Mountain Lakes NJ vs Scarsdale NY (Fairfield, Washington: renting, big house, to buy)

[tango4ever]

We are relocating to NY/NJ and wonder if you could share your view on Mt Lakes and Scarsdale. As far as I understand, both have top-ranked schools and relatively more foreigners/diversity. Scarsdale wins on the commute to NYC (30 min) while Mt Lakes (60+ min) appear to have more recreational and social activities (nine lakes!). Rents seems relatively cheaper Mt Lakes comparing with Scarsdale.
We are a family of five and kids are 13/9/7 and down-to-earth. No fancy cars nor luxury/fashionable dressing. Library lovers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[tallguylehigh]

Originally Posted by tango4ever

We are relocating to NY/NJ and wonder if you could share your view on Mt Lakes and Scarsdale. As far as I understand, both have top-ranked schools and relatively more foreigners/diversity. Scarsdale wins on the commute to NYC (30 min) while Mt Lakes (60+ min) appear to have more recreational and social activities (nine lakes!). Rents seems relatively cheaper Mt Lakes comparing with Scarsdale.
We are a family of five and kids are 13/9/7 and down-to-earth. No fancy cars nor luxury/fashionable dressing. Library lovers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Some questions- do you know where you are going to be working? If you will be working in NYC- I would SERIOUSLY re-evaluate Mountain Lakes. It is quite a hike and while there is bus and train service, you are looking at a LONG day- longer if you throw a wrench into the works (accident, weather, etc).

I cannot comment on what Scarsdale has access to recreationally, but you are right, there is a lot of stuff in the Mountain Lakes area. Are you renting with interest to buy?

As for being down to earth, not sure about Scarsdale, but in Mountain Lakes it MAY be a detriment. In Mtn Lks, as well as Scardale I'm sure, there is a lot of money- although to be honest I dont have the personal experience to say if the people are pretensious.

[tpajewski]

I know that Moutain Lakes is a beautiful town. I grew up not far from there and currently live very close as well. It does have the bus very close and has a nice place to walk down the Blvd. in the warmer months. I also know that the schools are very good in Mountain Lakes. I would try to visit both of them maybe for a weekend and see which better suits your lifesyle.

[0706772]

One more thing to think about are taxes, state, local and sales.

[STrapani1105]

Mountain Lakes is a very affluent town. I live in Morris County and the town i live in and Mountain Lakes are the two most notably affluent in the county. a lot of nice homes and lakes in Mountain Lakes.

I actually knew someone from Scarsdale, they appeared to like it. It seems like a nice place. I've never actually been there, but I've been to nearby New Rochelle. and if Scarsdale is anything like New Rochelle, I would choose Mountain Lakes over it.

Scarsdale probably has a larger Jewish population, than Mountain Lakes, so if you would like to be with people who share the same faith as you. if your jewish, scarsdale is the way to go. I don't know what mountain lakes is, probably catholic.

[doghead]

If you are looking for friendly people, I'd stay out of Westchester County.

[Marc Paolella]

Scarsdale is like an older English village with an active downtown. Mountain Lakes is like Tuxedo Park without the gatehouse. Big houses, a big lake, small lakes, not much else. Mountain Lakes schools are first rate of course. But the borough does not have much character whereas Scarsdale has lots of character. When you factor in the short commute, Scarsdale takes a pretty big lead. However those schools in Mountain Lakes might rebalance the equation. Plus you get a real yard in Mountain Lakes. A real yard in Scarsdale ups the ante significantly. Tough choice I guess...

[aroundthecorner059]

Originally Posted by tango4ever

We are relocating to NY/NJ and wonder if you could share your view on Mt Lakes and Scarsdale. As far as I understand, both have top-ranked schools and relatively more foreigners/diversity. Scarsdale wins on the commute to NYC (30 min) while Mt Lakes (60+ min) appear to have more recreational and social activities (nine lakes!). Rents seems relatively cheaper Mt Lakes comparing with Scarsdale.
We are a family of five and kids are 13/9/7 and down-to-earth. No fancy cars nor luxury/fashionable dressing. Library lovers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Consider Fairfield, CT. It has excellent schools and it is very diverse. Intelligent population too. Prices are reasonable for a 60 minute commute via Metro North.

[Obrero]

Originally Posted by Marc Paolella

Scarsdale is like an older English village with an active downtown. Mountain Lakes is like Tuxedo Park without the gatehouse. Big houses, a big lake, small lakes, not much else. Mountain Lakes schools are first rate of course. But the borough does not have much character whereas Scarsdale has lots of character. When you factor in the short commute, Scarsdale takes a pretty big lead. However those schools in Mountain Lakes might rebalance the equation. Plus you get a real yard in Mountain Lakes. A real yard in Scarsdale ups the ante significantly. Tough choice I guess...

Plus I would add that since Moutain Lakes only has 4,000 resisdents you get that small town feel so many are looking for. ML has so much going on for kids it's like a little nirvana for them. I could only have dreamed of growing up in such a place.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by tango4ever

We are relocating to NY/NJ and wonder if you could share your view on Mt Lakes and Scarsdale. As far as I understand, both have top-ranked schools and relatively more foreigners/diversity. Scarsdale wins on the commute to NYC (30 min) while Mt Lakes (60+ min) appear to have more recreational and social activities (nine lakes!). Rents seems relatively cheaper Mt Lakes comparing with Scarsdale.
We are a family of five and kids are 13/9/7 and down-to-earth. No fancy cars nor luxury/fashionable dressing. Library lovers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I wouldn't do that to your kids then... no fancy car nor luxury in Mt. Lakes will make them feel like outcasts! Materialville!!! Long Valley (Washington Twp) in Morris County sounds like a perfect place for you... top rated schools and more down to earth working class people. Only downside is the commute to NYC!