Upper Saddle River
NJ
Average Sales Price
$1,989,089
Median Sales Price
$1,595,000
Population
8,356
Total Listings
43
Living in Upper Saddle River
DFG J. 9.6:1. Northern Highlands. $244K Median Income.
Bergen County's Premier Estate Borough.
Everything you need to know before making Upper Saddle River, NJ home.
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→Upper Saddle River is Bergen County's premier estate borough — 5.25 square miles at 259 feet elevation, incorporated November 22, 1894 (the same night as adjacent Saddle River, both carved from Harrington Township), with a population of approximately 8,400 spread across large-lot residential properties in the northwestern corner of Bergen County. The borough's character is shaped by three simultaneous distinctions: a $244,022 median household income (Bergen County's second highest after Tenafly); a school district classified DFG J (Bergen County's highest socioeconomic classification, tied with Ridgewood and Demarest) with a 9.6:1 student-teacher ratio in the PreK–8 district; and a large-lot residential character that Bergen Real Estate describes as "combining rural charm with suburban convenience." The 1,099-student Upper Saddle River School District (3 schools: Edith A. Bogert ES, Robert D. Reynolds ES, Emil A. Cavallini MS) feeds into Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale — 298 Hillside Avenue, the Knights, Black and White, 1,261 students, 11.2:1, opened 1966 on a 40-acre site approved by referendum in May 1963, with a planetarium, 750-seat auditorium, and FM radio station built into the original facility. The Old Stone Church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, anchors the borough's historical identity.
The market reflects the borough's premium positioning: Homes.com 12-month median $1,440,500 (+14%), 65-day DOM; Movoto $1,550,000 (June 2025, 40-day DOM); Zillow ZHVI $1,208,702 (+3.8%). True SFH range approximately $1.2M–$3.5M+. The 2024 average tax bill is $19,743 on a 2.546% general rate with a 1.788% effective rate — one of Bergen County's more favorable effective rates for a DFG J community, reflecting the borough's high home values (assessed values lag market). The borough has no commercial center — residents access Ramsey, Woodcliff Lake, Allendale, and Mahwah for commercial needs — reinforcing the residential-only character that produces 95.5% of residents above the poverty line and a 71.1% bachelor's degree or higher rate.
🏫
DFG J · 9.6:1 PreK–8 · Northern Highlands HS
Bergen's highest classification · 3 schools · 1,099 students
💰
$19,743 Avg Tax Bill · 1.788% Effective Rate
2.546% general · NJ official 2024 · DFG J premium
🏡
SFH ~$1.2M–$3.5M+ · $244K Median HH Income
Homes.com $1.44M +14% · Movoto $1.55M · estate lots
🌳
Large-Lot Estate Character · 259 ft Elevation
5.25 sq mi · "rural charm" · Old Stone Church NRHP
🚌
NJ Transit Bus · I-287 · GWB ~30 min
Ramsey & Allendale train stations ~5 min drive
🏆
71.1% Bachelor's Degree+ · 95.5% Above Poverty
$363K avg HH income · Bergen's 2nd highest median income
Commute & Connectivity
Getting There From Here
Upper Saddle River is a car-primary community with I-287 access and NJ Transit rail just 5–10 minutes away at Ramsey or Allendale stations — Hoboken in under an hour, Midtown via car in 40–50 minutes off-peak.
Hoboken Terminal (Train)
Drive to Ramsey or Allendale Station (~5–10 min) · NJ Transit Main Line
~60–75
total minutes (drive + train)
George Washington Bridge (Car)
Via I-287 E / Rt-208 S / Rt-4 E · ~20 miles
~30–40
minutes by car (off-peak)
NYC Port Authority (Bus)
NJ Transit bus from Ramsey · via GWB
~55–70
minutes by bus
Newark Liberty Airport
Via I-287 S / GSP S · ~25 miles
~35–45
minutes by car
Paramus / Garden State Plaza
Via Rt-208 S / Rt-17 S · ~10 miles
~20
minutes by car
Public Schools
Education That Raises Property Values
Upper Saddle River School District: PreK–8, 3 schools, 1,099 students, 9.6:1, DFG J — Bergen's highest classification. High school: Northern Highlands Regional HS in Allendale, the Knights, 1,261 students, 11.2:1, DFG J, opened 1966.
