Oradell, Glen Rock, or Ridgewood? (Hoboken, Fair Lawn: elementary schools, property taxes, live in)

[lchuang110]

Hello,

Wanted to get some advice from NJ residents...

I will be working in Hoboken but have two elementary school kids and need to find a community with good schools/easy commute diversity, etc.
I am considering Oradell, Glen Rock and Ridgewood.

How is the Pascack train line going to Oradell and any problems with it?
How are schools in Oradell in comparison to G.R. and Ridgewood?
How is diversity in the three towns?
What are the major drawbacks and benefits of each town?

Thanks,

L

[shorebaby]

I think all three are pretty much the same. But what is wrong with Hoboken! OK the public schools stink (after 5th grade anyway) but there are pretty good private schools in town.

[Bklyn4Life]

Throw Hawthorne and Fair Lawn into the mix as well. Commute-wise, you have a choice of two trains within two blocks of each other in Glen Rock (Main Line and Bergen Line), which is great. I live in Hawthorne, though commute from Glen Rock. All the named areas are great for families.

Don't know about Oradell...but if I recall correctly the Pascack Valley line runs one one track in some places, so that will no doubt affect how often trains run in either direction.

[newmom2007]

- Of the three, Oradell will be the most difficult for your commute because the train line does not run as frequently. Check njtransit.com for details.
- They are all around the same school wise, but GR and RW are probably a notch better. But, all pretty much the same. Oradell shares its HS with River Edge and the other two towns do not (maybe also the MS).
- I wouldn't exactly describe any of these towns as diverse.
- I personally think all of these towns are great. I think most people prefer Ridgewood to the others because of its downtown - RW's downtown offers the most restaurants, bars, shopping but the other two aren't bad.

[Phillip S1]

Oradell and River Edge share schools. (Oradell pays slightly higher taxes though!)

Oradell/River Edge (Riverdell) schools are excellent! Among the top 10 in New Jersey.
I have 5 cousins that goes to both Elementary, Middle and High school.
They LOVE the school! I used to go to Riverdell High School, which is extremely excellent!

The towns of Oradell and River Edge are very nice, no crime, close to everything, and has bus and trains that runs frequently!

Ridgewood's schools are also pretty good, but I don't know about Glen rocks.
Ridgewood has higher taxes and more further far away from Hoboken, but it has nice downtown with shops, restaurants and pubs.
So I really consider you move to either River Edge or Oradell.

[splitchin]

I think Ridgewood has better rated schools than the other two towns although its elementary schools are very crowded.
Glenrock and Oradell property taxes are higher than Ridgewood from what I know.
Fairlawn has good elementary schools as well (Radburn or Milnes are preferred by most) and is on the bergen line to hoboken.

[Liz555]

For school info you may want to check out NJ.com: School report card.