Elmwood Park
NJ
Average Sales Price
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Median Sales Price
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Population
19,607
Total Listings
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Living in Elmwood Park
Bergen County Value at Passaic River's Edge.
Highway Access. Own K–12 District.
Everything you need to know before making Elmwood Park, NJ home.
Browse Listings
Active homes for sale in Elmwood Park
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Market Insights
Prices, trends & sold data
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Home Valuation
What's your Elmwood Park home worth?
→Elmwood Park has quietly become one of Bergen County's most compelling value stories. The borough — which voted to rename itself from East Paterson to Elmwood Park in 1972, shedding the industrial shadow of its neighbor — sits along the Passaic River on 2.65 square miles at the intersection of Routes 4, 46, I-80, and the Garden State Parkway. It is among Bergen County's most highway-accessible boroughs, with NJ Transit bus service running directly to Port Authority Bus Terminal and an average commute time of 27.2 minutes — one of the shortest in the county.
Home prices have surged: Redfin reported a median sale of $590K in March 2026, up 31.4% year-over-year — among Bergen County's strongest recent appreciation rates. The borough runs its own PreK–12 school district with Elmwood Park Memorial High School (823 students, Middle States accredited). Italian and Polish heritage roots run deep — the food scene reflects it — and a growing Latin American and Asian community adds cultural richness. At a median bill of approximately $9,989, Elmwood Park delivers Bergen County amenities at a price that rewards buyers who move early.
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+31.4% YoY Appreciation
Median $590K (March 2026) · fastest in Bergen Co.
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Highway Hub
Rts 4 · 46 · I-80 · GSP · all in/near borough
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Direct NYC Bus
NJ Transit 160 & 161 to Port Authority · ~45 min
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Own PreK–12 District
Elmwood Park Memorial HS · Middle States accredited
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27.2-Min Avg Commute
One of Bergen County's shortest avg commute times
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Bergen County Value
~$9,989 avg tax bill · below Bergen County avg
Commute & Connectivity
Getting There From Here
Elmwood Park sits at Bergen County's highway crossroads — Routes 4, 46, I-80, and the Garden State Parkway converge near the borough, with direct NJ Transit bus service to Port Authority and train stations in neighboring Fair Lawn.
NYC Port Authority
Short Line / Coach USA express bus · Yawpo Ave P&R
~50
minutes by bus
George Washington Bridge
Via I-287 E / Rt-208 S
~30
minutes by car (off-peak)
Newark Liberty Airport
Via I-287 S / GSP S
~35
minutes by car
Hackensack (County Seat)
Via Rt-208 S / Rt-17 S
~25
minutes by car
Paramus Shopping
Garden State Plaza via Rt-208 S
~20
minutes by car
Public Schools
Education That Raises Property Values
Elmwood Park runs its own PreK–12 district with five schools and Elmwood Park Memorial High School — 823 students, Middle States accredited since 1963, competitive athletics in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference.
| School | Grades | Type | Student:Teacher | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Schools (3) Elmwood Park Public Schools · PreK–5 |
PreK – 5 | Public | 13 : 1 | B |
| Memorial Middle School Elmwood Park Public Schools · 6–8 |
6 – 8 | Public | 13 : 1 | B |
| Elmwood Park Memorial High School 375 River Dr · 823 students · Scarlet Crusaders |
9 – 12 | Public | 17 : 1 | B |
Elmwood Park Memorial HS accredited by Middle States Association since 1963. Competes in North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJIC). District Factor Group CD. All Bergen County students eligible for Bergen County Academies (Hackensack) and Bergen Tech programs. Bergen Community College ~4 miles away.
Neighborhood Life
What Makes Elmwood Park Elmwood Park
Explore the Italian and Polish dining heritage, Passaic riverfront parks, local institutions, and community culture of Bergen County's most centrally located borough.
Italian Dining (Goodfellas-Inspired & Giovanni's)
Elmwood Park's Italian heritage — the borough's largest ancestry group at 12.7% — shows up on the menu. A Goodfellas-inspired Italian restaurant pays tribute to both cinematic history and classic Italian tradition, while Giovanni's and local Italian spots round out a scene that takes red-sauce seriously.
Italian Heritage · Local Institutions
Elmwood Park Diner
375 Market St — the borough's diner anchor, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The kind of reliable, generous diner that every Bergen County neighborhood deserves but not all have. A longtime local gathering spot that reflects the borough's unpretentious, family-first character.