| School | Grades | Type | Student:Teacher | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edith A. Bogert ES + Robert D. Reynolds ES Upper Saddle River SD · 395 W Saddle River Rd · PreK–5 · DFG J |
PreK – 5 | Public | 9.6 : 1 | DFG J · A |
| Emil A. Cavallini Middle School Upper Saddle River SD · Grades 6–8 · DFG J |
6 – 8 | Public | 9.6 : 1 | DFG J · A |
| Northern Highlands Regional HS 298 Hillside Ave · Allendale · Knights · Black & White · 1,261 students · Est. 1966 |
9 – 12 | Regional Sending | 11.2 : 1 | DFG J · A+ · Top NJ |
Upper Saddle River SD: PreK–8 · 3 schools · 1,099 students (2023–24) · 9.6:1 · DFG J · 115.0 FTE faculty · 395 West Saddle River Road. NHRHS: 298 Hillside Avenue, Allendale · Knights · Black and White · 1,261 students (2023–24) · 11.2:1 · DFG J · opened 1966 on 40-acre site · planetarium · 750-seat auditorium · FM radio station · draws from Allendale and Upper Saddle River. Saddle River Day School (private K–12) in adjacent Saddle River. Bergen County Academies (BCA) accessible for qualifying students (~15 min to Hackensack).
Neighborhood Life
What Makes Upper Saddle River Upper Saddle River
Explore the large-lot residential character at 259 feet elevation, the Old Stone Church on the National Register, Northern Highlands Regional HS with its in-school planetarium, the Saddle River County Park that winds through the borough, and the northwestern Bergen estate lifestyle at Bergen County's second-highest median household income.
Large-Lot Residential Character — No Commercial Center by Design
Upper Saddle River, like adjacent Saddle River, has no in-borough commercial center — no grocery store, no pharmacy, no restaurant district. This is the deliberate product of a residential-only borough where the minimum lot character and estate-scale properties reflect a community that has prioritized privacy and residential quality over commercial convenience. Residents access Ramsey's East Main Street downtown (~5 minutes northwest), Woodcliff Lake's commercial corridor (~5 minutes east), Allendale's walkable village (~5 minutes south), and Mahwah's Route 17 retail corridor (~10 minutes northwest) for all commercial needs. Bergen Real Estate: "Upper Saddle River offers grocery stores, casual restaurants, and local shops [nearby], while larger shopping hubs in Paramus and Mahwah expand convenience."
No Commercial Center · By Design · Ramsey 5 min · Allendale 5 min · Woodcliff Lake 5 min
Ramsey Downtown (~5 min) — Primary Commercial Destination
Ramsey's East Main Street downtown — walkable, two NJ Transit Main Line stations, restaurants, ShopRite, wine shops, local retail, and the community feel of a Bergen County walkable downtown — is approximately 5 minutes northwest of Upper Saddle River. For USR residents who access Ramsey for both commercial needs and train service, Ramsey functions as the in-range commercial center that Upper Saddle River intentionally does not host itself. Northern Highlands Regional HS (Allendale) students and families also use the Allendale train station and downtown for the academic and daily commercial needs the HS campus generates.
~5 min Ramsey · East Main St · 2 NJ Transit Stations · ShopRite · Wine · Restaurant Row
Old Stone Church — National Register of Historic Places
The Old Stone Church — Upper Saddle River's primary National Register of Historic Places landmark — anchors the borough's historical identity as one of Bergen County's original Dutch colonial settlement areas. The church reflects the continuous human habitation of the Saddle River Valley from the Dutch colonial period through the Harrington Township era (both Upper Saddle River and Saddle River were carved from Harrington Township on November 22, 1894). For a borough where modern estate homes occupy land once farmed by Dutch colonial families, the Old Stone Church is the visible historical continuity that connects the $1.5M estate market of 2025 to the 18th-century settlement that preceded it.
