Westwood
The Pascack Valley's closest thing to a real Main Street
Westwood is the commercial center of the Pascack Valley in a way no other town quite is. Westwood Avenue has real restaurants, coffee shops, a bookstore, a wine bar, and enough variety that you will actually use it regularly. Most towns in the area are strictly residential. Westwood has a functioning downtown.
- The most walkable town in the Pascack Valley for daily errands
- Parking is free and plentiful downtown, which is rare for a real Main Street
- Mix of longtime residents and newer arrivals from New York City
- More diverse housing stock and price points than neighboring boroughs
Getting to the city
Transit
NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line, Westwood station. Parking available at the station lot on Westwood Avenue.
Time to Midtown
Train to Hoboken Terminal takes roughly 50 minutes, then PATH to 33rd Street is about 15 minutes more. Total to Midtown is around 60 to 70 minutes. Driving to the George Washington Bridge is 30 to 45 minutes without traffic, but count on at least 60 during peak hours.
One thing to know
The Pascack Valley Line runs a limited schedule. Service drops off sharply in the evenings and on weekends. Check the actual NJ Transit timetable before assuming it fits your pattern.
What you will find
Mostly post-war ranches, cape cods, split-levels, and colonials built between the 1940s and 1980s. Lot sizes are smaller than River Vale or Montvale. The tradeoff is proximity to the downtown and the train.
Mix of post-war ranches, split-levels, and colonials. More affordable than Montvale or Woodcliff Lake. New construction is limited.
A look at Westwood
Westwood Regional School District
Westwood anchors the Westwood Regional School District, which it shares with Washington Township and River Vale. The district covers K-12 with strong academic programs, a well-regarded high school, and consistently solid parent satisfaction scores. One of the most balanced school situations in the Pascack Valley.
- Jefferson Elementary School K-5
- Washington Elementary School K-5
- Westwood Junior/Senior High School 7-12
Nearby private options: St. John's Academy (Hillsdale, PreK-8), Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, all-girls 9-12), Eastern Christian Schools (PK-12), Academy of the Holy Angels (Demarest, all-girls), Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, all-boys).
What people wish they knew
-
The Pascack Valley Line schedule is genuinely limited. Check NJ Transit before assuming it fits your commute. Evening and weekend service is sparse.
-
Westwood is also a reasonable choice if you plan to drive most days. Highway access to Routes 17 and 4 is straightforward.
-
The downtown is genuinely useful, not just a row of nail salons. This is rarer than it sounds in Bergen County.
-
Slightly more affordable than comparable towns to the north, which matters when you are working with a tight budget.
-
Westwood is a borough with its own municipal government and services, rather than part of a larger township.
What residents say
Westwood is an amazing town for all -- you won't be disappointed
Westwood is an amazing town and very inclusive. Lots of young families
You will LOVE Westwood!