Hackensack
NJ
Average Sales Price
$498,212
Median Sales Price
$399,000
Population
43,365
Total Listings
174
Hackensack NJ – Hyper-Local Block

Living in Hackensack

Bergen County's Seat. HackensackUMC. Bergen County Academies.
Downtown Renaissance & Bergen's Most Affordable City.

Everything you need to know before making Hackensack, NJ home.

Browse Listings Active homes for sale in Hackensack
→
Market Insights Prices, trends & sold data
→
Home Valuation What's your Hackensack home worth?
→

Hackensack is Bergen County's capital — the county seat, home to the Bergen County Courthouse (a stunning Beaux-Arts landmark), Bergen County government, and more institutional weight than any other municipality in the county. It is also Bergen County's largest city at approximately 46,000 residents, its most diverse community (African American 24.6%, Hispanic/Latino 25.9%, including Bergen County's largest Ecuadorian population), and the site of one of New Jersey's most consequential urban transformations currently underway. The city's official website puts it plainly: "Hackensack is a unique and diverse city on the verge of a Renaissance."

The practical case for Hackensack is compelling: it is Bergen County's most affordable city at a median home value of approximately $387K–$465K, with two NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line train stations (Essex Street and Anderson Street) to Hoboken, extensive bus service, and Routes 4, 17, 80, and the GSP all accessible. HackensackUMC — Bergen County's largest employer with 7,175+ employees — sits within city limits. The nationally ranked Bergen County Academies magnet school is here. Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bergen Community College both have a Hackensack presence. The downtown redevelopment, the Performing Arts Center (converted Masonic Temple), the USS Ling submarine at the NJ Naval Museum — this is a city with more going on than its housing price suggests.

🏫
Top-Ranked Schools Indian Hills HS top 100 in NJ · 10:1 ratio
🚌
NYC Bus Access Short Line to Port Authority · ~50 min
🏔️
Ramapo Mountains State forest, trails & Crystal Lake on your doorstep
🏡
Strong Market Median sale ~$945K · 91% single-family
🛣️
Highway Access I-287 & Rt-208 · GWB ~30 min off-peak
🔒
Exceptionally Safe Crime 85% below national average

Commute & Connectivity

Getting There From Here

Hackensack is Bergen County's transit hub — two NJ Transit train stations, a downtown bus transfer station connecting to virtually anywhere, and four major highways all within city limits.

Hoboken Terminal (Train)
Pascack Valley Line · Essex St or Anderson St Station
~35–45
minutes by train
NYC Port Authority (Bus)
Downtown bus transfer station · multiple NJ Transit routes
~30–45
minutes by bus
George Washington Bridge
Via Rt-4 E · ~8 miles
~15–20
minutes by car (off-peak)
Newark Liberty Airport
Via I-80 E / NJ Tpk S · ~15 miles
~20
minutes by car
Paramus / Garden State Plaza
Via Rt-17 N or Rt-4 W · ~4 miles
~8–10
minutes by car

Public Schools

Education That Raises Property Values

Hackensack runs its own PreK–12 district with 6 schools and 5,483 students — plus Bergen County Academies, one of the nation's most competitive magnet schools, located right in the city.

School Grades Type Student:Teacher Rating
Public Elementary Schools (multiple)
Hackensack Public Schools · PreK–5 · 191 Second St		 PreK – 5 Public 13.2 : 1 B-
Hackensack High School
135 First St · 1,813 students · Comets · Est. 1894		 9 – 12 Public 13.2 : 1 B
Bergen County Academies (BCA)
200 Hackensack Ave · Nationally ranked magnet · competitive admission		 9 – 12 Magnet 11 : 1 Top 10 NJ

Hackensack Public Schools: District Factor Group CD · 6 schools · 5,483 students · 13.2:1 overall. Hackensack HS est. 1894 · motto "Scientia Terras Irradiamus." Bergen County Academies (BCA): nationally ranked magnet at 200 Hackensack Ave — serves students from across Bergen County on competitive admission basis. Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bergen Community College also accessible.

