Wanaque-HELP! (Passaic, Wayne, Orange: real estate, houses, to buy)

[Jobeid712]

Hi, I need any info I can get on Wanaque. We are looking to buy a house there and wanted to know what it is like. How are the schools? Are the roads safe? Is it comparable to oakland or to Totowa/Little Falls?
Anything would be helpful thanks!

[majesty318]

Hi, I grew up in Ringwood, which is the town over from Wanaque. What do you mean when you ask if the roads are safe? The high school, Lakeland, is shared between Ringwood & Wanaque. I personally got a great education there. My father works at Lakeland and also rates it highly. I would say of the 3 towns you mentioned, it would be most comparable to Totowa.

[stevemorse]

Its not comparable at all to Little Falls or Totowa. Its much more comparable to Oakland. Wanaque is a quiet, sort ruralish, woody and slightly hilly town. Its gotton more popular due to the opening up of 287. Ringwood being much more upscale compared to Wanaque but over a nice quiet little town. If you like wood and nature and outdoors its perfect. Houses are small capes, definately a middle class town, no snob factor and really not as hillbillie as West Milford. I think its a nice mix . Not alot of action and shopping but you are very close to shoot to Wayne, or Paramus on 287 to Route 17. So its a good choice for a middle class family. Now if you have alot of money this is not the town, but for a middle class family its perfect! Safe, little crime, quiet, good kids, sports minded and outsdoorsy!! Read the follow up post at the bottom I was wrong.

[majesty318]

To clarify, I said Totowa only because Wanaque is not as upscale as Oakland. But stevemorse is correct, there is certainly not as much to do there (shopping, etc.) as in Totowa.

[stevemorse]

you know the more I look at Wanaque and the more houses I just looked at , lets face it , its a wasteland. I mean ugly houses, ripped out alot of the trees, its just plain ugly. I forgot how ugly it was until I looked. Its like a wasteland of Hillbillies. I really think its a nothing to do area with a nothing to do town, which leads me to instantly think booze!! Its like Orange County, NY. Too much booze and Springer. Go with RIngwood or Oakland anyday. There are not even nice woods in Wanaque like Ringwood and West Milford. Its terrible, pass on it.

[MaverickDD]

Originally Posted by stevemorse

you know the more I look at Wanaque and the more houses I just looked at , lets face it , its a wasteland. I mean ugly houses, ripped out alot of the trees, its just plain ugly. I forgot how ugly it was until I looked. Its like a wasteland of Hillbillies. I really think its a nothing to do area with a nothing to do town, which leads me to instantly think booze!! Its like Orange County, NY. Too much booze and Springer. Go with RIngwood or Oakland anyday. There are not even nice woods in Wanaque like Ringwood and West Milford. Its terrible, pass on it.

Wow, Steve! Why don't you tell us how you really feel? Respectfully, I'd disagree with you about 85%.

Wanaque has its shortcomings, but in many ways its a fantastic place. In my opinion, it's one of the few truly middle class towns left in Northeastern New Jersey. Much of the town is gentrified and modern establishments have popped up all along Ringwood Avenue.

Wanaque is Ringwood Avenue, a/k/a County Route 511. For all intents and purposes, it's the only way in, out, or thru town. Hence, rush hour traffic is severe.

The primary schools have improved greatly and Lakeland High is surely one of the most underrated schools in the area.

If you dislike pretense, you'll like Wanaque. People are real there. It's the flip side to coin of many of our states snooty towns.

However, being in Passaic County, real estate taxes are quite high there.

I'd give Wanaque a green light.

[Jobeid712]

Wow Steve, so you totally went back on your first thoughts. Why the change of heart?

[stevemorse]

well I went and looked at some pictures on the computer and then it hit me, I remember last summer driving around and then the memories came back to me. I remember all the pick up trucks and lots with junk thrown all over the lawns, the lack of pride people had in their yards, just the land was ugly. If there was a 1950's Astin Martin and a Monster Truck parked in the downtown most would be looking at the Monster Truck. Thats how I can describe it. Lack of choices in the area, and just plain twilight zone of an area. I mean it just never defined itself. Drive around, and really look hard, you will get it. You know I am just saying look hard, I wish I would have looked a little harder where I picked to live. I see the hillbillie attitute where I live, its getting less and less but its here. So I dont want someone else to think its not in NJ. Wanaque has its share of Pick-Ups, Nascar losers and hillbillies. Just dont go into it blindly. I did and dont hate where I live just living amonst some hillbillies. Not as bad as lets say some other towns, but Jefferson Twshp honestly does have some backwood types. So just OPEN your eyes, pick towns that you can afford and compare them.

You know its funny if I go one town over, (one Ridge) to Rockway, by Marcella and Green Pond, I dont see any of the backwoods types. So a few miles makes a big difference. Just compare several choices. Wanaque can be sort backwoods some areas. There are some hicks. Just trying to warn you. Look now is a good time to get the best for your money so just keep eyes open.

[GiantRutgersfan]

Originally Posted by stevemorse

you know the more I look at Wanaque and the more houses I just looked at , lets face it , its a wasteland. I mean ugly houses, ripped out alot of the trees, its just plain ugly. I forgot how ugly it was until I looked. Its like a wasteland of Hillbillies. I really think its a nothing to do area with a nothing to do town, which leads me to instantly think booze!! Its like Orange County, NY. Too much booze and Springer. Go with RIngwood or Oakland anyday. There are not even nice woods in Wanaque like Ringwood and West Milford. Its terrible, pass on it.

[Jobeid712]

Thanks for your thoughts. Would you say Ringwood is a better place to live, as its not to "hillbillie". Is there more things to do there? Is there less traffic there because there are more roads?

You are right I do need to drive around the towns and see it for myself. I'd like to go during the day at first to see, but I just don't have the time right now, so I appreciate all of your input.