Old Stone Church · NRHP · Dutch Colonial Heritage · Harrington Township · Historical Continuity
Northern Highlands Regional HS — Planetarium, 750-Seat Auditorium, FM Radio
Northern Highlands Regional High School (298 Hillside Avenue, Allendale) was built on a 40-acre site approved by referendum in May 1963, opened in 1966 at a cost of $4 million, and included a planetarium, a 750-seat auditorium/theater, and an FM radio station in its original facility — a remarkable range of academic and cultural infrastructure for a regional high school serving two communities (Allendale and Upper Saddle River) in 1966. The school serves 1,261 students at 11.2:1, DFG J — consistently ranked among Bergen County's top high schools. The May 1963 referendum that approved the school reflected the community investment in educational infrastructure that produced the DFG J classification the borough maintains today. Homes.com: "Northern Highlands Reg High School" named among USR's best schools.
NHRHS · 40 Acres · Planetarium · 750-Seat Auditorium · FM Radio · 1966 · DFG J · A+
Saddle River County Park — Multi-Use Trail Through the Borough
The Saddle River County Park's trail system winds through Upper Saddle River along the Saddle River corridor, providing hiking, cycling, and passive recreation access that complements the estate-scale residential character. The Saddle River's path through the borough connects the park to the broader Saddle River trail network that runs south through Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, and into the lower Saddle River communities. For a borough with no public commercial gathering spaces, the Saddle River County Park trail is the primary outdoor community resource that provides shared public space within the estate-lot landscape.
Saddle River County Park · Trail System · Hiking · Cycling · Saddle River Corridor · Community
Estate Market Character — 259 ft Elevation, Large Lots
Upper Saddle River at 259 feet elevation is one of Bergen County's highest-elevation communities — the topographic position that gives residential properties their wooded, slightly elevated character distinct from the flat Meadowlands communities to the east. The borough's housing stock — colonials, ranches, custom estates, and newer construction on large lots — reflects the accumulated investment of a community where the average household income is $363,378. Bergen Real Estate: "housing in Upper Saddle River is primarily composed of large single-family homes, many situated on expansive lots with landscaped yards. Colonials, ranches, and custom-built estates dominate the housing market, with newer luxury homes adding to the borough's appeal."
259 ft Elevation · Large Lots · Colonials · Estates · $363K Avg HH Income · Landscaped
Saddle River County Park Trail System
The Saddle River County Park trail network runs through Upper Saddle River along the Saddle River corridor — one of Bergen County's most scenic greenway trails, connecting USR to Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood, and the communities south along the Saddle River Valley. Hiking, cycling, and passive recreation along wooded, river-adjacent terrain. The trail's passage through the borough at 259 feet elevation provides the upland character and natural landscape that estate buyers who chose Upper Saddle River for its wooded, rural-residential feel specifically value. The river that names the borough provides the landscape anchor that the Old Stone Church, Northern Highlands HS, and the estate lots surround.
Saddle River Trail · Multi-Use · Hiking · Cycling · River Corridor · Connects Bergen Communities
Borough Parks & Recreation
Upper Saddle River's municipal parks — including Schuck Memorial Park and additional athletic facilities — provide the recreational infrastructure serving the borough's 8,400 residents. Youth sports programs, tennis courts, and community events complement the Saddle River County Park trail access. For a community of 8,400 at $244,022 median household income with 71.1% holding bachelor's degrees or higher, the recreational infrastructure reflects both the financial capacity and the educational orientation of a community that approved a $4 million high school with a planetarium in 1963.
