Demarest
NJ
Average Sales Price
$2,411,907
Median Sales Price
$2,453,000
Population
4,954
Total Listings
38
Living in Demarest
Norman Rockwell Meets NJ's #1-Ranked High School.
Bergen County's Most Exclusive Small Borough.
Everything you need to know before making Demarest, NJ home.
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→Demarest has been called a Norman Rockwell painting, and the description holds. Neighborhood kids sled behind the high school when it snows. Maple trees in Wakelee Field are tapped every winter to make syrup. The Duck Pond at the center of town — a widening of the Tenakill Brook — anchors a borough where 76% of households are married couples and 42% have children under 18. Founded in 1903 from land settled by Dutch colonists in the 1700s, this 2.07-square-mile borough of approximately 4,900 residents has maintained a character that feels genuinely unchanged in all the right ways.
What has changed is the market. Demarest now carries the highest average residential tax bill in Bergen County ($26,108 in 2025), the consequence of extraordinary home values — median sales of $1.8M–$2.3M — funding one of the state's most consistently top-ranked school pipelines. Northern Valley Regional at Demarest holds a Blue Ribbon Award, an A+ Niche rating, and a 98% college-offer rate. The high school is located in the borough itself. For families making a long-term commitment to the Northern Valley's best, Demarest is the address that anchors it.
🏫
NV Demarest HS on your doorstep
A+ · Blue Ribbon · 98% college offers · 10.7:1
🏡
Ultra-Premium Market
Median $1.8M–$2.3M · generous lots · 5-BR norm
🌿
Norman Rockwell Character
Duck Pond · maple syrup · sledding · 2.07 sq mi
🛣️
PIP to GWB ~8 miles
~25–35 min to Midtown · car-primary commuter
👨👩👧
Deeply Family-Oriented
76% married-couple HH · 42% have children under 18
💰
#1 Tax Bill in Bergen Co.
$26,108 avg (2025) · reflects exceptional home values
Commute & Connectivity
Getting There From Here
Demarest is a car-first commuter borough — the Palisades Interstate Parkway gives direct GWB access, with bus pickup available in neighboring Haworth.
George Washington Bridge
Via Palisades Interstate Pkwy S · ~8 miles
~15–20
minutes by car (off-peak)
Midtown Manhattan
Via PIP S / GWB / West Side Hwy
~25–35
minutes by car (off-peak)
NYC Port Authority (Bus)
NJ Transit bus pickup in Haworth · ~50 min
~50
minutes by bus
Hackensack (County Seat)
Via Piermont Rd / Anderson Ave · ~7 miles
~15
minutes by car
Newark Liberty Airport
Via PIP S / I-95 S · ~25 miles
~35
minutes by car
Public Schools
Education That Raises Property Values
Demarest's K–8 district feeds into Northern Valley Regional at Demarest — the A+ Blue Ribbon high school literally located within the borough, with 978 students, 10.7:1 ratio, and 98% college-offer rate.
| School | Grades | Type | Student:Teacher | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Road Elementary Demarest Public Schools · PreK–Grade 1 |
PreK – 1 | Public | 12 : 1 | A- |
| Luther Lee Emerson Elementary Demarest Public Schools · Grades 2–4 |
2 – 4 | Public | 12 : 1 | A |
| Demarest Middle School Piermont Rd · Grades 5–8 |
5 – 8 | Public | 12 : 1 | A |
| NV Regional HS at Demarest 150 Knickerbocker Rd · 978 students · Blue Ribbon · in-borough |
9 – 12 | Public | 10.7 : 1 | A+ |
NV Demarest: A+ Niche · US Dept of Education Blue Ribbon Award · 98% of students receive college offers · Bergen Tech IIDT (UX/UI design) eligible · Bergen County Academies eligible. Elementary grades from Niche; HS ratio from district 2021–22 data.
Neighborhood Life
What Makes Demarest Demarest
Explore the Duck Pond, nature trails, sports fields, and quiet community character that define Bergen County's most intimate high-end borough.
No Downtown — By Design
Demarest has no traditional downtown commercial district — "there is no 'downtown' area to speak of," as local guides note. This is a deliberate feature, not a gap: the borough's character is residential first, and residents embrace it. Closter Plaza (Whole Foods, 5 min), Cresskill dining, and Tenafly's village all serve as the extended pantry.
