Moving to Bergen County, NJ: What to Know Before You Move
Bergen County sits directly across the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan. It has strong public schools, diverse housing stock, and reliable transit options.
If you are relocating from New York City or elsewhere in New Jersey, it is one of the most practical suburban landing spots in the region.
Why People Move to Bergen County, NJ
The reasons are consistent: access to Manhattan, above-average public schools, and a range of housing types across 70 municipalities.
Bergen County accommodates high-rise renters in Fort Lee, single-family homebuyers in Ridgewood, and everything in between.
Compared to Essex, Hudson, or Morris counties, Bergen offers better school ratings on average and stronger direct transit to the city.
Is Bergen County, NJ Expensive to Live In?
Yes. Plan accordingly.
Housing: Median home prices start in the mid-$600,000s across most towns. Premium towns like Tenafly, Ridgewood, and Alpine routinely exceed $1 million. Two-bedroom rentals run $2,500 to $3,500 per month depending on location.
Property taxes: This is the number most buyers underestimate. Annual property taxes of $10,000 to $20,000+ are common. Pull the tax history on any property before making an offer.
Daily expenses: Groceries, utilities, and services run slightly above the national average, consistent with the broader New York metro area.
Bergen County works financially for six-figure earners and dual-income households. Know your numbers before you commit.
Which Bergen County Towns Are Best for Families?
It depends on what you need. Here is a straightforward breakdown:
- Hackensack: County seat. Urban feel, diverse, good bus transit.
- Paramus: Car-dependent. Strong retail and tax base. Practical choice for drivers.
- Ridgewood: Walkable downtown. Strong schools. Solidly family-oriented.
- Tenafly: Top-rated schools. Quieter. Popular with Manhattan commuters.
- Englewood / Teaneck: Diverse. Good transit. Strong commuter base.
- Fort Lee: Dense. Right at the GWB. Heavy condo and rental market.
- Ho-Ho-Kus / Ramsey / Upper Saddle River: Low density. High income. Excellent schools. Minimal walkability.
Match Your Priority to a Town
| Priority | Towns to Consider |
| Fast NYC commute by bus or train | Fort Lee, Palisades Park, Englewood, Teaneck |
| Walkable downtown | Ridgewood, Tenafly, Hackensack |
| Top schools, low density | Ho-Ho-Kus, Upper Saddle River, Ramsey |
| Family-friendly, mid-range budget | Teaneck, Bergenfield, Dumont |
Bergen County NJ Schools
School quality is Bergen County’s strongest asset, but it is not uniform. Ridgewood, Tenafly, Ramsey, and Glen Rock consistently rank at the top of New Jersey K-12 ratings.
Teaneck and Englewood perform well and offer more diverse environments. Private and parochial options are available county-wide.
Research the specific district for the town you are considering. County-level reputation does not guarantee district-level performance.
How Long Is the Commute from Bergen County to NYC?
By car: 30 to 60 minutes to Midtown via the GWB under normal conditions. Rush hour adds significant time. Many commuters park in Hoboken or Jersey City and take the PATH to cut parking costs.
By bus: NJ Transit bus routes run from most Bergen County towns directly to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Fort Lee, Palisades Park, and Englewood have the most frequent service.
By rail: The Pascack Valley and Main/Bergen County NJ Transit lines connect to Hoboken Terminal, then PATH to Manhattan. Expect 45 to 75 minutes total.
Test your actual commute before signing a lease or closing on a house.
Is Bergen County, NJ Safe?
Generally, yes. Most Bergen County municipalities post low violent crime rates. Property crime exists, as it does everywhere. Denser towns like Hackensack and Englewood have higher overall incident counts than low-density suburbs.
The bigger daily friction is traffic, not crime. Routes 4, 17, and the GWB approaches are congested during peak hours.
Everyday Life: Shopping, Dining, and Amenities
Paramus covers major retail with five malls including Garden State Plaza. Routes 4 and 17 handle most big-box needs. Ridgewood, Tenafly, and Hackensack have functional walkable downtowns with local restaurants and shops.
Dining reflects the county’s demographics: strong Italian, Korean, South Asian, Latin American, and Jewish food options throughout.
Hackensack University Medical Center anchors healthcare in the region. Parks and recreational facilities are well-distributed across the county.
What Surprises Newcomers About Bergen County
Three things come up consistently:
- Property taxes hit harder than expected. The number is not abstract once you own.
- You will still need a car. Even in walkable towns, most daily logistics require driving.
- Town selection has outsized impact. Bergen County is not one place. Fort Lee and Ramsey are categorically different living experiences.
Key Takeaways Before You Move to Bergen County
- Property taxes are high. Factor them into your total housing cost from day one.
- Pick your town based on your actual commute, school needs, and lifestyle, not county reputation alone.
- Transit to NYC is reliable, but most residents still drive for daily life.
- School quality varies by district. Check ratings for the specific town, not the county overall.
- Visit your target towns on a weekday and a weekend before deciding. Test the commute in real time.
When you’re ready to move forward, get a free moving quote so you can budget your relocation costs alongside your new housing expenses.
Before you move: visit two or three candidate towns on different days, test your actual commute during rush hour, and check both school district ratings and municipal tax records before making a decision.