Schuck Memorial Park · Tennis · Youth Sports · Community Events · 8,400 Residents
Campgaw Mountain County Reservation (~15 min)
Campgaw Mountain County Reservation (Mahwah, ~15 minutes northwest) provides hiking, mountain biking, and a small ski area within practical range of Upper Saddle River. For residents who chose the northwestern Bergen location specifically for its proximity to the Ramapo Mountain foothills, Campgaw provides the nature recreation access that bridges the gap between Bergen County's suburban estate character and the Ramapo Mountains State Forest system to the northwest. The Ramapo Mountains State Forest itself is accessible via Mahwah within 20–25 minutes.
~15 min Campgaw Mountain · Skiing · Hiking · Mountain Biking · Ramapo Mountains ~20 min
Valley Hospital (~20 min) · Good Samaritan (Suffern) (~15 min)
Valley Hospital (Ridgewood, ~20 minutes south) is Bergen County's top community hospital. Good Samaritan Medical Center (Suffern, NY, ~15 minutes northwest via I-287) provides regional hospital access from the Rockland County direction. HackensackUMC (~30 minutes south) for Bergen County's top hospital. For a relatively small borough of 8,400 in the northwestern corner of Bergen County, the hospital options reflect the practical trade-off of the northwest Bergen location — further from HackensackUMC than central Bergen communities, but within range of both Valley and Good Samaritan.
Valley Hospital ~20 min · Good Samaritan ~15 min · HackensackUMC ~30 min
Upper Saddle River Free Public Library
Part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System, serving an estate community of 8,400 where 71.1% hold bachelor's degrees or higher, 30.1% hold advanced degrees, and the median household income is $244,022. The library serves the borough's family-oriented professional community — 95.5% above the poverty line, a poverty rate among Bergen County's lowest. Strong children's and family programming reflects a community where the PreK–8 school district (1,099 students, 9.6:1, DFG J) represents the primary institutional community investment. BCA application support and college-prep resources serve the academically oriented families who chose Upper Saddle River for its DFG J school pipeline to Northern Highlands.
BCCLS · 71.1% Bachelor's+ · 30.1% Advanced Degrees · BCA Prep · DFG J Community
Incorporated November 22, 1894 — Same Night as Saddle River
Upper Saddle River and Saddle River were both carved from Harrington Township and incorporated on the same night — November 22, 1894 — during the peak "Boroughitis" wave that created most of Bergen County's boroughs. The two boroughs share ZIP code 07458 today, reflecting their geographic and historical proximity. The distinction between them is instructive: Saddle River went on to establish 2-acre minimum lots and become Bergen County's most private estate community; Upper Saddle River maintained its own school district (DFG J) with Northern Highlands as the HS and developed a somewhat larger residential community (~8,400 vs. ~3,400) with the same large-lot character. Two boroughs from the same parent township, same night, same zip code — different approaches to the same northwestern Bergen landscape.
Nov 22 1894 · Same Night as Saddle River · Harrington Township · ZIP 07458 Shared
$244,022 Median HH Income — Bergen's 2nd Highest
Upper Saddle River's $244,022 median household income (2024, Point2Homes) and $363,378 average household income reflect the professional executive and business-owner community that northwestern Bergen County's DFG J estate communities attract. 41.1% hold bachelor's degrees, 30.1% hold advanced degrees — a combined 71.1% with college or postgraduate education is among the highest educational attainment profiles in Bergen County. 95.5% of residents above the poverty line. The $19,743 average tax bill is the cost of these metrics: DFG J schools, estate-character residential landscape, and the infrastructure of a community where educational and economic achievement compound over generations.
$244K Median HH · $363K Avg HH · 71.1% College+ · 95.5% Above Poverty · Executive Community
Niche A+ · Bergen Real Estate "Most Desirable"
Niche.com consistently gives Upper Saddle River an A+ overall grade — one of Bergen County's highest Niche ratings — reflecting the combination of DFG J school quality, low crime, high income, and estate character. Bergen Real Estate: "Upper Saddle River consistently earns high ratings for public schools, Health & Fitness, and Outdoor Activities." The May 1963 referendum that approved Northern Highlands Regional HS — and built it with a planetarium, a 750-seat auditorium, and an FM radio station — is the clearest expression of the community's long-standing investment in educational quality. That investment is still producing returns 60 years later in the form of DFG J classification, $244K median HH income, and 71.1% college attainment.