Residential · By Design
Closter Plaza (~5 min)
Anchored by Whole Foods and Target, Closter Plaza is Demarest's closest everyday retail hub — minutes away for groceries, dining, and essentials. A premium convenience that most Demarest residents take as given.
~5 min · Whole Foods · Target
Closter & Cresskill Dining (~5–8 min)
Neighboring Closter and Cresskill both have local dining scenes within minutes — Italian BYOBs, diverse restaurants, and neighborhood cafés serve Demarest residents who want a sit-down dinner without driving far.
~5–8 min · Italian · Local
Tenafly Village Dining (~10 min)
Tenafly's charming village center — one of Bergen County's best walkable dining destinations — is approximately 10 minutes east. Upscale and casual options across a range of cuisines make it Demarest's go-to for evenings out.
~10 min · Village · Upscale
Paramus Retail (~20 min)
Garden State Plaza and Bergen Town Center — New Jersey's premier retail destinations — are accessible in approximately 20 minutes via Route 9W and Route 4. Major shopping handled efficiently without highway-adjacent living.
~20 min · Major Retail
Manhattan (~25–35 min)
With the GWB approximately 8 miles south via the PIP, Demarest residents treat Manhattan as their dining and entertainment destination for special occasions — world-class restaurants within the same off-peak drive time that many farther suburbs require just to reach a mall.
~25–35 min · World-Class
The Duck Pond (Tenakill Brook)
The heart of Demarest — a widening of the Tenakill Brook that functions as the borough's natural gathering point. Serene, beautiful, and quintessentially Demarest: a place where the balance between civilization and nature that defines the borough is most visible.
Borough Landmark · Tenakill Brook
Wakelee Field & Maple Syrup Tapping
Wakelee Field's maple trees are tapped each winter to produce syrup — one of Demarest's most beloved and characteristically small-town traditions. The field also hosts youth sports and community events throughout the year.
Community Tradition · Multi-Use
Merritt Field
Demarest's turfed baseball/sports field — a quality municipal facility that serves the borough's active youth sports culture. With 42% of households having children under 18, youth athletics are at the center of Demarest's community calendar.
Turf Field · Youth Sports
Demarest Nature Center & Nearby Centers
The Demarest Nature Center, plus neighboring Closter and Tenafly Nature Centers — all within 10 minutes — give residents access to hundreds of acres of preserved open space, trails, and wildlife habitat. Few boroughs of this size in Bergen County have comparable nature access.
Nature · Trails · Multiple Centers
Demarest Public Library
Part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System — access to 77 member libraries, comprehensive digital resources, and programming that reflects a highly educated community with an 89% teacher advanced-degree rate at the district level.
Civic · BCCLS Network
Dutch Colonial Heritage
Demarest's land was first settled by Dutch colonists in the early 1700s. The borough was named for Ralph S. Demarest, who represented the area in the NJ Legislature. The borough was officially incorporated in 1903 — and has changed remarkably little in spirit since. "Demarest has a balance between the works of man and nature," as one longtime Bergen County expert put it.
History · Dutch · 1700s
Sledding Behind the High School
One of Demarest's most cited community moments: when it snows, neighborhood kids sled behind Northern Valley Regional. In a 2.07-square-mile borough of 4,900 people where the high school is literally in the neighborhood, these moments are genuine — not marketing. They're what residents mean when they describe why they stay.
Community Character · Authentic
International Community
The Northern Valley Regional district's primary languages reflect Demarest's real composition: 77% English, 10.2% Korean, 3.1% Hebrew, 2.8% Spanish, and others. A meaningful Korean and Israeli community has added cultural richness to a borough that was historically predominantly white and continues to evolve.
Diverse · Northern Valley
Closter Plaza (~5 min)
Whole Foods, Target, boutiques, gyms, and dining — Demarest's primary everyday retail destination is a 5-minute drive into neighboring Closter. Premium grocery and everyday needs handled without going to Paramus.
~5 min · Whole Foods · Premium
Paramus Retail (~20 min)
Garden State Plaza and Bergen Town Center — accessible in approximately 20 minutes via Route 9W and Route 4. Residents who need major retail or department stores make the trip efficiently from Demarest's central Northern Valley location.
