River Edge, Oradell, Hillsdale? (Ridgewood, Park Ridge: job, housing, crime)

[springcheer]

Hi,

Does anyone live in River Edge, Oradell, or Hillsdale? My realtor recommended these towns to me, and I'd love some input. My husband and I have a 9 month old, so safety and schools are very important. Also, comments re: the "culture" of the towns would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

[phyll]

Originally Posted by springcheer

Hi,

Does anyone live in River Edge, Oradell, or Hillsdale? My realtor recommended these towns to me, and I'd love some input. My husband and I have a 9 month old, so safety and schools are very important. Also, comments re: the "culture" of the towns would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

I live in south Jersey, but my husband grew up in River edge , oradell is right next door, I also raised my kids in RiverEdge,The town of RiverEdge is a small nice town.River edge is a safe town and schools are good. oradell is a nice town too. The high school for River edge is in Oradell.River edge and oradell are nice quiet towns , sorry dont know much about Hillsdale.

[tlesser]

Originally Posted by springcheer

Hi,

Does anyone live in River Edge, Oradell, or Hillsdale? My realtor recommended these towns to me, and I'd love some input. My husband and I have a 9 month old, so safety and schools are very important. Also, comments re: the "culture" of the towns would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

I've just begun looking into this area too. I'm drawn to Bergen county because my family is there, but I like the mix of people in Central Jersey better. Oradell, etc.. are all very homogenous as far as I can see. I'm wondering if the expansion of the Pascack Valley train line scheduled for this year will bring in some new faces... I would like to hear residents' input...

[mommyo5]

I grew up in River Edge and my parents still live there. It is a great place to raise a child and I have great memories of growing up there. It is a small town and very homogeneous, as another poster stated, but it is very close to New York City. Great shopping is nearby, and it has an excellent school system. Oradell is the same. River Edge and Oradell share a high school.

Hillsdale is very much the same - a very nice town.

[Collegeguy12]

Hillsdale is a wonderful town. Schools are top rated in NJ and it is extremely safe...you cannot go to the bank or the store and not see someone you know...very friendly. Definitely a great place to raise a family.

[njgal1963]

Hi,

I am from Park Ridge which is right next to Hillsdale etc. I don't know Oradell but I love Hillsdale. Very family orientated and upper/middle class families with kids. Schools are very good. My cousins grew up in Hillsdale and married and moved back to raise kids so that says a lot. They are all professionals.

The culture is very family orientated and very sports orientated in the schools.

I hope this helps

[movetopa]

I grew up 25 minutes away and don't live in NJ anymore. Keep in mind that those towns are part of the New York Metro culture. Good shopping, but fast paced suburbs, and alot of rude drivers. The homes are expensive. Call the local town police departments for crimes stats. The schools probably are good, but you should also inquire about potential drug problems at the schools, if there are any.

[cmsvmom]

I live near those towns. Housing is expensive, and taxes too, but the school systems are well worth it, compared to elsewhere in Bergen County. I haven't found them to be particularly fast paced, but there are areas of heavy auto traffic. Oradell is a reasonable commute to the city by bus or train. THey are not major shopping meccas, but have nice down town areas. And I have found them to be racially and ethnically diverse.

If you plan to live in Bergen County and can afford a house in any of these towns, it is a good place to live.

[jv5186]

Hi
We've lived in Oradell for 12 years and have raised our two children here. I can tell you that it is a lovely small town with access to shopping malls in the nearby surrounding areas. The school system is very good and people take care of their homes and properties. Taxes are not cheap, but are better than nearby Ridgewood and you get more property for your money here. We are unfortunately selling our home because of a job transfer, but loved the area and the people. Take a drive around Oradell and you will find a very unique town with interesting people. Good luck!!

[Collegeguy12]

Originally Posted by cmsvmom

I live near those towns. Housing is expensive, and taxes too, but the school systems are well worth it, compared to elsewhere in Bergen County. I haven't found them to be particularly fast paced, but there are areas of heavy auto traffic. Oradell is a reasonable commute to the city by bus or train. THey are not major shopping meccas, but have nice down town areas. And I have found them to be racially and ethnically diverse.

If you plan to live in Bergen County and can afford a house in any of these towns, it is a good place to live.

These towns are not diverse at all...not always such a bad thing, but everyone is basically the same-white, middle to upper middle class, with maybe a few Asian's mixed in.