Neighborhood Life

What Makes Hackensack Hackensack

Explore the downtown renaissance, HackensackUMC, the USS Ling submarine, Bergen County Courthouse, and the genuine cultural energy of Bergen County's most diverse and rapidly evolving city.

🍽️
Downtown Hackensack Dining
Hackensack's downtown dining scene is in active renewal — the redevelopment of Main Street and the surrounding blocks has attracted new restaurants, bars, and cafés alongside long-standing local institutions. The Performing Arts Center (former Masonic Temple) anchors an arts and entertainment corridor. The city's official description of a downtown becoming "a hip and walkable destination" reflects a genuine transformation that is visible and ongoing.
Downtown · Redeveloping · Walkable
🌮
Latin American & Ecuadorian Dining
Hackensack has Bergen County's largest Ecuadorian-American community (10% of population) and a significant Colombian presence — reflected in authentic Ecuadorian and broader Latin American restaurants, bakeries, and food markets throughout the city. This is Bergen County's most authentic Latin American food destination, drawing visitors from across the county.
Ecuadorian · Colombian · Authentic · Bergen's Best
🌍
International Dining Diversity
Hackensack's multicultural character — African American (24.6%), Hispanic/Latino (25.9%), Asian, and other international communities — produces a dining landscape that reflects genuine global diversity. Indian, West African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Latin American cuisines all have authentic representation in a city of 46,000 with real community depth behind each.
Multicultural · Global · Authentic
🎭
Hackensack Performing Arts Center
Located in downtown Hackensack in a transformed Masonic Temple — the Performing Arts Center hosts concerts, theater, and community programming year-round. As the city's downtown redevelopment accelerates, the PAC serves as the cultural anchor drawing residents and visitors from across Bergen County.
Performing Arts · Downtown Anchor · Cultural
🛒
Retail & Everyday Shopping
Hackensack's city-scale commercial infrastructure provides genuine everyday retail access — supermarkets, pharmacies, big-box stores, and specialty shops throughout the city. Paramus (Garden State Plaza) is 10 minutes north on Route 17 for major retail destinations.
In-City · Full Retail · Paramus ~10 min
☕
HackensackUMC Campus Amenities
As Bergen County's largest employer, HackensackUMC generates significant commercial activity in its surrounding blocks — cafés, restaurants, and professional services catering to the hospital's 7,175+ employees and patient visitors. The medical campus anchors the city's western edge as a 24/7 commercial presence.
Medical Campus · 24/7 · HackensackUMC
⚓
NJ Naval Museum — USS Ling Submarine
The New Jersey Naval Museum on River Street houses the USS Ling — a fully preserved World War II-era submarine docked on the Hackensack River, open for tours. One of the most unusual and genuinely impressive public attractions in all of Bergen County, and a uniquely Hackensack landmark that no other municipality can claim.
WWII Submarine · Unique Landmark · River St
🏛️
Bergen County Courthouse (Beaux-Arts)
The Bergen County Courthouse — a magnificent Beaux-Arts building at the center of downtown Hackensack — is one of New Jersey's most architecturally distinguished public buildings and one of Hackensack's most photographed landmarks. The courthouse anchors the civic life of all 70 Bergen County municipalities from this single address.
Beaux-Arts · Architectural Landmark · Civic
💧
Hackensack River Waterfront
The Hackensack River runs along the city's eastern edge — a waterfront asset that the city's redevelopment plans identify as a key future amenity. The River Street corridor hosts the Naval Museum and connects to the broader regional greenway network. Planned improvements to the Hackensack Riverfront are part of the city's ongoing renaissance.
