Sharon

Ra'anana

A Sharon-region city founded in 1922 by a group of New Yorkers, now a commuter town for Tel Aviv. It is home to many immigrants from English-speaking countries; about 22% of residents are immigrants. Most residents are secular, with a sizeable Modern Orthodox community concentrated on the north side.

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What draws people

NBN describes a 'largely English-speaking population' with thousands of NBN olim. source ((opens in a new tab))
Two train stations on the Sharon line, Ra'anana West and Ra'anana South. source ((opens in a new tab))
About 26 min to Tel Aviv by bus 149 or 19 min by car. source ((opens in a new tab))

What to weigh

Rent is on the high side: one 2026 market estimate puts a 3-room apartment at about NIS 7,900/month (low confidence; not CBS). source ((opens in a new tab))
Jerusalem is over an hour away (about 1 h 12 min by bus 950). source ((opens in a new tab))

The facts

Region: Sharon
Population: 82,964 (2024 estimate)CBS 'Regional Statistics' as cited on Wikipedia.source ((opens in a new tab))
English-speaking community: Very large (5 out of 5)· judgment call
French-speaking community: Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment call
Russian-speaking community: Medium (3 out of 5)· judgment call
Religious mix: Mixed, leaning secularMostly secular, with a sizeable religious community made up mainly of Modern Orthodox Jews. NBN: the religious community mostly lives on the north side and the secular community on the south side.source ((opens in a new tab))
Rent (family-size apartment): NIS 7,900 a monthOne market estimate, 3 rooms (low confidence)3-room apartment, single figure from a 2026 aliyah-consultancy article that combines Yad2 listings and CBS datasource ((opens in a new tab))
To Tel Aviv: About 26 min to Tel Aviv by busAbout 26 min by bus 149, about 39 min by train from Ra'anana South, or about 19 min by car (Rome2rio estimates).source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab))
To Jerusalem: About 1 h 12 min to Jerusalem by busAbout 1 h 12 min by bus 950 (Rome2rio estimate).source 1 ((opens in a new tab))source 2 ((opens in a new tab))
Train station: Yes
Light rail: No
For families: Very high (5 out of 5)· judgment call
Quiet: High (4 out of 5)· judgment call

Why these scores

English-speaking community: NBN: 'a small city, largely English-speaking population; thousands of NBN Olim.' Wikipedia: 'home to a large number of immigrants from English-speaking countries.' source ((opens in a new tab))
French-speaking community: Wikipedia: 'In recent years the number of French immigrants is also on the rise.' No figures. Judgment call. source ((opens in a new tab))
Russian-speaking community: Wikipedia: the city 'absorbed large numbers of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.' No figures. Judgment call. source ((opens in a new tab))
For families: Judgment: NBN notes the areas around the Ariel, Bilu and Yavne schools are most popular with olim, and describes a well-planned, well-managed city. source ((opens in a new tab))
Quiet: Judgment: NBN calls it a bedroom community for Tel Aviv that has won awards for being clean and beautiful. source ((opens in a new tab))

Sources

Checked 8 November 2026

Ra'anana Local

Listings, guides, neighborhoods and Shabbat times for Ra'anana, on the city's own site.

Visit Ra'anana Local

Nefesh B'Nefesh community guide ((opens in a new tab))

Other cities

Sharon
Netanya
A large beach city on the coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa, founded in 1929.
English-speaking community
Large (4 out of 5)
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Sharon
Kfar Saba
A mid-sized Sharon city next to Ra'anana, known for its red-roofed buildings and Meir Hospital.
English-speaking community
Small (2 out of 5)
Facts and sources
Sharon
Herzliya
An affluent coastal city just north of Tel Aviv, known for its high-tech park in Herzliya Pituah and its marina.
English-speaking community
Small (2 out of 5)
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