children and seem to be so expertise at this?? What is the difference if they are asian or not? Why did you even bring that up? all your posts seem like you want people to believe you live in an upper class neighborhood,,,,,I dont beg to diiffer I already know.........

Mary I worked in the Northern Valley Demerast HS for 2 years, I worked with mostly Asain kids!!!! Have you worked there? Have your been to CLoster? Have you even been to Bergen COunty? SOrry Mary, and were we live in the hills is not high class Mary, its the land of Nature, Hillbillies, 4 wheelers and hunters! What gave you the impression that where I live now is so high class? Come on to compare lake stockholm to Bergen COunty, funny!!!! Your crazy, I dont know what your problem is. Sorry I have only lived here for 6 months all my family is in Bergen. My husband works in Bergen , we go there at least once a week Mary. Sorry you feel so insecure. I guess me talking about good furniture upsets you? Leave me alone!!!!! By the way Mary I left Bergen county, by CHOICE remember my posts you asked me to tell you why I did not like it. So whats your problem, sorry you feel so insecure about your life. I dont have to post to stranges that I am high class mary, farest thing from it, having money does not mean you have class. I have not worn a dress in since my wedding, I am in a gym lifting iron and grunting, I dont think that high class Mary!!!!!!! I am not a feminine women by anymeans dressing up, I am a jeans kinda gal, who is pretty outspoken not the emily post type!!!!! Yes I guess I have nice furniture so that makes me high class? I love nice woods, I could say thats more nature hillbillie in me!!!!!!!!!!! Yes I dont have to work, this has nothing to do with class. Mary you started this, and I am sorry you feel so insecure about your life. If you need help, I will be happy to help anyway I can. Now this was about Closter, in Bergen County. Mary if I did not like where I live now, I would move. Money and my neighborhood or where I choose to live was not the subject. I could live where I pick. I moved to a little cabin in the Adks nothing high class about that. Sometime people with money like to do the opposite, save money and invest it to get more money. Maybe im not so stupid Mary. Now lets get back to the topic. Please if you need any help Im here.

[Alex07860]

Well from personal experience I can concurr that closter is mostly asian (and oh yes, by the way, they don't like to pay sales tax that's why they pay most everything cash) If I had to choose between the two town though, I'd pick River Vale, but that's JMO.

[Busch Boy]

Some people love diversity and I'm one of them. I wouldn't mind living in a town that was mostly White and Asian like Closter (and I'm neither race). Don't assume that everyone wants to live with only their own kind because not everyone does. I find homogenous places to be pretty boring and kids that grow up in such places experience a shock when they go out into the real world.