Diner · Local Anchor
Diverse Cuisine Corridor (Rt-46)
Route 46 through Elmwood Park and bordering towns offers Chinese, Latin, Middle Eastern, and diverse casual dining options that reflect the borough's growing international community — 35.4% of residents are foreign-born. Peruvian, Filipino, and South American options are accessible within the broader local area.
International · Rt-46 Corridor
Parkway Lanes
200 US-46 — a family-friendly bowling alley that has been a local institution since 1959. One of those places that has outlasted trends because it serves a real community need: affordable, accessible entertainment for families and youth leagues year-round.
Local Institution · Since 1959
Route 46 Commercial Corridor
US Route 46 serves as Elmwood Park's primary commercial spine — a full array of retail, services, and dining accessible by car within the borough. Major chain retail, auto services, supermarkets, and everyday shops line the corridor, eliminating the need for a longer highway run for most errands.
Everyday Retail · In-Borough
Paramus Retail (~10 min)
Garden State Plaza and Bergen Town Center — NJ's premier retail destinations — are approximately 10 minutes north via GSP or Route 17. Elmwood Park's GSP access makes Paramus more accessible than from many Bergen County towns that are technically closer but highway-less.
~10 min · GSP N · Major Retail
Artesian Fields County Park
211 Mola Blvd — a Bergen County-managed park within the borough featuring a small zoo, playground, athletic fields, and walking trails. Managed by Bergen County Parks and Recreation, it delivers a genuine nature-and-recreation destination that punches well above typical borough park weight.
Small Zoo · Trails · Athletic Fields
Passaic River Waterfront
Elmwood Park sits along the Passaic River, with riverfront access providing natural scenery that softens the borough's urban density. The river corridor connects residents to the broader Bergen/Passaic County water system and serves as a natural boundary with character.
Passaic River · Waterfront
Boro Field & Local Parks
Elmwood Park's borough recreation program includes Boro Field and multiple neighborhood parks supporting youth sports leagues, baseball, soccer, and seasonal programming. The active recreation culture is a defining feature of the community's family-oriented character.
Youth Sports · Community Programs
St. Joseph's Health (Paterson · ~5 min)
St. Joseph's University Medical Center and St. Joseph's Children's Hospital — a major regional healthcare system — are approximately 5 minutes away in Paterson. Hackensack University Medical Center is ~15 minutes northeast. Elmwood Park residents have genuine multi-system healthcare access.
Healthcare · ~5 min · Major System
Elmwood Park Public Library
Part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System — access to 77 member libraries, digital collections, and year-round programming. Part of the borough's civic infrastructure supporting a community that has grown more diverse and educated with each decade.
Library · BCCLS · Civic
Van Houten–Hillman House (c. 1782)
Built around 1782 by Cornelius J. Van Houten — Elmwood Park's oldest surviving structure and a tangible connection to the borough's pre-industrial roots. The house anchors a sense of historical continuity in a borough that has otherwise transformed dramatically since World War II.
Historic · 1782 · Landmark
Evolving Diversity
Elmwood Park's population is 35.4% foreign-born — reflecting the borough's evolution from its Italian and Polish working-class roots toward a genuinely multicultural community. Latin American (13.7%), European (10.6%), and Asian (8.6%) communities are significant and growing. This cultural richness shows most visibly in the food scene and the school community.
Italian · Polish · Latin · Asian
Future: Passaic-Bergen Rail Line
Elmwood Park is included in planning for the proposed Passaic-Bergen Rail Line — a new transit corridor that would give the borough a direct train station for the first time in its history. If built, this would transform Elmwood Park's transit profile and almost certainly accelerate price appreciation significantly.
Future Rail · Planned Stop · Catalyst
Route 46 Retail Corridor
US-46 through the borough handles the full range of everyday needs — supermarkets, chain retail, fast food, auto services, and local shops. The corridor is accessible by car from any Elmwood Park address within minutes and provides a practical commercial backbone for daily life.
Everyday Retail · In-Borough
Paramus Retail (~10 min via GSP)
Garden State Plaza and Bergen Town Center — New Jersey's premier retail destinations — are approximately 10 minutes north via the Garden State Parkway. The GSP on-ramp near the Saddle Brook border makes this genuinely one of Bergen County's fastest Paramus access points.
