Bergen County

Bergen County, NJ: A Local REALTOR®’s Guide

Bergen County is the most populous county in New Jersey — 955,732 people at the 2020 census, an estimated 977,026 by 2025 — and it is carved into 70 separate municipalities, more than any other county in the state (Census data via Wikipedia). That last number is the one that actually matters when you are buying here. Two houses that look identical, three minutes apart, can sit in different school districts, different tax rates and different markets. Choosing the town is the real decision. The house comes second.

I work across the Northern Valley and the Pascack Valley, and this page is the hub. Below is an honest read on the county, and then a full guide for every town I cover. If you are moving out of the city, start with planning your move from NYC to Bergen County.

Where I work in Bergen County

Bergen County has 70 towns, and no honest agent knows all of them. I live in Norwood, and almost everything I do sits within about a twenty-minute drive of my own front door — the Northern Valley, the Pascack Valley, and the boroughs along the Palisades.

Ten of those towns have a full guide on this site, and every one of them is linked below: Norwood, Harrington Park, Closter, Demarest, Cresskill, Northvale, Old Tappan, River Vale, Dumont and Alpine. Those are the towns I write about because they are the towns I am in constantly.

I also list and sell in Tenafly, Englewood Cliffs and Englewood along the Palisades; in Westwood, Hillsdale, Park Ridge and Emerson through the Pascack Valley; and in Bergenfield and New Milford just south of the reservoir. Very few buyers actually shop one town. They shop a school district, a price band and a train line, then choose between two or three boroughs — and that comparison is where I am most useful.

What I am not is a countywide generalist. I know which Closter streets feed which elementary school, which River Vale blocks back up to the golf course, and what a Harrington Park colonial really closed at last spring — not because I looked it up, but because I was standing in the house. If you are buying somewhere I do not genuinely know, I will tell you that and point you to someone who does.

Bergen County at a glance

• Population: 955,732 at the 2020 census, roughly 977,026 estimated for 2025 — the largest county in New Jersey
• Municipalities: 70 — 56 boroughs, nine townships, three cities and two villages, the most of any New Jersey county
• Size: 246.45 square miles, 232.79 of it land
• County seat: Hackensack, the most populous municipality at 46,030 residents in 2020; Mahwah covers the most ground at 26.19 square miles
• Median household income: $109,497, against $89,703 for New Jersey and $69,021 nationally (2017–2021 American Community Survey)
• Median sale price: approximately $900,000 as of 2025
• Parks: a county system of 21 parks covering more than 9,800 acres
• Niche rankings: #2 of 21 New Jersey counties for young professionals, #2 healthiest, #3 for families and #4 overall (Niche)

What is Bergen County known for?

Three things, in the order buyers actually raise them: how close it is to Manhattan, the schools, and the fact that you can find almost any version of suburban life here without leaving the county. The George Washington Bridge lands in Fort Lee, which is why the eastern half of Bergen reads like an extension of the city while the northern half feels like a different world twenty minutes later. It is also one of the largest commercial hubs in the state, so plenty of people who live here never commute into New York at all.

Getting to New York City

There is no single Bergen County commute, and this is where the 70-town thing bites.

• Rail: NJ Transit runs the Pascack Valley Line, the Main Line and the Bergen County Line, all into Hoboken with a transfer at Secaucus for Penn Station. The Pascack Valley Line is the one that matters on the western side of my area, with stations in Oradell, Emerson, Westwood and Hillsdale.
• Bus: the Northern Valley boroughs have no train station of their own. Commuting from there means an NJ Transit or Rockland Coaches bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, or a drive to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
• Car: Route 4, Route 17, the Palisades Interstate Parkway and the Garden State Parkway. From the Northern Valley, thirty-five to fifty minutes door to door is realistic, and it swings hard with the bridge.

If your commute is not negotiable, tell me the address you are commuting to before we look at towns. It reshapes the shortlist more than any other single factor.

Schools: the district matters more than the county

There is no such thing as a Bergen County school district. There are dozens, and in the Northern Valley several boroughs run their own elementary and middle schools and then share a regional high school. Harrington Park, Norwood, Northvale and Old Tappan all feed Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan. Closter, Demarest and Haworth feed Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest.

That is why families who start out comparing schools end up comparing towns. Niche currently ranks Northvale #2 of 414 New Jersey suburbs for public schools, with Old Tappan at #23 and Norwood at #25 — three towns, one high school, three very different price points.

