Northern Bergen County Towns - Need some advice (Ridgewood, Ramsey: new home, high school)
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My family and I are moving back to the northern bergen county area and could use some advice. My husband will be making a nice sized income (300k) and we are looking in the $700k range for a home. There are the usual factors we are hoping for (great schools, safe environment, nice house, etc). We are also looking for a community that will be accepting of our family.
I grew up in Ridgewood and my parents still live nearby. Growing up in Ridgewood, I was never that thrilled with the place. Now that I have explored the country and seen what other places are like, and now that I have little ones of my own, I can see why my parents chose to raise me there. I am looking for a similar feel in terms of the schools, safe & beautiful environment. Ridgewood is in consideration, but we are also open to other towns in that area as well.
Here is the additional factor that brings me to this forum. My husband is hispanic (with an accent) and my children have a very hispanic last name. What is your take on where we would feel welcome? We are not looking for a hispanic community really, we just want to be sure that we are not moving into a place where people are prejudiced.
I wouldn't worry about your husband being hispanic and your children's last names. Though a heavily white area, Bergen County is still diverse and welcoming. Ridgewood's a good option. You could also look into nearby Waldwick, Wycoff, Ho-Ho-Kus, Glen Rock, ect. All are nice towns and offer similar perks. You should be able to get a nice house in those towns with that budget. The NJ Transit Main Line runs through that area as well if you need transportation into the city for work.
I wouldn't worry about your husband being hispanic and your children's last names. Though a heavily white area, Bergen County is still diverse and welcoming. Ridgewood's a good option. You could also look into nearby Waldwick, Wycoff, Ho-Ho-Kus, Glen Rock, ect. All are nice towns and offer similar perks. You should be able to get a nice house in those towns with that budget. The NJ Transit Main Line runs through that area as well if you need transportation into the city for work. !
That is reassuring to hear. I only remember one hispanic kid in my class growing up in Ridgewood and I do not remember him ever being targeted for teasing. Of course, I usually tried to steer clear of the mean kids myself, so maybe I just never noticed? Plus that was a long time ago now, and I know tensions are higher in this country. We have no connection to illegal immigrants etc (we are all born citizens), but it seems that in some places there is so much anger they will take it out on anyone. That is the last thing we want!
I wouldn't worry about your husband being hispanic and your children's last names. Though a heavily white area, Bergen County is still diverse and welcoming. Ridgewood's a good option. You could also look into nearby Waldwick, Wycoff, Ho-Ho-Kus, Glen Rock, ect. All are nice towns and offer similar perks. You should be able to get a nice house in those towns with that budget. The NJ Transit Main Line runs through that area as well if you need transportation into the city for work.
Welcome back!
Exactly this. (Especially the part where no one will care that your husband is hispanic. So are a hell of a lot of people here).
Exactly this. (Especially the part where no one will care that your husband is hispanic. So are a hell of a lot of people here).
Yes, exactly that.
I grew up right next to Ridgewood in Midland Park, and there weren't many Hispanic people around Bergen County back then, but that has changed. And many of them are now second generation who have grown up either in NJ or NY and are college-educated professionals. I work with a lot of engineers and many of them are Hispanic. A fair amount of Latinos have moved up in the world and taken their place in NJ suburbia, don't worry. My daughter graduated high school from MP two years ago. Her class valedictorian's mother was from Ecuador. Father is an Italian immigrant. One of her other friend's father is from the DR. Another friend's mother is from India. Bergen County is not as homogenous as it once was.
I'm pretty sure you'd find a good number of Spanish last names on the roster of physicians at Valley Hospital now, too.
I grew up right next to Ridgewood in Midland Park, and there weren't many Hispanic people around Bergen County back then, but that has changed. And many of them are now second generation who have grown up either in NJ or NY and are college-educated professionals. I work with a lot of engineers and many of them are Hispanic. A fair amount of Latinos have moved up in the world and taken their place in NJ suburbia, don't worry. My daughter graduated high school from MP two years ago. Her class valedictorian's mother was from Ecuador. Father is an Italian immigrant. One of her other friend's father is from the DR. Another friend's mother is from India. Bergen County is not as homogenous as it once was.
I'm pretty sure you'd find a good number of Spanish last names on the roster of physicians at Valley Hospital now, too.
Great to hear! My husband will be happy to hear this as well. I am so excited to move back "home". I am glad to hear that my excitement about moving back to the area is right on. Sounds like my hub and kids will love our new home too.
Just remembered something from back in my day. Do kids still egg pedestrians at night? That was always such a nuisance. I even remember kids throwing cherry slurpees at pedestrians. What a mess.
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