Study: Experts Agree Ridgewood Is One Of Best Places To Live In NJ

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Experts agree that Ridgewood is one of the best places to live in New Jersey for its access to city life in the Big Apple but the feel of a village-like community, according to a recent study.

Ridgewood is ranked No. 3 on a list of the best places to live in the Garden State, topped only by Princeton and Jersey City, according to studyfinds.org, which rounded up opinions from expert websites to put together the list.

The village is the "perfect fit," StudyFinds said, for those who prefer to raise a family away from the "hustle and bustle" of the city but "aren't ready to give up" access to New York City.

StudyFinds quotes real estate company UpHomes, which placed Ridgewood as No. 2 on its own list, as saying the village has "some of the highest-rated schooling, outdoor activities, jobs, nightlife, and health and fitness scores."

"With an extremely high median home value, (Ridgewood) is considered the most expensive area to live in the state by far, but you get what you are paying for," UpHomes said.

Some "local favorites" in Ridgewood, UpHomes said, are the James Rose Center for Landscape Architectural Research and Design, Stable Art Gallery, and Steel Wheel Tavern Restaurant.

Life in Ridgewood, StudyFinds continues, is "far from boring."

StudyFinds cited another expert, American digital media company PureWow, which placed Ridgewood as No. 4 on its list, to substantiate the claim.

"We're big fans of the Saddle River County Park-Wild Duck Pond Area," PureWow said. "Pup parents should check out the Ridgewood Dog Park. You can pick up gifts at Bookends or swing by the Schoolhouse Museum (the home of the Ridgewood Historical Society) for a bit of history."

StudyFinds refers to one last expert in its roundup on Ridgewood, travel resource The Crazy Tourist — which also put Ridgewood in the No. 2 spot on its list.

"Ridgewood is a suburb characterized by an eye-popping mix of Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century farmhouses," The Crazy Tourist said.

Although the enormously high home values rule it out as a
"neighborhood for the ordinary Joe, that hasn't stopped people from flocking here," The Crazy Tourist said of the community made up of more than 26,000 residents.