What homes cost

The countywide median sale price sat around $900,000 in 2025, and on its own that figure is close to useless. Alpine and Rockleigh trade in estate territory. Dumont and Northvale are the most attainable entry points I work in. Closter, Demarest and Old Tappan land in between, with gracious colonials and custom new construction. Instead of averaging them, read the individual guides below — each one carries its own numbers. For why the differences are so sharp, see how Northern Valley micro-markets differ.

Northern Valley & Bergen County neighborhood guides

Each town below has its own full guide — home values, schools, commute, and what a normal week actually looks like there. Start wherever you’re curious.

• Alpine — estate properties, deep privacy, and some of the most exclusive addresses in the country.
• Closter — the area’s most walkable downtown, anchored by Closter Plaza.
• Cresskill — a classic Bergen County borough with a walkable center and well-regarded schools.
• Demarest — tree-lined, quiet, and home to one of the two Northern Valley regional high schools.
• Dumont — the most approachable entry point in the area, with a traditional walkable feel.
• Harrington Park — two square miles, one top-ranked PreK–8 school, and the Oradell Reservoir.
• Northvale — smaller homes, friendlier prices, and quick highway access.
• Norwood — Kennedy Field, strong schools, and an easy commute to Manhattan.
• Old Tappan — larger lots and the regional high school shared with several boroughs.
• River Vale — golf course living, well-regarded schools, and quick access to major roads.

What clients say about working with me

“I have worked with hundreds of real estate agents during my 30 years of practice as a NJ real estate attorney and I found Lana to be diligent, responsive and involved in the transaction from the date of contract signing right up to the date of closing. I highly recommend her to anyone in the market to buy or sell a home.”

— James C., New Jersey real estate attorney

More client reviews are here, and each town guide below has reviews from that town.

What is my Bergen County home worth?

An automated estimate is a starting point, not an answer — especially in a county where the town line down the middle of your street can change the number. Get an instant figure on my home valuation page, then let’s go through it together. I will tell you what I think it will actually sell for, what I would fix first, and what your buyer is comparing you against. Call or text (201) 310-6560, or reach out here.

Bergen County FAQs

Is Bergen County a good place to live?

Niche ranks it #4 of 21 New Jersey counties overall, #2 for young professionals and #2 healthiest, and several of its towns sit near the top of the statewide lists — Harrington Park is currently #1 of 414 New Jersey suburbs. The honest answer is that it depends almost entirely on which of the 70 towns you land in.

How many towns are in Bergen County?

Seventy: 56 boroughs, nine townships, three cities and two villages. That is the most of any county in New Jersey, and it is the single biggest reason buying here needs local guidance.

Does Bergen County have commuter rail to New York?

Indirectly. NJ Transit’s Pascack Valley, Main and Bergen County lines all run into Hoboken, with a transfer at Secaucus for Penn Station. The Northern Valley boroughs have no station of their own, so those commutes are bus or car.

Which Bergen County town is best for families?

The ones people ask me about most are Closter, Old Tappan, Demarest, River Vale and Harrington Park. Niche currently ranks Closter #8 of 414 New Jersey suburbs for raising a family, River Vale #18, Demarest #22 and Old Tappan #28. Read the guides above, then let’s talk — “best for families” almost always turns out to mean something specific to you.

What are property taxes like in Bergen County?

High, and genuinely variable. Every municipality sets its own rate, so this is something to check per address rather than per county. I will pull the actual figures for any house you are considering before you fall in love with it.

What is the Northern Valley?

It is the local name for the cluster of small boroughs in the county’s northeast corner that share the two Northern Valley Regional high schools — Alpine, Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan and Rockleigh. Quiet, small, heavily school-driven, and no train.

Which Bergen County towns does Lana Henriques cover?

My core towns — the ones with a full guide on this site — are Norwood (where I live), Harrington Park, Closter, Demarest, Cresskill, Northvale, Old Tappan, River Vale, Dumont and Alpine.

I also list and sell regularly in Tenafly, Englewood Cliffs and Englewood along the Palisades; in Westwood, Hillsdale, Park Ridge and Emerson through the Pascack Valley; and in Bergenfield and New Milford just south of the reservoir. If your search spans two or three of these towns, that is completely normal — most of my buyers are choosing between boroughs, not shopping just one.

Not sure which town fits?

That’s the most common question I get, and it usually comes down to three things: your commute, your budget, and whether you want a downtown you can walk to. Tell me those and I can narrow ten towns down to two.

Lana Henriques | REALTOR®
Call or text (201) 310-6560

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