3 Bergen Towns Among Safest In The U.S. To Raise A Child

Three Bergen County towns are among the safest to raise a child in the United States, according to a new list from SafeWise, a national home security provider.

The list used various data to define which cities in the United States excel at creating safer environments for families. The SafeWise team reviewed reported sex offender concentration, state graduation rates, overall school quality ranking, and FBI violent crime data. The organization also considered parks and recreational opportunities as well as special programs focused on providing services for kids and families.

Of the 10 New Jersey towns on the list, three of them are in the top 30. Westwood ranked at No. 20, Tenafly came in at No. 22, and Ridgefield was ranked No. 25.

SafeWise said that Westwood boasts nine city parks that include picnic areas, playgrounds, baseball fields, ponds, and walking paths. It also had the second-lowest violent crime rate among the top 30 towns.

Tenafly takes care of its youngest citizens both outdoors and inside. The city recently formed a resident-led school safety task force to make sure schools are prepared to keep kids safe in the event of an emergency.

Regarding Ridgefield, SafeWise stated: "This safe city was featured in 'The Wedding Singer,' and the quaint, small-town vibe displayed in the film is alive and well. Free-range kids in Ridgefield stay safe because they’re adopted by the whole town."

Click here to view the entire report and rankings.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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