~10 min · GSP · Major Retail
Bergen Community College (~4 mi)
Bergen Community College in Paramus is approximately 4 miles away — accessible for continuing education, professional programs, and dual-enrollment opportunities for Elmwood Park Memorial HS students. Passaic County Community College (Paterson) is approximately 3 miles west.
Higher Ed · ~4 mi · Dual Enrollment
By the Numbers
Elmwood Park at a Glance
Municipality Type
Borough
Bergen County · 2.65 sq mi
Population
~21,412
2023 est · dense suburban
Median Home Price
~$590K–$675K
Up 31.4% YoY (Redfin March 2026)
Avg Tax Bill
~$9,989
~2.0% effective rate · competitive
Bus to Port Authority
~45 min
NJ Transit Rts 160 & 161 · direct
Avg Commute
27.2 min
One of Bergen County's shortest
Zip Code
07407
Single zip borough
Foreign-Born
35.4%
Italian · Polish · Latin · Asian heritage
Explore the Area
Similar Towns Near Elmwood Park
Buyers considering Elmwood Park often explore these neighboring Bergen and Passaic County communities for comparison.
Fair Lawn
Bordering · NJ Transit train · strong schools
→
Saddle Brook
Bordering · GSP/I-80 · accessible
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Lodi
Bordering · value-priced · family
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Garfield
Bordering · NJ Transit · affordable
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Rochelle Park
Adjacent · quiet · Rt-17 access
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River Edge
Adjacent · NJ Transit · quiet family
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Paramus
Nearby · no income tax · top retail
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Hawthorne
Nearby · NJ Transit · Passaic County
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Wyckoff
Nearby · upscale · top schools
→Demographics
Data provided by Attom Data
Population
Employment
Population
19.6K
19.6K in 2020
Density
7.1K
per square mile
Households
7.1K
Total households
Gender
47% / 53%
Men Vs Women
Occupancy
58% / 42%
Owned Vs Rented
Age Median: Years
Education Level
Educational Environment
Elementary Schools (4)Middle Schools (2)High Schools (1)
Name
Category
Grades
Library
Ratio
7/10
Ganter Avenue School
99 Roosevelt Ave, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
Public
PK - 5
No
18:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
5/10
Sixteenth Avenue School
73 16th Ave, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
Public
PK - 5
No
16:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
5/10
Gilbert Avenue School
151 Gilbert Ave, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
Public
KG - 5
No
24:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
0/10
St Leo Elementary School
300 Market St, Elmwood Park, NJ 07407
Private
PK - 8
Yes
8:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
Amenities & Attractions
Similar Neighborhood
Common Questions
Elmwood Park, NJ — Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers about buying, selling, taxes, schools, and daily life in Elmwood Park — Bergen County's most accessible family borough, with I-80/Rt-46/GSP highway access, direct NYC bus service, and one of the county's strongest year-over-year appreciation rates.
Elmwood Park is a very competitive, rapidly appreciating market. Redfin reported a median sale of $590K in March 2026, up 31.4% year-over-year — one of the strongest single-year appreciation figures in Bergen County. List prices are around $599K (Movoto, March 2026). NeighborhoodScout median is $675K. Days on market average 26–59 days depending on source. The borough draws a consistent flow of first-time buyers and young families priced out of higher-cost Bergen County towns who want direct highway access and their own school district at a sub-$600K entry point. Talk to us about current Elmwood Park market conditions →
Elmwood Park's median sale price is approximately $590K–$675K depending on source and season. Redfin reports $590K (March 2026); NeighborhoodScout reports $675K as a longer-term median. List prices cluster around $599K. The range within the borough is meaningful: smaller cape cods and ranch-style homes — the dominant post-WWII stock — typically fall in the $500K–$650K range; updated split-levels and larger colonials push $650K–$900K+. Two-family homes provide additional options for buyers seeking rental income. Elmwood Park is consistently cited as one of Bergen County's most accessible entry points for buyers who want to own rather than rent in the county.
Elmwood Park's housing stock reflects its 1940s–60s suburban development era — the largest category is single-family detached homes (42.5%), followed by duplexes and small multifamily (38%), with smaller shares of apartment buildings (10%) and attached homes (9%). The dominant architectural styles are cape cods, split-levels, ranches, and American Foursquares — modest in original footprint but many significantly updated. Homes typically feature attached garages, driveways, and front and back yards. About 62% of the housing stock was built between 1940 and 1999, with 11.4% pre-1939 and 11.8% post-2000. The borough is primarily owner-occupied, with tree-shaded streets that residents consistently describe as walkable to parks, schools, and local businesses.