Hackensack River · Waterfront · Redeveloping
🏥
HackensackUMC — In-City World-Class Healthcare
HackensackUMC — consistently ranked among New Jersey's and the nation's top hospitals — is located within city limits, making Hackensack one of the few Bergen County communities with world-class healthcare literally on the same streets as its residential neighborhoods. For residents, this proximity is a quality-of-life advantage of the highest practical order.
In-City · Top-Ranked · Bergen's Largest Employer
📚
Johnson Public Library
Part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System, serving Bergen County's most diverse city with multilingual collections and programming reflecting Hackensack's Ecuadorian, Colombian, African American, and other international communities. The library's community role in a city where many residents are first-generation immigrants is particularly significant.
Civic · BCCLS · Multilingual · First-Gen
🎓
Bergen County Academies — National Top-10 Magnet
Bergen County Academies (BCA) — located at 200 Hackensack Avenue — is consistently ranked among the top magnet high schools in the United States by US News & World Report. Students from across Bergen County compete for admission to BCA's specialized academies in engineering, medicine, law, business, visual arts, and culinary arts. Living in Hackensack provides geographic proximity to BCA's campus and makes the daily commute for admitted students trivial.
National Top 10 · Competitive Admission · In-City
🌍
Bergen's Most Diverse City
Hackensack has Bergen County's most diverse population — African American (24.6%), Hispanic/Latino (25.9% including Bergen's largest Ecuadorian community at 10%), Asian, and many other international communities. ProMoves describes it accurately: Hackensack has "among the largest communities of Indian Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic and Latin Americans in Bergen County." This diversity is structural, multi-generational, and the source of the city's most distinctive cultural character.
Bergen's Most Diverse · Multi-Generational · Authentic
🏛️
Bergen County Seat Since 1710
Hackensack has been the seat of Bergen County government since approximately 1710 — over 300 years of serving as the county's civic and administrative center. General Washington briefly headquartered here during his famous 1776 Retreat. The Bergen County Courthouse (Beaux-Arts), county government offices, and the Bergen County judicial system all operate from downtown Hackensack, giving the city an institutional weight and historical significance that no other Bergen County municipality shares.
County Seat Since 1710 · Washington 1776 · 300 Years
🛍️
In-City Retail & Downtown Hackensack
Hackensack's city-scale commercial infrastructure provides genuine full-service retail access — supermarkets, pharmacies, specialty grocers, big-box options, and the growing downtown retail district along Main Street. The city's redevelopment plan is specifically adding street-level retail in new mixed-use buildings to strengthen in-city commercial options for residents.
In-City · Full Retail · Redeveloping
🏬
Paramus Retail (~10 min via Rt-17)
Garden State Plaza and Bergen Town Center are approximately 10 minutes north on Route 17 — the shortest drive to NJ's two largest malls from any Bergen County municipality. Hackensack's Route 17 access makes Paramus shopping genuinely convenient for residents without the borough itself being adjacent to the commercial sprawl.
~10 min · Garden State Plaza · Rt-17
🏥
HackensackUMC (In-City)
The top-ranked hospital system is within city limits — the most direct healthcare access of any residential community in this guide. Combined with Bergen Community College (~5 min) and Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack has exceptional healthcare and higher education infrastructure for residents who prioritize these institutional anchors.
In-City · Top-Ranked · Bergen CC · FDU