Niche A+ · Bergen Real Estate "Most Desirable" · DFG J · NHRHS Planetarium 1963 · 60-Year ROI
Ramsey (~5 min) · Allendale (~5 min) · Woodcliff Lake (~5 min)
Ramsey's East Main Street (two NJ Transit stations, ShopRite, restaurants, wine shops, walkable downtown) approximately 5 minutes northwest. Allendale's walkable village (NJ Transit Main Line, specialty shops, cafés, Northern Highlands HS adjacency) approximately 5 minutes south. Woodcliff Lake's commercial corridor (BMW North America HQ, Pascack Hills HS area, Route 202 retail) approximately 5 minutes east. These three adjacent communities provide the complete commercial ecosystem that Upper Saddle River intentionally does not host within its own 5.25 square miles.
~5 min Ramsey · ~5 min Allendale · ~5 min Woodcliff Lake · Complete Adjacent Commercial
Mahwah (~10 min) · Paramus (~20 min)
Mahwah's Route 17 commercial corridor (~10 minutes northwest) provides major format retail including ShopRite, Home Depot, and chain restaurants. Garden State Plaza (Whole Foods, Nordstrom, Bergen Town Center) in Paramus is approximately 20 minutes south via Route 17 — the closest major retail anchor for USR residents seeking Bergen County's densest commercial corridor. Suffern (NY) is approximately 15 minutes northwest for additional retail and Rockland County commercial access.
~10 min Mahwah Rt-17 · ~20 min Paramus GSP · Suffern NY ~15 min · Multi-Direction
Saddle River Day School (Private K–12) · Bergen County Academies
Saddle River Day School — a private K–12 institution in adjacent Saddle River — provides the in-range private school option for USR families who want private education as an alternative to the DFG J public pipeline. Bergen County Academies (BCA) in Hackensack (~15–20 minutes south) is accessible for qualifying students. For a community where 71.1% hold college degrees and the school district operates at DFG J classification, both the private and competitive public magnet options are practically accessible to USR families.
Saddle River Day School · Private K–12 Adjacent · BCA ~15 min · DFG J + Private Options
By the Numbers
Upper Saddle River at a Glance
Municipality Type
Borough
Bergen County · 5.25 sq mi · 259 ft · est. Nov 22 1894
Population
~8,353–8,480
Large-lot estate character · 71.1% college+ · Niche A+
Median HH Income
$244,022
Bergen's 2nd highest · $363K avg · 95.5% above poverty
SFH Median Price
~$1.2M–$3.5M+
Homes.com $1.44M +14% · Movoto $1.55M · Zillow $1.21M
Avg Tax Bill (2024)
$19,743
2.546% general · 1.788% effective · NJ official 2024
School District
DFG J · 9.6:1
3 schools · 1,099 students · Northern Highlands HS DFG J
Zip Code
07458
Shared with Saddle River · NHRHS · Old Stone Church
NRHP Property
Old Stone Church
National Register · Dutch colonial heritage · landmark
Explore the Area
Similar Towns Near Upper Saddle River
Buyers considering Upper Saddle River often explore these neighboring northwestern Bergen estate communities — from adjacent Saddle River and Allendale to Woodcliff Lake and Ramsey, all within 10 minutes.
