Demarest

This close-knit community was ranked as Bergen County’s fourth-best place to raise a family, and it’s not hard to see why. Surrounded by open space, Demarest offers a laid-back pace of life amidst idyllic countryside scenery. Community events are firmly aimed at families, including an alcohol-free Oktoberfest and school-organized fun runs.

There is no dedicated downtown area within Demarest, with the community’s commercial development restricted to a Dunkin’ Donuts and Demarest Deli on Hardenburgh Avenue. Many more restaurants can be found just down the road in Cresskill, including Turkish food at Samdan, Greek cuisine at GKR Bar & Grill, breakfasts and Mediterranean seafood platters at Madison Café, and the Cresskill Bagel Café. For groceries, Cresskill’s Kings Food Markets offers farm-fresh produce and gourmet meats and cheeses.

Demarest’s attractive Duck Pond is at the heart of community life. Next to the Duck Pond is the exquisite 1816-built sandstone Colonial home of Samuel R. Demarest, who gave the community its name, as well as a Peace Gazebo added in 1986.

The adjoined green spaces of Demarest Nature Center and Wakelee Field provide another scenic spot to view local wildlife. Wakelee Field’s amenities also include tennis courts and a baseball field. This green space also hosts Demarest annual craft show at Oktoberfest, with handicraft vendors, German food and music, and Korean delicacies.

Set within a sprawling 18-acre nature preserve, Davies Arboretum’s shrubs and flowering trees cover seven acres. Local schools help organize the Demarest 5k, a family-friendly run that is a highlight of Demarest’s annual community events. The Alpine Country Club at Demarest’s southeast offers exceptional amenities to its members, including an 18-hole A.W. Tillinghast championship golf course, five Har-Tru tennis courts, adult and children’s swimming pools, and several upscale dining spaces.

Demarest’s schools are operated by the Demarest and Northern Valley Regional High School districts