By the Numbers

Hackensack at a Glance

Municipality Type City Bergen County Seat · ~4.1 sq mi
Population ~46,057 Bergen County's largest city
Median Home Price ~$387K–$465K Bergen's most affordable · up 32.9% YoY
County Seat Since ~1710 300+ years · Beaux-Arts courthouse
Top Hospital HackensackUMC In-city · 7,175+ employees · #1 Bergen employer
Magnet School Bergen County Academies National top-10 · 200 Hackensack Ave
Zip Code 07601 Primary zip · also 07602
Unique Landmark USS Ling Submarine WWII · NJ Naval Museum · River Street

Explore the Area

Similar Towns Near Hackensack

Buyers considering Hackensack often compare these neighboring Bergen County communities at various price points and community characters.

Teaneck Adjacent · diverse · strong schools
→
Maywood Adjacent · NJ Transit · quiet · family
→
Paramus Adjacent · strong schools · low tax · retail
→
Lodi Nearby · diverse · accessible · similar
→
Garfield Nearby · two trains · affordable · "City of Champions"
→
Bergenfield Adjacent · diverse · NJ Transit
→
Englewood Nearby · bergenPAC · East Hill · diverse
→
Fair Lawn Nearby · two trains · Radburn · step up
→
Rutherford Nearby · NJ Transit · walkable · strong schools
→

Demographics

Data provided by Attom Data
Population
Employment
Population
43.4K
43.4K in 2020
Density
10K
per square mile
Households
18.2K
26 With Children
Gender
49% / 51%
Men Vs Women
Occupancy
35% / 65%
Owned Vs Rented
Age Median: -- Years
No Data
Education Level
No Data

Educational Environment

High Schools (3)Elementary Schools (8)Middle Schools (3)
Name
Category
Grades
Library
Ratio
10/10
Bergen County Academies
200 Hackensack Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
9 - 12
No
12:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
5/10
Hackensack High School
First and Beech Streets, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
9 - 12
No
13:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
0/10
Hackensack Christian Schools
15 Conklin Pl, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Private
PK - 12
No
8:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
Name
Category
Grades
Library
Ratio
5/10
Parker Elementary School
261 Maple Hill Dr, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
PK - 4
No
16:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
5/10
Hackensack Middle School
360 Union St, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
5 - 8
No
12:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
4/10
Jackson Avenue Elementary School
421 Jackson Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
PK - 4
No
16:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
4/10
Fairmount Elementary School
105 Grand Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
PK - 4
No
17:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
1/10
Fanny Meyer Hillers Elementary School
56 Longview Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
PK - 4
No
16:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
Name
Category
Grades
Library
Ratio
5/10
Hackensack Middle School
360 Union St, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Public
5 - 8
No
12:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
0/10
Hackensack Christian Schools
15 Conklin Pl, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Private
PK - 12
No
8:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
0/10
Ycs George Washington School
386 Hudson St, Hackensack, NJ 07601
Private
1 - 8
No
7:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS

Amenities & Attractions

Restaurants
Home Services
Health & Medical
Local Services
Shopping
Recreation
Food
Beauty
Nightlife
Event Planning & Services
Automotive
Religious Organizations
Financial Services
Professional Services
Travel
Education
Public Services & Government

  • Ground Connection Coffee Bar

    390 Hackensack Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Coffee & Tea Phone: 201-342-0051

  • Capital Deli

    144 Hudson St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Delis Phone: 201-487-3378

  • Bombay Takeout

    Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Indian Phone: 201-203-7923

  • TGI Fridays

    411 Hackensack Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Bars Phone: 201-342-7107

  • KFC

    510 South River St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Chicken Wings Phone: 201-880-5719

  • Frontier Wines & Liquors

    487 Hudson St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Delis Phone: 201-440-2383

  • Hong Kong Restaurant

    817 Main St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Chinese Phone: 201-678-9777

  • Cafe Mannina

    278 Hudson St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Phone: 201-498-9666

  • Rachet Clank Diner

    360 Main St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Diners

  • John’s Coffee Shop

    10 Sussex St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Phone: 201-343-5242

  • Applebee’s

    450 Hackensack Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601

    Burgers Phone: 201-342-0065

Featured Listings

For Sale (182)
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Hackensack NJ – Hyper-Local Block

Living in Hackensack

Bergen County's Seat. HackensackUMC. Bergen County Academies.
Downtown Renaissance & Bergen's Most Affordable City.

Everything you need to know before making Hackensack, NJ home.