~20 min · Major Retail
Englewood Health & HUMC (~15 min)
Both Englewood Health and Hackensack University Medical Center are approximately 15 minutes from Demarest — two of NJ's top hospital systems accessible in either direction, serving one of Bergen County's most affluent and medically attentive communities.
Healthcare · Dual Access · ~15 min
By the Numbers
Demarest at a Glance
Municipality Type
Borough
Bergen County · 2.07 sq mi
Population
~4,981
2020 Census · one of Bergen's smallest
Median Home Price
$1.8M–$2.3M
5-bedroom lots standard
Avg Tax Bill (2025)
$26,108
#1 highest in Bergen County
HS
NV Demarest A+
In-borough · Blue Ribbon · 98% college
GWB via PIP
~8 miles
~15–20 min by car (off-peak)
Zip Code
07627
Single zip borough
Married-Couple HH
76%
42% have children under 18
Explore the Area
Similar Towns Near Demarest
Buyers considering Demarest often explore these neighboring Northern Valley communities — each sharing the NV school corridor and Palisades character.
Closter
Bordering · NV Demarest HS · village
→
Haworth
Bordering · NV Demarest HS · quiet
→
Alpine
Bordering · ultra-luxury · Tenafly HS
→
Cresskill
Bordering · own K–12 · lower taxes
→
Norwood
NV Old Tappan HS · Northern Valley
→
Harrington Park
NV Old Tappan HS · charming
→
Old Tappan
NV Old Tappan HS · top schools
→
Tenafly
Nearby · top HS · walkable village
→
Dumont
Bordering · more affordable
→Demographics
Data provided by Attom Data
Population
Employment
Population
5K
5K in 2020
Density
2.4K
per square mile
Households
1.6K
46 With Children
Gender
47% / 53%
Men Vs Women
Occupancy
91% / 9%
Owned Vs Rented
Age Median: -- Years
No Data
Education Level
No Data
Educational Environment
Elementary Schools (3)Middle Schools (1)High Schools (2)
Name
Category
Grades
Library
Ratio
9/10
Demarest Middle School
568 Piermont Rd, Demarest, NJ 07627
Public
5 - 8
No
13:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
9/10
Luther Lee Emerson Elementary School
15 Columbus Rd, Demarest, NJ 07627
Public
2 - 4
No
12:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
0/10
County Road Elementary School
130 County Rd, Demarest, NJ 07627
Public
KG - 1
No
14:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
Amenities & Attractions
Featured Listings
For Sale (31)
For Sold (293)
Open Fri 12PM-4PM4 Beds5 Baths1 Stone Bridge CT, Demarest, NJ 07627
MLS# 25039602
Listed by Taryn Byron of Corcoran Infinity Properties
Open Fri 12PM-4PM4 Beds5 Baths24 Stone Bridge CT, Demarest, NJ 07627
MLS# 25039614
Listed by Taryn Byron of Corcoran Infinity Properties
Open Fri 12PM-4PM3 Beds4 Baths2 Stone Bridge CT, Demarest, NJ 07627
MLS# 25039612
Listed by Taryn Byron of Corcoran Infinity Properties
Open Sat 12PM-2PM4 Beds3 Baths55 Forest RD, Demarest, NJ 07627
MLS# 26017819
Listed by Miyoung Hur of Coldwell Banker, Alpine/Closter
New3 Beds3 Baths24 Ruth LN, Demarest, NJ 07627
MLS# 26015783
Listed by Sunghe Cho Guma of L. Cho Realty, Inc.
New4 Beds3 Baths4 Lois AVE, Demarest, NJ 07627
MLS# 26016637
Listed by Orna Jackson of Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty-Tenafly
Similar Neighborhood
Common Questions
Demarest, NJ — Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers about buying, selling, taxes, schools, and daily life in Demarest — Bergen County's most exclusive small borough and the home borough of NV Regional High School.
Demarest is a premium, low-inventory market — one of Bergen County's most exclusive residential boroughs at just 2.07 square miles. Redfin reported a median sale of $1.8M in January 2025 (up 10.1% YoY); Movoto reported $2.285M in July 2025 with 42 homes sold. Typical days on market run 42–60 days. The market is driven almost entirely by school-motivated family buyers specifically seeking Northern Valley Regional at Demarest — located within the borough itself. That factor sustains consistent long-term demand regardless of broader conditions. Talk to us about current Demarest market conditions →
Demarest's median ranges from approximately $1.8M to $2.3M depending on source and season. Redfin's January 2025 figure was $1.8M; Movoto's July 2025 median was $2.285M. The housing stock is almost entirely large single-family homes — 5-bedroom properties on generous lots are the norm. New construction and fully renovated homes regularly exceed $3M. Price-per-square-foot runs approximately $537 (Redfin). For buyers, the relevant comparison is always the specific property — lot size and condition drive significant variation within the borough.