Saddle River
Adjacent · 2-acre min · 1.051% eff. rate · most private Bergen
→
Allendale
Adjacent S · NHRHS in-borough · NJ Transit · walkable
→
Ramsey
Adjacent NW · 2 NJ Transit stations · walkable downtown
→
Woodcliff Lake
Adjacent E · BMW HQ · Pascack Hills HS · 2.162% rate
→
Mahwah
Adjacent NW · I-287 · Ramapo College · larger township
→
Ho-Ho-Kus
Nearby · NJ Monthly #1 NJ · 2 train lines · A+ K-8
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Hillsdale
Nearby · Pascack Valley HS · PVL train · 15-day DOM
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Franklin Lakes
Nearby · Ramapo HS top 10 NJ · $1.5M–$2.2M
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Wyckoff
Nearby · DFG I · 2 trains · Ramapo HS · $900K–$1.5M
→Demographics
Data provided by Attom Data
Population
Employment
Population
8.4K
8.4K in 2020
Density
1.6K
per square mile
Households
2.7K
49 With Children
Gender
48% / 52%
Men Vs Women
Occupancy
91% / 9%
Owned Vs Rented
Age Median: -- Years
No Data
Education Level
No Data
Educational Environment
Elementary Schools (2)Middle Schools (1)
Name
Category
Grades
Library
Ratio
9/10
Edith A. Bogert Elementary School
391 W Saddle River Rd, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Public
3 - 5
No
14:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
0/10
Robert D. Reynolds Primary School
391 W Saddle River Rd, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
Public
PK - 2
No
12:1 STUDENTS/TEACHERS
Amenities & Attractions
Featured Listings
For Sale (21)
For Sold (645)
New3 Beds4 Baths16 Goldfinch DR, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
MLS# 26021997
Listed by Joseph M. Hurley of The Agency One Rock-Paramus
New3 Beds4 Baths43 Hearthstone CT #48, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
MLS# 26023830
Listed by Valentina M. Warn of Keller Williams Valley Realty
Price Dropped by $30K3 Beds4 Baths32 Melody LN, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
MLS# 26017592
Listed by Rosanne Tomiello of Keller Williams Village Square Realty
New4 Beds5 Baths63 Pleasant AVE, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
MLS# 26024050
Listed by Ana M. Moniz of Coldwell Banker, Hillsdale
New3 Beds4 Baths17 Skymark CT, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
MLS# 26014006
Listed by Chung Hee Lee of RE/MAX Signature Homes
New5 Beds4 Baths22 W Iron Latch, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
MLS# 26020332
Listed by Kristin Graves of RE/MAX Properties-Saddle River
Similar Neighborhood
Common Questions
Upper Saddle River, NJ — Frequently Asked Questions
Real answers about buying, selling, taxes, schools, and daily life in Upper Saddle River — Bergen County's premier estate borough: DFG J 9.6:1 schools, Northern Highlands Regional HS (planetarium + 750-seat auditorium), $244K median HH income, $19,743 avg tax bill, $1.44M+ median home price, Old Stone Church NRHP, 259 ft elevation, and a 1963 community vote that built a high school for the ages.
Upper Saddle River is a premium, low-volume estate market with consistent appreciation. Homes.com: 12-month median $1,440,500 (+14%), 65-day DOM. Movoto: $1,550,000 (June 2025, 40-day DOM). Zillow ZHVI: $1,208,702 (+3.8%). Redfin: $1.9M (February 2026, 153-day DOM — very thin winter sample of 5 sales). True SFH range approximately $1.2M–$3.5M+. The market is inherently thin: typically 15–30 active listings at any time for a borough of 8,400. The +14% YoY appreciation reflects the DFG J school premium and the broader estate market demand from Bergen County's $244K median income community. The 40-day Movoto DOM (summer peak) vs. 65-day Homes.com annual average reflects seasonal variance — spring and summer are strongest. Bergen Real Estate: "property values are consistently strong, reflecting steady demand from buyers who value privacy and suburban charm." Talk to us about current Upper Saddle River market conditions →
The practical tiers: Smaller or older-construction homes: $1.1M–$1.5M. Standard USR colonials and ranches, updated: $1.4M–$2.2M. Larger estate properties: $2.2M–$3.5M. Custom estates and newer construction: $3.5M+. Homes.com $1,440,500 annual median and Movoto $1,550,000 peak-season median bracket the active market reliably. The Zillow ZHVI $1,208,702 reflects the full housing stock including some townhouses and smaller units. Niche: median value $1,108,700 (older data). Bergen Real Estate: "the median home price is around $2.1M." The +14% YoY appreciation reflects genuine demand compression in a thin market where the DFG J school premium drives buyer willingness to pay above comparable communities without the same school classification.