Browse Listings Active homes for sale in Hackensack
→
Market Insights Prices, trends & sold data
→
Home Valuation What's your Hackensack home worth?
→

Hackensack is Bergen County's capital — the county seat, home to the Bergen County Courthouse (a stunning Beaux-Arts landmark), Bergen County government, and more institutional weight than any other municipality in the county. It is also Bergen County's largest city at approximately 46,000 residents, its most diverse community (African American 24.6%, Hispanic/Latino 25.9%, including Bergen County's largest Ecuadorian population), and the site of one of New Jersey's most consequential urban transformations currently underway. The city's official website puts it plainly: "Hackensack is a unique and diverse city on the verge of a Renaissance."

The practical case for Hackensack is compelling: it is Bergen County's most affordable city at a median home value of approximately $387K–$465K, with two NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line train stations (Essex Street and Anderson Street) to Hoboken, extensive bus service, and Routes 4, 17, 80, and the GSP all accessible. HackensackUMC — Bergen County's largest employer with 7,175+ employees — sits within city limits. The nationally ranked Bergen County Academies magnet school is here. Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bergen Community College both have a Hackensack presence. The downtown redevelopment, the Performing Arts Center (converted Masonic Temple), the USS Ling submarine at the NJ Naval Museum — this is a city with more going on than its housing price suggests.

🏫
Top-Ranked Schools Indian Hills HS top 100 in NJ · 10:1 ratio
🚌
NYC Bus Access Short Line to Port Authority · ~50 min
🏔️
Ramapo Mountains State forest, trails & Crystal Lake on your doorstep
🏡
Strong Market Median sale ~$945K · 91% single-family
🛣️
Highway Access I-287 & Rt-208 · GWB ~30 min off-peak
🔒
Exceptionally Safe Crime 85% below national average

Commute & Connectivity

Getting There From Here

Hackensack is Bergen County's transit hub — two NJ Transit train stations, a downtown bus transfer station connecting to virtually anywhere, and four major highways all within city limits.

Hoboken Terminal (Train)
Pascack Valley Line · Essex St or Anderson St Station
~35–45
minutes by train
NYC Port Authority (Bus)
Downtown bus transfer station · multiple NJ Transit routes
~30–45
minutes by bus
George Washington Bridge
Via Rt-4 E · ~8 miles
~15–20
minutes by car (off-peak)
Newark Liberty Airport
Via I-80 E / NJ Tpk S · ~15 miles
~20
minutes by car
Paramus / Garden State Plaza
Via Rt-17 N or Rt-4 W · ~4 miles
~8–10
minutes by car

Public Schools

Education That Raises Property Values

Hackensack runs its own PreK–12 district with 6 schools and 5,483 students — plus Bergen County Academies, one of the nation's most competitive magnet schools, located right in the city.

School Grades Type Student:Teacher Rating
Public Elementary Schools (multiple)
Hackensack Public Schools · PreK–5 · 191 Second St		 PreK – 5 Public 13.2 : 1 B-
Hackensack High School
135 First St · 1,813 students · Comets · Est. 1894		 9 – 12 Public 13.2 : 1 B
Bergen County Academies (BCA)
200 Hackensack Ave · Nationally ranked magnet · competitive admission		 9 – 12 Magnet 11 : 1 Top 10 NJ

Hackensack Public Schools: District Factor Group CD · 6 schools · 5,483 students · 13.2:1 overall. Hackensack HS est. 1894 · motto "Scientia Terras Irradiamus." Bergen County Academies (BCA): nationally ranked magnet at 200 Hackensack Ave — serves students from across Bergen County on competitive admission basis. Fairleigh Dickinson University and Bergen Community College also accessible.

Neighborhood Life

What Makes Hackensack Hackensack

Explore the downtown renaissance, HackensackUMC, the USS Ling submarine, Bergen County Courthouse, and the genuine cultural energy of Bergen County's most diverse and rapidly evolving city.

