Rockland County (New City, Nanuet, Pearl River: environment, property taxes, jobs)

[rocco]

Can anyone tell me anything about the Rockland County area? I grew up in Manhattan but moved to FL and then CA but thinking about moving back to NY. I am trying to stay close to the city but can't afford it there. So any information about the towns, cities, villages, cost of living, crime and housing costs would be appreciated. Thank you.

[NickL28]

Not much different than the rest of the surrounding NYC metro area that surrounds Manhattan.

Expensive Houses -- Starter homes at $500,000 are considered very cheap.

High Taxes & Utility Rates --- $8,000 for property taxes are below average and another 18 cents PKH for electricity.

Materialism to the extreme- You are judged by what you wear and what you drive. Life revolves around the yuppie lifestyle of shopping and consumerism to the extreme.

[I'minformed2]

That sounds like an unfair sweeping generalization if I've ever heard one.

[repo]

Originally Posted by i'minformed

That sounds like an unfair sweeping generalization if I've ever heard one.

It is and it isn't. I grew up in Rockland and moved away in 1989. I go back to visit every few months, and it has changed drastically. Due to it's proximity to NYC (20+ miles), it is very expensive to live there, and has really changed over the years to more of a hectic place. Small houses are in the 500k range, and rents are very high. Traffic can be a problem at times, but there are jobs and recreation/night life abounds.

[tiredofNY]

Everyone has to remember to stay subjective.
I live in Nanuet a town in Rockland. I moved from Flushing Queens in NY.
The change was wonderful. I love my neighborhood and especially the school for my kids 11 and 8. I do not find this to be a yuppy place.
As for being judge for what you wear, that sounds a bit childish. I love Target and payless as much as any of my neighbors do. I am in contanct with a lot of my kids friends parents and we all seem to be pretty much the same. Everyone wants a better place for their kids and a great neighborhood. Ofcourse there are those who have a lot of $$$ and wear expensive clothes, but I did not find that I was being judged because i wore a Kohls brand and not prada. (If I was judged, it was their own waste of time). I have taught my kids that is better to have 3 pair of $30 shoes than 1 pair of $100. Anyway, life is what you make if it and if you a re a good person and gets along with others, then Rockland is great. It has diverse neighborhoods though. You should really drive around the towns and see Its a wonderful place.

[undecided mama]

thanks everyone. does anyone have any suggestions as to what town/neighborhood may be good for us. i would describe me, hubby and baby (10 months) as follows:
from brooklyn; pretty liberal (e.g. only listen to NPR); a vegetarian (e.g. my fav grocery stores are Whole Foods/Trader Joes); love to work out (in gym or hike/bike/swin etc.); care for the environment deeply (recycle, reduce and reuse!); and need good day care (Montessori?)

Any suggestions or feed back would be great!
Thanks so much for your help.

[yane]

Originally Posted by undecided mama

thanks everyone. does anyone have any suggestions as to what town/neighborhood may be good for us. i would describe me, hubby and baby (10 months) as follows:
from brooklyn; pretty liberal (e.g. only listen to NPR); a vegetarian (e.g. my fav grocery stores are Whole Foods/Trader Joes); love to work out (in gym or hike/bike/swin etc.); care for the environment deeply (recycle, reduce and reuse!); and need good day care (Montessori?)

Any suggestions or feed back would be great!
Thanks so much for your help.

New City, rockland county if you can afford it. Great family town with all very good programs for children of all ages, superb schools. i've been here for the longest. The best move for any family. Pretty expensive but it is all worth it. Safety and location. We get the best of the big apple up here. I am selling if you are interested.
Good luck.

[Dixiebound]

Rockland is a small county. From a central location- ie. Nanuet, you can get almost anwhere in the county in 20-25 minutes.

I have been here 15 years and like the fact you can do anything here you can do in Manhattan. Great and varied restaurants, professional and amateur local theater, shopping all over, fun and funky villages like Nyack and Piermont; all in a short distance.

Moreover, Rockland has great parks (not some fence surrounding asphalt). Rockland Lake, Nyack Beach State Park (The Hook), and Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park, which goes on forever.

And it's a short hop to Manhattan so you can get your "city fix" anytime you want.

One downside I have to mention is that Rockland is getting too crowded for my taste. The original poster, being from Manhattan, probably will wonder what the heck I'm talking about.

Good Luck.

[Stac2007]

Well I live in Rockland and think Nick is right on target. You know it is bad when the soccer moms waiting to pick up the yuppie puppies at the bus stop are armed head to toe with the SUVs, fashionable clothing and I am the world attitude. I Can't wait to graduate college and get out. I grew up here but it I find it less and less familiar very day.

[VA Yankee]

Originally Posted by repo

It is and it isn't. I grew up in Rockland and moved away in 1989. I go back to visit every few months, and it has changed drastically. Due to it's proximity to NYC (20+ miles), it is very expensive to live there, and has really changed over the years to more of a hectic place. Small houses are in the 500k range, and rents are very high. Traffic can be a problem at times, but there are jobs and recreation/night life abounds.

I got parolled in 78 and visit my mom every few months. Although the are is pretty I can not afford to live there! Taxes are too high and New City which is an affluent town looks like a dump. You would think they could update the shopping areas at least once since the 70's. Some of the other towns Suffern, Pearl River, Stony Point look much better but even here the cost of living can be prohibitive.