Ridgefield Park is a compact village in southern Bergen County, home to about 13,200 people as of the 2020 Census on less than two square miles of land. It is one of only a handful of New Jersey municipalities still governed as a village, and it sits where Overpeck Creek meets the Hackensack River, wedged between Interstate 80, Interstate 95 and Route 46. That mix of small-town layout and big-highway access is what puts Ridgefield Park on so many buyers' and renters' lists. Here's what to know before you make a move in the village.

Why People Choose Ridgefield Park

Location is the headline. Few towns in Bergen County sit this close to three major highways at once, so the George Washington Bridge, the Meadowlands, Hackensack and the rest of North Jersey are all a short drive away. At the same time, the village has its own walkable Main Street business district, a public library at Euclid Avenue and Cedar Street, and direct frontage on Overpeck County Park, the 805-acre county park that follows Overpeck Creek.

Ridgefield Park also has a strong sense of tradition. Its Fourth of July parade dates back to 1894, and the village bills it as the oldest continuously running parade in New Jersey. The 2026 edition marked America's 250th anniversary with a route through the center of town ending on Main Street.

Getting Around: Commuting from Ridgefield Park

• Bus to Manhattan: NJ Transit routes 155, 157, 161, 165, 167 and 168 serve the village with service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown. Route 168 runs along Main Street.
• Local bus: NJ Transit route 83 connects Ridgefield Park with the Hackensack Bus Terminal to the north and the Journal Square Transportation Center in Jersey City to the south.
• Car: Interstate 80, Interstate 95 (the New Jersey Turnpike) and U.S. Route 46 all pass through the village. The Winant Avenue Bridge, a 1934 drawbridge that carries Route 46 over the Hackensack River, links Ridgefield Park with Little Ferry.
• Rail: The village no longer has its own passenger station. Its historic stops on the West Shore and Susquehanna lines closed decades ago, so most commuters rely on the bus or drive.

Housing Types in Ridgefield Park

Ridgefield Park's housing is a blend of ownership and rental options on a small footprint:

• Single-family homes: Detached houses on residential streets make up a large share of the village's ownership housing.
• Two-to-four family homes: Multi-family houses come up for sale regularly. They are a popular first purchase for buyers who want rental income to help carry the mortgage.
• Co-op apartments: Co-op buildings in the village give buyers a lower-cost path to ownership than a house.
• New rental construction: The Overpeck Corporate Center along Challenger Road is adding housing for the first time. Ground was broken in October 2025 on a six-story, 216-unit building at 95 Challenger Road, with studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments and 22 affordable units. Nearby, 60 Challenger Road holds site-plan approval for a 19-story building with up to 552 apartments.

Buying a Home in Ridgefield Park

Buyers here usually choose between a co-op, a single-family home or a two-to-four family. If you plan to live in one unit of a two-to-four family, an FHA loan lets you buy with a low down payment, and the rent from the other units can help with your monthly costs.

A few things we check with every Ridgefield Park buyer:

• Co-op board rules: Each co-op sets its own financing, approval and sublet policies. We review them before you write an offer.
• Older-home condition: If you're buying an older house, a thorough inspection of the roof, heating system, electrical and plumbing is a must.
• Flood hazard areas: The village borders the Hackensack River and Overpeck Creek and enforces floodplain management rules for development in its mapped flood hazard areas. We check flood maps and insurance requirements early so there are no surprises.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so you can budget accurately.

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

Selling Your Ridgefield Park Home

Highway access and quick bus service to Manhattan give Ridgefield Park a wide buyer pool, from commuters to investors to first-time buyers. Each property type competes in its own market, though. A co-op, a single-family home and a three-family will each draw different buyers and need different pricing. We start with a free comparative market analysis built on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your property across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Ridgefield Park

Renters can find apartments in two-to-four family homes throughout the village, and the new buildings at the Overpeck Corporate Center are adding modern units with amenities. For investors, small multi-family properties are the core opportunity here. Before you buy, we'll help you work through realistic rents, taxes, insurance and repair needs so the numbers hold up. Landlords can also count on us for pricing, marketing and tenant screening.

Plans for the Village

Ridgefield Park adopted a new Master Plan in 2022, a Creative Placemaking Plan in 2024 and an updated zoning ordinance in December 2023. The Master Plan addresses land use, the downtown retail area, historic preservation, open space and recreation. Buyers and investors weighing long-term value should know these plans are in place.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Overpeck County Park, including the Ridgefield Park section with athletic fields, tennis and pickleball courts, walking paths, an amphitheater and a canoe/kayak launch
• Main Street business district
• Ridgefield Park Public Library
• Overpeck Corporate Center on Challenger Road
• The annual Fourth of July parade, held since 1894
• Public schools: Ridgefield Park Public Schools, including Ridgefield Park High School

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 Park.

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.