🍽️
Downtown Hackensack Dining
Hackensack's downtown dining scene is in active renewal — the redevelopment of Main Street and the surrounding blocks has attracted new restaurants, bars, and cafés alongside long-standing local institutions. The Performing Arts Center (former Masonic Temple) anchors an arts and entertainment corridor. The city's official description of a downtown becoming "a hip and walkable destination" reflects a genuine transformation that is visible and ongoing.
Downtown · Redeveloping · Walkable
🌮
Latin American & Ecuadorian Dining
Hackensack has Bergen County's largest Ecuadorian-American community (10% of population) and a significant Colombian presence — reflected in authentic Ecuadorian and broader Latin American restaurants, bakeries, and food markets throughout the city. This is Bergen County's most authentic Latin American food destination, drawing visitors from across the county.
Ecuadorian · Colombian · Authentic · Bergen's Best
🌍
International Dining Diversity
Hackensack's multicultural character — African American (24.6%), Hispanic/Latino (25.9%), Asian, and other international communities — produces a dining landscape that reflects genuine global diversity. Indian, West African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Latin American cuisines all have authentic representation in a city of 46,000 with real community depth behind each.
Multicultural · Global · Authentic
🎭
Hackensack Performing Arts Center
Located in downtown Hackensack in a transformed Masonic Temple — the Performing Arts Center hosts concerts, theater, and community programming year-round. As the city's downtown redevelopment accelerates, the PAC serves as the cultural anchor drawing residents and visitors from across Bergen County.
Performing Arts · Downtown Anchor · Cultural
🛒
Retail & Everyday Shopping
Hackensack's city-scale commercial infrastructure provides genuine everyday retail access — supermarkets, pharmacies, big-box stores, and specialty shops throughout the city. Paramus (Garden State Plaza) is 10 minutes north on Route 17 for major retail destinations.
In-City · Full Retail · Paramus ~10 min
☕
HackensackUMC Campus Amenities
As Bergen County's largest employer, HackensackUMC generates significant commercial activity in its surrounding blocks — cafés, restaurants, and professional services catering to the hospital's 7,175+ employees and patient visitors. The medical campus anchors the city's western edge as a 24/7 commercial presence.
Medical Campus · 24/7 · HackensackUMC
⚓
NJ Naval Museum — USS Ling Submarine
The New Jersey Naval Museum on River Street houses the USS Ling — a fully preserved World War II-era submarine docked on the Hackensack River, open for tours. One of the most unusual and genuinely impressive public attractions in all of Bergen County, and a uniquely Hackensack landmark that no other municipality can claim.
WWII Submarine · Unique Landmark · River St
🏛️
Bergen County Courthouse (Beaux-Arts)
The Bergen County Courthouse — a magnificent Beaux-Arts building at the center of downtown Hackensack — is one of New Jersey's most architecturally distinguished public buildings and one of Hackensack's most photographed landmarks. The courthouse anchors the civic life of all 70 Bergen County municipalities from this single address.
Beaux-Arts · Architectural Landmark · Civic
💧
Hackensack River Waterfront
The Hackensack River runs along the city's eastern edge — a waterfront asset that the city's redevelopment plans identify as a key future amenity. The River Street corridor hosts the Naval Museum and connects to the broader regional greenway network. Planned improvements to the Hackensack Riverfront are part of the city's ongoing renaissance.
Hackensack River · Waterfront · Redeveloping
🏥
HackensackUMC — In-City World-Class Healthcare
HackensackUMC — consistently ranked among New Jersey's and the nation's top hospitals — is located within city limits, making Hackensack one of the few Bergen County communities with world-class healthcare literally on the same streets as its residential neighborhoods. For residents, this proximity is a quality-of-life advantage of the highest practical order.
In-City · Top-Ranked · Bergen's Largest Employer
📚
Johnson Public Library
Part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System, serving Bergen County's most diverse city with multilingual collections and programming reflecting Hackensack's Ecuadorian, Colombian, African American, and other international communities. The library's community role in a city where many residents are first-generation immigrants is particularly significant.
Civic · BCCLS · Multilingual · First-Gen
🎓
Bergen County Academies — National Top-10 Magnet
Bergen County Academies (BCA) — located at 200 Hackensack Avenue — is consistently ranked among the top magnet high schools in the United States by US News & World Report. Students from across Bergen County compete for admission to BCA's specialized academies in engineering, medicine, law, business, visual arts, and culinary arts. Living in Hackensack provides geographic proximity to BCA's campus and makes the daily commute for admitted students trivial.
National Top 10 · Competitive Admission · In-City
🌍
Bergen's Most Diverse City
Hackensack has Bergen County's most diverse population — African American (24.6%), Hispanic/Latino (25.9% including Bergen's largest Ecuadorian community at 10%), Asian, and many other international communities. ProMoves describes it accurately: Hackensack has "among the largest communities of Indian Americans, African Americans, and Hispanic and Latin Americans in Bergen County." This diversity is structural, multi-generational, and the source of the city's most distinctive cultural character.
Bergen's Most Diverse · Multi-Generational · Authentic
🏛️
Bergen County Seat Since 1710
Hackensack has been the seat of Bergen County government since approximately 1710 — over 300 years of serving as the county's civic and administrative center. General Washington briefly headquartered here during his famous 1776 Retreat. The Bergen County Courthouse (Beaux-Arts), county government offices, and the Bergen County judicial system all operate from downtown Hackensack, giving the city an institutional weight and historical significance that no other Bergen County municipality shares.
County Seat Since 1710 · Washington 1776 · 300 Years
🛍️
In-City Retail & Downtown Hackensack
Hackensack's city-scale commercial infrastructure provides genuine full-service retail access — supermarkets, pharmacies, specialty grocers, big-box options, and the growing downtown retail district along Main Street. The city's redevelopment plan is specifically adding street-level retail in new mixed-use buildings to strengthen in-city commercial options for residents.
In-City · Full Retail · Redeveloping
🏬
Paramus Retail (~10 min via Rt-17)
Garden State Plaza and Bergen Town Center are approximately 10 minutes north on Route 17 — the shortest drive to NJ's two largest malls from any Bergen County municipality. Hackensack's Route 17 access makes Paramus shopping genuinely convenient for residents without the borough itself being adjacent to the commercial sprawl.
~10 min · Garden State Plaza · Rt-17
🏥
HackensackUMC (In-City)
The top-ranked hospital system is within city limits — the most direct healthcare access of any residential community in this guide. Combined with Bergen Community College (~5 min) and Fairleigh Dickinson University, Hackensack has exceptional healthcare and higher education infrastructure for residents who prioritize these institutional anchors.
In-City · Top-Ranked · Bergen CC · FDU

