Ridgewood ranked as best place to retire
MAY 23, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
s Ridgewood the best place to retire in New Jersey? That’s what a blog for real estate agents is suggesting, having recently named Ridgewood the best municipality in New Jersey to retire in.
Though the announcement was meant to tout the benefits of living in the village, the list has been the subject of some immediate criticism for one of its preferred measures: a high cost of living, “higher being better, since you’ve saved for it.”
“Get your head out of the rarified air! Ridgewood is a great place to retire – if your idea of ‘affordable’ starts with a base of $15,000 worth of real estate taxes,” noted one commenter underneath the ranking on the Movoto Real Estate blog, which was posted last month.
But Chad Stiffley, a public relations associate for Movoto, noted that the ranking is composed of “simply the best places to enjoy your retirement years, whether that means moving or remaining there after you retire.” Places with a higher cost of living, he added, got better rankings, “because they generally are viewed by people as nicer places compared to those that have a low cost of living.”
“It should be great news for the Ridgewood community,” he said.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/business/is-village-best-place-to-retire-1.1022342#sthash.9eu0HoY1.dpuf
I will be moving as soon as kids are finished with HS. Taxes are too high. The next family can enjoy my house and pay the taxes. I lived here before I had children but now I need to save money for myself.
This is simply counter to the reality. Ridgewood is a place to live when you have kids attending the school system. Many “For Sale” signs go up as soon as families get the last one through High School. Yes, it’s a nice place, but high property taxes are simply not worth paying unless you are getting value out of the schools.
what,, who came up with that bull shit. no way . I have most of my family in town and they all tell me when the kids are done with the school , see ya we go. bergen county is not the place to retire. down south is the way to go.
this is not real info.
Only someone with a civil service pension or very rich can afford this town in retirement. That is what retirement is, trying to outlive your money. Most of us do not have guaranteed lifetime pensions starting at retirement (age 45 – give me a break!).
I cannot afford to live here in retirement because I cannot afford the pensions that our police/fire receive. Soon NJ will run out of pension money, no more accounting tricks – game over.
Realtors may enjoy this article but anyone who lives here knows that seniors are low on the totem pole. Some towns will send a car to any senior who needs it, not this twice-a-week bus thing. HILT, big deal. Lunches with the Fair Gwennie–keep it!
Even the free badges at Graydon, once the only senior perk in town, went away; this year the increase was 50%. Perhaps the next council will demonstrate its lack of contempt for seniors by studying what other towns do and implementing some of it. That would be nice.
Even Pat Mancuso left town as soon as his last stint as mayor was over.
Many good points. But the reality is, growing up here, its a nice place. We never had kids in the schools but like the town so we pay the taxes.
Would I move to Midland Park to save 3-5k per year? NO.
Taxes in Glen Rock and Ramsey are right up there too and they are both nice towns.
Unless you plan to move to the South, you’re stuck with the NJ tab for property taxes due to the way school funding is in this state, and the never ending tab for municipal worker’s salaries, benefits, and generous pensions.
As someone who owns homes in other states, I can tell you that you will get tired of living with hillbillys, despite saving on property taxes.
FLA screws you with the ‘intangibles’ tax when you arrive, along with astronomical homeowner insurance rates that negate property tax savings. North Carolina nickel and dimes you with personal property taxes etc.. so you’re going to get dinged in the wallet no matter where you move. If 5 grand a year makes a big difference, then you shouldn’t be living here in the first place.
“If 5 grand a year makes a big difference, then you shouldn’t be living here in the first place.” Who on earth are you to give personal opinion as financial advice? Mr Moneybucks from monopoly?
Lots of people move in retirement for taxes, to be near children/family and for quality of life. Ridgewood is not Nirvana for everyone. There are a lot of great places to live for those of us who like to explore, travel and make friends. The folks that you call “hillbillies” are probably very nice and did not like you either.
Ok ‘working mans hero’.
You moved here.
You really can’t afford it but thanks to that no-money down 30 year mortgage you’re living the dream in 07450.
You voted yes on every school budget.
You’re up to your ass in debt and tread water to stay afloat here to ‘keep up appearances’.
You have a couple of leased cars for ‘show’.
You certainly fit the profile of the typical newbie here, a ’10 cent millionaire’ who, in reality, is nothing but a ‘wannabee’.
Thanks for raising my taxes while you were here temporarily.
Go back to the NC Hillbillies… and I could give a rat’s a$$ what they think…or what you think..
If 5 grand is going to make it or break it for you, don’t leave the trailer park in the first place.
Actually, I can afford it just fine. Will have a really big check for all of the equity in my home when 8 sell. The person that you made up must be a projection of your own miserable existance.
Don’t know how my high taxes made your taxes go up. I paid Ridgewood taxes long enough. Time to travel and spend time in the vacation home (I pay taxes in two states). I do not need the Ridgewood home and high taxes at all. You can stay if you want.
I hope to be in NYC for retirement.
Everything within walking distance.
Entertainment and dining options galore.
Ridgewood is a great place to raise children but I would like my wife and I to completely enjoy our downsized empty nest.
Hey, you stole my intended post. Same here on your plan. I’m here for the kids school, that’s it. I honestly cannot understand why anyone would choose to live in suburbia apart from raising kids.