When ranking the most family-friendly towns in NJ, we weighed factors like school quality, safety, affordability and diversity, among other things. Here are the 10 towns that topped our list in Bergen County in 2019:
- Glen Rock
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Northvale
- Allendale
- Harrington Park
- Demarest
- Mahwah
- Closter
- Wyckoff
- Oakland
About Glen Rock
On top of its small town community feel and picturesque tree-lined streets, Glen Rock has plenty to offer in the way of outdoor activities. The Thielke Arboretum boasts nature trails, gardens, a spring-fed pond and a brook. Part of Saddle River County Park’s beloved bike paths lies within the borough. The municipal pool is another huge draw in the summer.
Founded in 1894, Glen Rock got its name from an iconic rock monument in the center of town. Local historians say it was part of a Native American trail used for signal fires. There’s great diversity downtown in terms of eateries and shops, which include Rocca, an Italian favorite, Nectar Cafe, a vegan and gluten-free spot, and Kilroy’s Wonder Market, a grocery store that’s been a staple in town for more than 100 years.
When Amy Matulevich and her husband decided to move to Glen Rock last summer, it was the town’s stellar schools—consistently ranked among the best in New Jersey—that sold them. But they quickly discovered the 2.71-square-mile borough has another huge plus: a warm and welcoming community. “People are just so friendly,” says Matulevich, whose neighbors welcomed her husband, Steven, and two sons, Maddox, 6, and Kieran, 4, with Prosecco, cookies, a plant and water balloons.