Elmwood Park sits at one of Bergen County's best highway intersections for commuters. NJ Transit buses 160 and 161 run direct to Port Authority Bus Terminal in approximately 40–50 minutes. By car, I-80 East, Route 4 East, or Route 46 East all connect to the GWB in approximately 20–25 minutes off-peak, with Midtown Manhattan reachable in roughly 30–40 minutes. Garden State Parkway also borders the borough for south commuters. NJ Transit Bergen County Line train service is accessible at Radburn or Broadway stations in Fair Lawn (about 5 minutes by car or bus), connecting to Hoboken and Penn Station. Newark Liberty Airport is approximately 20 minutes south. The borough is 14 miles from NYC — competitive for Bergen County at the price point.
Elmwood Park runs its own PreK–12 district — three elementary schools (Gilbert Avenue, Sixteenth Avenue, Gantner Avenue), Memorial Middle School, and Elmwood Park Memorial High School. The high school has 823 students, is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1963, and competes in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (Crusaders). The district's overall student-teacher ratio is 13.2:1; the high school is 17:1. The district's District Factor Group is CD — reflecting a moderate socioeconomic profile. For buyers comparing Elmwood Park to neighboring Fair Lawn or Paramus (which have stronger-ranked districts), the school quality is good rather than exceptional — the trade-off for the significantly lower entry price point. Bergen County Academies are also accessible for eligible students.
Elmwood Park's general tax rate is 3.202% — one of the higher rates in Bergen County. The median annual tax bill is approximately $9,831–$9,989 (2024 data), which is actually below the Bergen County average of $13,329 because of the borough's lower home values. On a $590K home, expect roughly $12,000–$16,000 per year depending on assessed value and assessment ratio. While the rate itself is high, the total dollar bill is competitive for Bergen County — and importantly, competitive for a borough with direct NYC bus access, 4 major highways, and its own PreK–12 district. Tax bills are due quarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
Elmwood Park's value proposition is in the combination of purchase price + tax bill. Compared to Fair Lawn (median ~$650K–$700K, tax rate ~3.661%), Elmwood Park offers a lower entry price with a lower rate — meaningful savings on both mortgage and annual taxes. Compared to Paramus (stronger schools, higher prices), Elmwood Park is a significant step down in price for a modest step down in school quality. The borough agent quote that sums it up well: "Taxes are very low here compared to surrounding areas" — and while the rate is high, the dollar bill on a sub-$600K home is genuinely manageable for the Bergen County metro. First-time buyers doing the math on mortgage + taxes consistently find Elmwood Park competitive.
Yes — emphatically. A 31.4% year-over-year appreciation rate (Redfin, March 2026) is exceptional by any measure, reflecting structural demand from buyers who want Bergen County ownership at a sub-$600K price point with highway access. The demographic driving this market is specific: young professionals and families who have been renting in Bergen County or paying NYC prices and are making their first ownership move. That buyer pool is consistently active and growing. Spring (March–May) is the strongest selling season, aligned with family relocation cycles. Get a free Elmwood Park home valuation →
Elmwood Park homes average approximately 26–59 days on market — Movoto reports 26 days (March 2026) while Redfin shows 59 days as a broader average. Well-priced single-family homes in good condition in the right sub-$600K range move quickly, often within the first two weekends. The buyer pool is predominantly first-time buyers who are motivated and financially pre-qualified — they tend to act decisively. Key factors for fast sales: condition and updates (buyers at this price point often want move-in ready); pricing within the $550K–$650K sweet spot; and spring listing timing. Learn how we sell homes in Elmwood Park →
Elmwood Park is a genuinely good town to live in — and residents tend to appreciate it for honest rather than aspirational reasons. The streets are safe, tree-lined, and walkable to parks, schools, and local businesses. Artesian Fields County Park offers a lake beach and small zoo within the borough. The Passaic River provides a fishing and boating backdrop along River Drive. Route 4 gives 10-minute access to Paramus for major shopping. The bus to Port Authority takes 40–50 minutes. Fairs, parades, and seasonal events give the community its civic rhythm. The housing stock is the classic American post-war suburban cape cod and split-level — solid, practical, and mostly updated. For a first-time buyer or young family making the transition from renting in NJ or NYC, Elmwood Park offers what Bergen County has always offered its most accessible entry points: a real neighborhood, real ownership, and a real commute to the city — at a price that makes financial sense.