Demarest is almost entirely large single-family homes — essentially no condos, multifamily, or commercial stock. Properties are typically 5-bedroom homes on generous lots across the borough's 2.07 square miles. Architectural styles span classic colonial and traditional designs, mid-century homes, and newer construction at the $2.5M–$3.5M+ range. The entire borough is uniformly high-quality residential — there is no separation between a "better" or "lesser" area within Demarest. Properties near the Duck Pond and Wakelee Field have particular character.
Demarest is primarily a car-commuter borough. The Palisades Interstate Parkway provides direct GWB access — approximately 8 miles and 15–20 minutes off-peak. Manhattan is roughly 25–35 minutes by car. Demarest has no in-borough bus or train stop; residents who prefer transit use NJ Transit buses in neighboring Haworth (~50 min to Port Authority). Newark Liberty Airport is about 35 minutes south via I-95. The average commute time is approximately 42 minutes — reflecting the car-primary nature of the borough.
Demarest's schools are the primary reason families choose the borough — and they are exceptional at every level. Country Road Elementary (PreK–1, A-) and Luther Lee Emerson Elementary (grades 2–4, A) feed into Demarest Middle (grades 5–8, A), then into Northern Valley Regional at Demarest (A+) — physically located at 150 Knickerbocker Road within the borough itself. The high school holds a US Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award, 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio, and 98% college-offer rate. Ranked #19 in NJ by US News. Bergen Tech IIDT (UX/UI design) and Bergen County Academies also eligible.
Demarest has the highest average residential tax bill in Bergen County — $26,108 in 2025, up from $24,741 in 2024. The general tax rate is 1.805% with an effective rate of approximately 2.92%. On a $2M home, expect roughly $35,000–$55,000 per year depending on assessed value. Tax bills are due quarterly: February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
This is an important distinction. Demarest's general tax rate of 1.805% is actually lower than the Bergen County average of 2.73%. The high dollar bill — $26,108 average — is a direct consequence of extraordinarily high home values. A 1.805% rate applied to a $2M assessed value produces a $36,000+ bill. By comparison, a 3.738% rate applied to a $560K home (Bergenfield) produces ~$12,000. Demarest's rate is not punitive — the market price is simply that high. Buyers at $2M+ are paying the cost of an extraordinary residential community, not a penalty rate.
Yes. Demarest's market shows strong appreciation (up 10.1% YoY per Redfin). NV Demarest school demand is structural and perennial — the buyer pool is consistently replenished by families making long-term educational commitments rather than cyclical market-timing decisions. Transaction volume improved to 42 homes in a single month (July 2025). Spring listing (March–May) is the strongest window, aligned with the school search cycle for families targeting fall enrollment. Get a free Demarest home valuation →
Demarest homes typically sell in approximately 42–60 days on market. At $2M+, the buyer pool is smaller but the school motivation is powerful — well-priced, well-presented spring listings can move in under 45 days. Overpriced properties sit meaningfully longer because buyers at this price point are sophisticated and do thorough due diligence. Positioning should always lead with the in-borough Blue Ribbon high school — that is the asset buyers are specifically paying for. Learn how we sell homes in Demarest →
Living in Demarest has been compared to a Norman Rockwell painting — and residents don't push back. The Duck Pond at the center of town is a genuine gathering point. Maple trees at Wakelee Field are tapped every winter to produce syrup. Neighborhood kids sled behind the high school when it snows. There is no downtown — Closter Plaza (Whole Foods, 5 min) and Tenafly's village (10 min) handle daily needs. The Palisades Interstate Parkway is minutes away for the Manhattan commute. The Demarest Nature Center and neighboring Closter and Tenafly Nature Centers put hundreds of acres of trails within easy reach. For families making a long-term commitment to the Northern Valley's most prestigious school address in a borough where 76% of households are married couples raising children — Demarest delivers precisely what it promises.