"Pearl River, Pearl River, / If you could talk, what would you say / When you talk in a strange room / The dark falls, falls away!" (Pearl River, musical Lyrics: singers / songwriters--Cyril Neville and Devon Allman)
Pearl River has a fascinating history of invention, foresight and pioneering works that continues to bear fruit despite several "winds of change." A Rockland County hamlet -- Pearl River is a mid-sized community of 15,876 residents cushioned within Orange Town. It's the ideal place to relocate: the community is forward thinking, full of prospects and offers a range in living standards. Pearl River was ranked among "100 Best Places to Live" by CNNMoney.com when factoring cost of living, traveling and walkability, quality of housing, and economic outlook.
Pearl River has been known as the "Town of Friendly People" since the 1930s and not much has changed today
"Pearl River, Pearl River, / If you could talk, what would you say / When you talk in a strange room / The dark falls, falls away!" (Pearl River, musical Lyrics: singers / songwriters--Cyril Neville and Devon Allman)
Pearl River has a fascinating history of invention, foresight and pioneering works that continues to bear fruit despite several "winds of change." A Rockland County hamlet -- Pearl River is a mid-sized community of 15,876 residents cushioned within Orange Town. It's the ideal place to relocate: the community is forward thinking, full of prospects and offers a range in living standards. Pearl River was ranked among "100 Best Places to Live" by CNNMoney.com when factoring cost of living, traveling and walkability, quality of housing, and economic outlook.
Relocating to Pearl River
Pearl River has been known as the "Town of Friendly People" since the 1930s and not much has changed today. Relocating to Pearl River means blending with a community of friendly residents who are proud of their heritage and who bask in the convenience and comfort of their surroundings.
Apartment Rental
Demand for apartments for rent in Pearl River have seen a marked increased over the last decade. People are coming in from neighboring towns, including a noticeable amount from out of state, which has driven up housing prices. The competition has made it difficult for those on a strict budget to enter even the rental housing market. House rentals are not cheap in Pearl River when compared to the state's average.
Housing Styles
New apartment rentals are being built in mixed-multilevel styles to increase the amount of inventory on the market. Many of the houses on the market are colonials, farmhouse Victorian and ranch models. Many have huge lots such as those in Harmony Hill and Sickletown Woods. Amid these elegant vintages home are apartment complexes, and even all bills paid apartments for those not looking to buy right now. Many are 1 or 2 bedroom apartment for rent.
Meet Your Neighbors
One of the best features of Pearl River is its pedestrian-friendly community. Walk anywhere -- to the stores, restaurants and parks--or take your bike and ride off into the sunset; there are designated areas for walking and biking that's convenient and welcoming to many people. While there isn't much in the way of neighborhoods, Pearl River's neighbors are right around the corner from each other, located on the north, south, east and west boundaries. These neighbors include Montvale, Nanuet, Chestnut Ridge, Orangetown, Park Ridge and Blauvelt. Each community is marginally different in appearance, culture and lifestyle offering.
Montvale: A mid-sized township in New Jersey, north of Pearl River and only two minutes away, driving. Walking will take you approximately 15 minutes via S. Main St. or five minutes, tops on your bicycle. Montvale is a fairly walkable town with several nice townhouses and apartments for rent. Nottingham Court, for example has a WalkScore of 62 and you will likely find a 1 bedroom apartment for rent.
Nanuet: A mid-sized community and one of CNN Money's best places to live. This lovely suburban community is located north of Pearl River, five minutes away on the NY-304, and eight minutes driving via Ehrhardt Road. It has relatively inexpensive, beautiful housing, plenty of recreational activities and several shopping opportunities.
Chestnut Ridge: A small countryside area south of Nanuet; it is only six minutes away along Convent Road. Houses are traditional styles at good prices. Apartment rentals may be a little harder to find in this neighborhood.
Orangetown: A large town SE of Chestnut Ridge, north of New Jersey and a 15-minute drive via Interstate-287 E. The town has a WalkScore in the upper 20s and is primarily car dependent. Homes and 3 bedroom apartments for rent are easier to find than other neighboring towns.
Park Ridge: A small borough in New Jersey, north of Chestnut Ridge and 7 minutes driving via Spring Valley Road; it's a fairly walkable community with a score of 58. It takes 15 minutes riding on your bicycle via Red School House Road to get to Chestnut Ridge. Nice homes that span a range of styles can be found in this part of the neighborhood, but it might be a stretch to find one bedroom apartments in the area.
Blauvelt: A small, rural town, the smallest of all the neighborhoods. It is an eight-minute drive from Orange Town and 13 minutes cycling from Park Ridge via Convent Road. It is still a fairly car dependent community with a WalkScore of 45; shops and convenience stores require some driving compared to other communities. You are in a better position to find a house or town house for rent rather than apartments in this neighborhood.
Life in Pearl River
Pearl River is an enclave of opportunities, a gem of a hamlet with amazing access to New York City. It's is north of Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey, with a quick hop over to "big boy" New York City; Pearl River is the first stop you will have traveling on the New Jersey Transit's Pascack Valley Line.
Leisure Activities
There is a dose of Old World charm along the 80-foot wide East Central Avenue, which is the main shopping street where residents and newcomers can find Krum's chocolate factory, a hardware shop opened since 1905 that still sells mothballs and a brick post office (on the west side of main street), built in the 1930s in Colonial Revival architectural style. There are also several parks for hiking, biking, canoeing and much more. The Blue Hill Golf Course, a 27-hole championship course is a popular location that provides a range of services besides golfing. It's open to the public and flocked by residents.