Bergen Real Estate: "housing in Upper Saddle River is primarily composed of large single-family homes, many situated on expansive lots with landscaped yards. Colonials, ranches, and custom-built estates dominate the housing market, with newer luxury homes adding to the borough's appeal." The stock spans: 1950s–1970s ranches and colonials on larger lots — the post-war suburban development that built much of northwestern Bergen. 1980s–1990s colonials — the dominant USR housing type, spacious and family-oriented. Custom estates from the 2000s–present — newer construction at the upper end. Townhouses and smaller units — a smaller portion of the inventory, in the $600K–$900K range. Most properties are on lots of 0.5–2+ acres, reflecting the large-lot character. Some properties share the adjacent Saddle River's pastoral character; others in the more densely developed sections offer standard suburban lot sizing.
Upper Saddle River is primarily a car-commuter community with NJ Transit rail accessible at nearby stations. By car via I-287/Route 208/GWB: approximately 30–40 minutes to the GWB off-peak; Manhattan approximately 45–60 minutes. By train: drive to Ramsey Station (NJ Transit Main Line, ~5 min northwest) or Allendale Station (~5 min south) → Hoboken Terminal approximately 60–75 minutes total. No in-borough NJ Transit station. By bus: NJ Transit buses from Ramsey approximately 55–70 minutes to Port Authority. For buyers who commute to Bergen County employment (Paramus, Mahwah, Woodcliff Lake, Hackensack), the I-287 access makes in-county car commutes very practical. For Manhattan commuters, the drive-to-Ramsey or drive-to-Allendale approach is the standard pattern — similar to neighboring Saddle River. The community skews toward executives, business owners, and WFH professionals with reduced daily commute dependency.
The Upper Saddle River School District — PreK–8, 3 schools (Edith A. Bogert ES, Robert D. Reynolds ES, Emil A. Cavallini MS), 1,099 students (2023–24), 9.6:1 ratio, DFG J (Bergen County's highest classification) — is one of Bergen County's most respected PreK–8 districts. At 9.6:1, the ratio is comparable to Saddle River's Wandell School (8.5:1) and exceptional for a DFG J district of this size. For high school, USR students attend Northern Highlands Regional High School (298 Hillside Avenue, Allendale, Knights, Black and White, 1,261 students, 11.2:1, DFG J) — opened 1966 on a 40-acre campus with a planetarium, 750-seat auditorium/theater, and FM radio station, approved by community referendum in May 1963. The community voted in 1963 to build a high school with a planetarium; 60 years later it still produces DFG J graduates. Bergen County Academies (BCA) accessible for qualifying students. Saddle River Day School (private K–12) in adjacent Saddle River. Homes.com and Niche both rank USR's schools among Bergen County's best.
Upper Saddle River's general tax rate is 2.546% with an effective rate of 1.788%. The official 2024 average residential tax bill is $19,743 (NJ Division of Taxation — confirmed from 2024 state PDF). On a $1.5M home: approximately $20,000–$38,200/year. On a $2M home: approximately $26,600–$50,900. The effective rate of 1.788% reflects the assessment ratio — assessed values lag market values in USR, producing a favorable effective rate relative to the general rate. Bergen County comparisons: Saddle River 1.051% eff. (much lower — 2-acre lots, far smaller); Woodcliff Lake 2.162% general (comparable); Allendale higher at 2.569%. The $19,743 average bill — Bergen County's 7th highest — is the DFG J premium that produces the school quality, income community, and estate character that $1.44M+ homes reflect. Ownwell: median effective rate 2.47%, median bill $16,708 (reflects smaller/assessed-value properties; official NJ avg is more reliable). Tax bills due quarterly.
