West Milford/Ringwood/Wanaque? Anyone live in this area? (middle-class, houses)

[GiantRutgersfan]

How is it?

I was looking and housing is fairly reasonable in the area, and I prefer a more rural area, but not being in the middle of nowhere, which these towns provide from what I understand

I dont have kids, and don't plan on having any for at least 5 years or so.

[proboscis]

I work with a guy who lives in West Milford. I've talked to him about the town, he says it's a nice town but the taxes are rather high for the area. Also, there is an upper part of the town which is "over the mountain" and can add another 30 minutes to your commute. So, I guess it's important where you're driving to.

BTW, I recognize your screen name from OT

[Busch Boy]

Originally Posted by GiantRutgersfan

How is it?

I was looking and housing is fairly reasonable in the area, and I prefer a more rural area, but not being in the middle of nowhere, which these towns provide from what I understand

I dont have kids, and don't plan on having any for at least 5 years or so.

The area is very scenic and nice. However, the towns of West Milford/Ringwood are known to have some racist residents. A couple of years, a black Hispanic family bought a home in Ringwood and they had racist remarks spray-painted on their garage door. It came out in the newspaper (either the Record or Herald).

I'm not sure if Wanaque is like this as well. But I don't think so.

Good luck with your search.

[GiantRutgersfan]

Originally Posted by Busch Boy

The area is very scenic and nice. However, the towns of West Milford/Ringwood are known to have some racist residents. A couple of years, a black Hispanic family bought a home in Ringwood and they had racist remarks spray-painted on their garage door. It came out in the newspaper (either the Record or Herald).

I'm not sure if Wanaque is like this as well. But I don't think so.

Good luck with your search.

Thanks. Every area has its bad apples I guess. I'm white though so something like that isnt a big deal to my particular situation

[joe moving]

Ringwood can be much more affordable but there always seem to be something that was really weird about the houses. So when we added it up it didn't seem like we were really getting a great deal for being a little further away, just paying less, for less house. However we were looking strictly in the low 300s at the time. Something to know about Ringwood is that it start out as a summer lake community so most of these homes were summer homes. Depending on the price range, many will not have basements with regular stair access and garages. Also, mind that Ford used to dump their paint sludge in Ringwood for like 20 years in the 60s and 70s.

[MaverickDD]

For the past 20 years, (since I-287 was completed), I've often felt that Wanaque and Ringwood are "undiscovered communities." Once difficult to get to using old, stop-light ridden roads, they are now easily accessible via I-287 and NJ-208.

My observation is that you can get good value for your money in those towns. They're some of New Jersey's working middle-class holdouts. Prices are reasonable, country life is right there, shopping is easy and abundant, snootiness is rare, and when you do have children, the schools are very adequate.

Indeed, I'm advising my son to consider these towns for his first home. We just looked at a house there yesterday. So it's clear to see that I vote "yes" for your move to Wanaque or Ringwood.

(Rutgers GSM '91)

[Busch Boy]

Originally Posted by GiantRutgersfan

Thanks. Every area has its bad apples I guess. I'm white though so something like that isnt a big deal to my particular situation

It still wouldn't be nice if you got stuck with one of those "bad apples" as a neighbor. Personally, I would never want to have ignorant neighbors like that.

[GiantRutgersfan]

Originally Posted by Busch Boy

It still wouldn't be nice if you got stuck with one of those "bad apples" as a neighbor. Personally, I would never want to have ignorant neighbors like that.

I pretty much get along with everyone and live a pretty open, normal life. I doubt I would have a problem with any of my neighbors regardless of who they are and how they act.

[findinghope]

i have a freind who had a home in wanaque, raised her family there etc. she always spoke fondly of that town

[majesty318]

I grew up in Ringwood. The Ford dumping was in the area of town known as the "mine area" - you would not be looking to buy in that neighborhood, so I wouldn't worry. Also, in my 22 years there and all through Ringwood public schools (which, by the way, provided me a fantastic education), I never saw any racism. I would definitely not agree with the statement that it is known to have racist residents. The town is rural but is also easily accessible from 287, so it's not completely off the beaten path. I agree completely with MaverickDD's comments about the value for your money and the lack of snootiness. The only thing to worry about is property taxes - I think my parents pay about $14,000 a year. Just let me know if you want any more first-hand information.