The Borough of Ridgefield is a compact Bergen County town of about 11,500 residents as of the 2020 Census, set between the Palisades ridge and the Hackensack Meadowlands. Covering under three square miles, it borders Fort Lee and North Bergen and offers a mix of one-family homes, two-family houses, townhouses and apartments. Ridgefield is a separate municipality from neighboring Ridgefield Park, so be sure you're looking at the right town when you search listings. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Ridgefield.

Why People Choose Ridgefield

Location is the headline. Ridgefield borders North Bergen, Fairview, Cliffside Park, Fort Lee, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, Little Ferry, South Hackensack and Carlstadt, so it's surrounded by the job centers, shopping and highways of southeast Bergen and north Hudson. Part of the borough falls within the Meadowlands District, the regional planning area overseen by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, and the borough includes the preserved Skeetkill Creek Marsh along Bellman's Creek.

Ridgefield also has an unusual bit of history. Grantwood, an artists' colony founded in 1913 by Man Ray and Samuel Halpert, straddled Ridgefield and Cliffside Park, and some streets in that section still carry art-themed names such as Sketch Place and Studio Road.

Getting Around: Commuting from Ridgefield

• Bus: NJ Transit routes 127, 154, 165, 166, 168 and 321 serve Ridgefield and run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and Route 83 connects to Jersey City. Several routes stop along Broad Avenue, and select weekday rush-hour 127 trips run to Shaler Boulevard.
• Park and ride: The Vince Lombardi Park & Ride, at the New Jersey Turnpike's Exit 16 area in Ridgefield, has about 1,000 commuter spaces and NJ Transit 321 bus service to Port Authority.
• Car: The New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) runs through the borough, along with US 1/9, US 46, Route 5, Route 63 and Route 93. Neighboring Fort Lee puts the George Washington Bridge within easy reach.
• Future light rail: NJ Transit's proposed Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension along the Northern Branch would add stations in North Bergen, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia and Englewood. As of NJ Transit's November 2025 announcement, the project was in the environmental review stage, with no construction schedule announced.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Ridgefield is informally divided into three sections: Ridgefield, Morsemere and Ridgefield Heights. Undercliff Junction is a small unincorporated community inside the borough, and the Grantwood area runs along the Cliffside Park border.

The borough's zoning code sets aside separate districts for different housing types, which gives buyers and renters real choice in a small footprint:

• One-family homes: Detached single-family houses in the borough's single-family district.
• Two-family homes: A dedicated two-family district permits detached two-family buildings, a common choice for owner-occupants who want rental income.
• Apartments and multifamily buildings: A multiple-family district allows apartment buildings, a source of both rentals and condo units.
• Townhouses: Several zones permit townhouse development, including districts that require an affordable housing set-aside.
• Apartments over stores: The commercial district allows residential units above the first floor, so you'll find mixed-use buildings with apartments over retail space.

Buying a Home in Ridgefield

With one-family houses, two-family homes, townhouses and condos all in the mix, Ridgefield offers several ways into the eastern Bergen County market. If you're using an FHA loan, a two-to-four family property can be purchased with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units, and Ridgefield's two-family zoning makes that a realistic path.

A few things we help buyers check:

• Flood exposure: Ridgefield sits partly within the Hackensack River floodplain, and flooding around Bellman's Creek is common during storms. We check FEMA flood maps and get insurance quotes before you commit.
• Older-home inspections: If you're buying an older house, a thorough inspection covering the roof, heating system, electrical, plumbing and foundation is a must.
• Condo and townhouse associations: We review monthly fees, reserves, rules and any planned special assessments.
• Two-family details: We look at existing leases, separate utilities and certificate of occupancy requirements.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a big part of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering.

Need financing? We can connect you with a lender for pre-approval before you start touring.

Selling Your Ridgefield Home

Ridgefield's location next to the Turnpike, the GWB and Midtown bus routes gives sellers a wide buyer pool, from commuters to owner-occupants seeking a two-family to investors. Each property type competes in its own market, so pricing a townhouse, a one-family and a two-family the same way would be a mistake. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your property across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Ridgefield

Apartment buildings, two-family units, townhouses and apartments over storefronts give Ridgefield a varied rental market for a town its size. We help renters find units that fit their budget and commute, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants. For investors, two-family and small multifamily properties are the main draw. Before you buy, we'll walk through realistic rents, taxes, insurance, flood exposure and condition so the numbers work from day one.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Skeetkill Creek Marsh, a 16-acre restored wetland along Bellman's Creek with a small public park and an informational kiosk
• Ridgefield Public Library on Morse Avenue
• Broad Avenue and Shaler Boulevard business corridors, with shops and restaurants
• Vince Lombardi Park & Ride on the New Jersey Turnpike
• Public schools: Ridgefield School District, including Ridgefield Memorial High School; Bergen County Technical Schools are also an option

Talk to a Local Broker

The Thompson Realty Group is a licensed New Jersey real estate brokerage based at 20 MacArthur Ave in Garfield, serving buyers, sellers, renters and investors across Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. Whether you're a first-time FHA buyer, a cash investor, or a homeowner wondering what your place is worth, we'll give you straight answers about Ridgefield.

Call or text 201-928-5562 or book a free 15-minute consultation. You can also search every active New Jersey listing on our website.

Information on this page is provided for general guidance and is believed accurate as of October 2026. Programs, ordinances, taxes and transit schedules change, so please verify details for any specific property. Equal Housing Opportunity.