The northwestern Bergen estate tier comparison: Saddle River — adjacent, 2-acre minimum lots, 1.051% eff. rate, $19,655 avg bill (similar absolute), $1.2M–$5M+, DFG J (Wandell School 8.5:1 → Northern Highlands), smaller community (~3,400) — more private, lower rate, higher entry price, no commercial center. Allendale — adjacent south, Northern Highlands HS is in Allendale, NJ Transit Main Line in-borough, 2.569% general, $949K median, walkable downtown — more accessible price point, in-borough train, shares NHRHS. Ramsey — adjacent northwest, 2 NJ Transit stations, walkable downtown, 9.9:1 ratio, $750K–$950K median, lower price point. Woodcliff Lake — adjacent east, BMW HQ, Pascack Hills HS #7 NJ, 2.162% rate, $800K–$1.1M median. Upper Saddle River — 1.788% eff., $19,743 avg, DFG J 9.6:1 PreK–8, NHRHS, $1.44M+ median, $244K median HH, large lots, Old Stone Church NRHP, 259 ft elevation. The USR advantage over Saddle River: more accessible price entry ($1.2M vs. $1.5M+), same NHRHS HS, more community scale (8,400 vs. 3,400). The USR advantage over Allendale: larger lots, higher income community, no train noise.
Yes. The +14% YoY appreciation (Homes.com), 40–65 day DOM, and consistent buyer demand from Bergen County's DFG J estate buyer profile reflect a stable, appreciating seller market. The buyer pool is specific: executive and business-owner families targeting DFG J school access with large-lot residential character; buyers who have compared USR, Saddle River, Allendale, and Woodcliff Lake and specifically want the USR combination of DFG J + larger lots + 1.788% effective rate + NHRHS pipeline; and Bergen County upsizers moving from Ramsey, Allendale, or Woodcliff Lake who have identified USR as the natural next step. Spring is strongest; the DFG J school buyer profile is active year-round. Get a free Upper Saddle River home valuation →
Homes.com: 65-day average DOM (annual). Movoto: 40-day DOM (June 2025 peak). Well-priced SFH at $1.4M–$2M in spring: typically 4–8 weeks. Key selling messages: DFG J — Bergen's highest classification (9.6:1 PreK–8, Bogert/Reynolds ES + Cavallini MS), Northern Highlands Regional HS (40-acre campus, planetarium, 750-seat auditorium, FM radio, 1966, approved 1963 community referendum), $19,743 official avg tax bill (1.788% effective — favorable for DFG J), $244K median HH income (Bergen's 2nd highest), $363K avg HH income, 71.1% college+, large-lot estate character, 259 ft elevation, Old Stone Church NRHP, Saddle River Day School adjacent, Ramsey/Allendale NJ Transit 5 min, I-287/GSP access, Campgaw Mountain 15 min, Saddle River County Park trail, Niche A+. The 1963 referendum + planetarium story is the most distinctive selling point in the northwestern Bergen estate corridor — it demonstrates that this community has been investing in educational quality for over 60 years. Learn how we sell homes in Upper Saddle River →
Upper Saddle River is Bergen County's premier estate borough — incorporated November 22, 1894, the same night as adjacent Saddle River, both carved from Harrington Township, sharing the same ZIP code (07458) and the same origin story. The Old Stone Church on the National Register of Historic Places anchors the borough's Dutch colonial heritage. The Saddle River runs through it. In May 1963, the community voted to build a regional high school with a planetarium, a 750-seat auditorium, and an FM radio station on a 40-acre site — for $3.65 million. It opened in 1966. Today Northern Highlands Regional High School operates at DFG J, 11.2:1, and the community it serves has a $244,022 median household income and a 71.1% college education rate. The PreK–8 district runs at 9.6:1. There is no commercial center — Ramsey, Allendale, and Woodcliff Lake are all 5 minutes away. The Saddle River County Park trail runs through the borough at 259 feet elevation. Campgaw Mountain is 15 minutes northwest. The homes cost between $1.2M and $3.5M+. The tax bill averages $19,743. The community voted in 1963 to build a planetarium for its children. Sixty years later, it got exactly what it voted for.