Living in Rockland County
Set along the west shore of the Hudson above Bergen County, New Jersey, and across the Tappan Zee from Westchester, suburban Rockland accounts for the smallest county in New York State and its third most densely-populated within the NYC metro—the straight line distance from its southernmost tip to city limits is just six miles. True to its name, the area boasts a rugged landscape framed by the Ramapo Mountains and the Palisades, shared by five towns, 19 villages, and countless hamlets. They’re well-connected by the New York State Thruway, Palisades Parkway, and Metro-North’s Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines, which operate over NJ Transit to Hoboken (or Penn Station, with transfer) rather than Grand Central. Unlike the east shore, Rockland’s tracks primarily run inland, blessing its riverfront homes with unobstructed water access. Thanks to railroad baron E.H. Harriman, the county’s northernmost reaches are preserved as Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park, a natural wonder drawing countless visitors year-round.