Family-friendly New Jersey township that’s ideal for commuters
Eight miles from Upper Manhattan, Teaneck, New Jersey, is one of the city’s first bedroom communities. The township of 40,000 is culturally diverse: About 40 percent of the population is Jewish, and Muslims, Latinos and African Americans also represent a significant percentage. Teaneck’s main street is lined with shopping and restaurants, while residential streets are conducive for neighborhood strolls. “It's really a good family-friendly neighborhood,” says Nina Eizikovitz, an agent with Links Residential who specializes in Teaneck. “Families gravitate toward it because of the proximity to the city, shopping and major highways.”
Retail corridors feature locally owned businesses
Thanks to several business districts that cater to Teaneck’s diverse community, residents don’t necessarily have to get in a car to grab a bite to eat or go shopping. Cedar Lane, the largest retail corridor, has Cedar Market, providing one-stop shopping for kosher groceries, and Amarone, a local Italian favorite set in a historic carriage house. Newcomer Brvsh Cul7ur3, pronounced Brush Culture, hosts live jazz performances with a dinner menu throughout the week, and Teaneck Cinemas is a throwback-style movie theater screening a handful of mainstream and independent films. Queen Anne Road, dubbed The Plaza, is another go-to spot. It’s also home to Debonair Music Hall, an intimate venue known for tribute bands and small indie acts. Teaneck Road is home to Amanta Latina Cuisine for homemade Dominican food, as well as Asante’s Restaurant for West African fare in a trendy space. Stop & Shop is conveniently found in town, and a wide variety of big-box shopping exists in nearby Paramus, including Westfield Garden State Plaza, one of New Jersey’s largest malls.
Older Tudors and Colonials mix with contemporary styles
Much of Teaneck’s housing stock dates to the early 1900s, and Tudor-style homes, Colonials, Cape Cods and split-levels are the most common styles. The inventory has evolved with new-build townhomes such as Parkside Lane. Rhoda Russo, a broker-associate and Teaneck specialist with Russo Real Estate, reflects on how it’s not just Teaneck’s housing stock that’s changing. “I think we're even more of a melting pot for everybody, because that's what everybody's looking for,” she says, referring to the cultural diversity attracting buyers from NYC. The median home price is $555,000, which gets a small starter home needing renovation. Homes in all price ranges can be found on wide, tree-lined streets with sidewalks, making it possible to walk to nearby parks or businesses in some areas.
Options include public, private and magnet
Teaneck has four elementary schools with an average B minus rating from Niche, yet all of them, including Lowell Elementary School, score an A for diversity. There’s a separate prekindergarten and kindergarten at Bryant School, as well as two middle schools and Teaneck Senior High School. Thomas Jefferson Middle School features a 9 to 1 student-teacher ratio, while Teaneck Senior High School holds a B plus from Niche. Districtwide, 42 percent of students are proficient in reading and 19 percent in math. A variety of private religious schools also serve the community - Maayanot Yeshiva High School and Torah Academy of Bergen County are among the top-ranked in town. Bergen County Academies is another option for students who can gain admission. This public magnet school is in neighboring Hackensack and open to all Bergen County residents. Niche ranks it among the top three public high schools in New Jersey, and competition for a spot is fierce.
Locals head to Votee Park for its playground and pool
Teaneck offers 24 parks; Votee Park is the biggest, where locals make regular use of its community pool, large playground complex and ball fields. Teaneck Creek is a 46-acre restored wetland park with nature trails and ecological art exhibits. Overpeck County Park spans part of Teaneck, and is notable for its seasonal attraction, Field Station: Dinosaurs, an educational adventure filled with robotic dinosaurs. And golf fans have easy access to Overpeck Golf Course, a public 18-hole course spread across 150 acres.
Buses make frequent trips to NYC
NYC commuters can take advantage of NJT buses that provide quick access into Port Authority Bus Terminal. Buses make six stops in town with rush hour service every 20 minutes at the most popular points. Buses stop overnight and offer reduced service on weekends. Driving-wise, the George Washington Bridge to Upper Manhattan is just 8 miles away, while major nearby highways include the New Jersey Turnpike and I-80. And though Teaneck lacks a New Jersey Transit station, there are trains in neighboring Hackensack and River Edge.
Home to Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson is New Jersey’s largest private educational institution enrolling about 6,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. A fine art gallery and student theater performances are open to the public.
Photography Contributed By
James Leynse