By the Numbers

Hackensack at a Glance

Municipality Type City Bergen County Seat · ~4.1 sq mi
Population ~46,057 Bergen County's largest city
Median Home Price ~$387K–$465K Bergen's most affordable · up 32.9% YoY
County Seat Since ~1710 300+ years · Beaux-Arts courthouse
Top Hospital HackensackUMC In-city · 7,175+ employees · #1 Bergen employer
Magnet School Bergen County Academies National top-10 · 200 Hackensack Ave
Zip Code 07601 Primary zip · also 07602
Unique Landmark USS Ling Submarine WWII · NJ Naval Museum · River Street

Explore the Area

Similar Towns Near Hackensack

Buyers considering Hackensack often compare these neighboring Bergen County communities at various price points and community characters.

Teaneck Adjacent · diverse · strong schools
→
Maywood Adjacent · NJ Transit · quiet · family
→
Paramus Adjacent · strong schools · low tax · retail
→
Lodi Nearby · diverse · accessible · similar
→
Garfield Nearby · two trains · affordable · "City of Champions"
→
Bergenfield Adjacent · diverse · NJ Transit
→
Englewood Nearby · bergenPAC · East Hill · diverse
→
Fair Lawn Nearby · two trains · Radburn · step up
→
Rutherford Nearby · NJ Transit · walkable · strong schools
→

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