Cresskill, NJ Real Estate Guide: Buy, Sell & Rent

Cresskill is a Bergen County borough of about 9,155 residents as of the 2020 Census, covering a little over two square miles. It was incorporated in 1894 from part of the old Palisades Township and takes its name from the watercress that once grew along its streams. Today it combines a mostly single-family housing stock, a direct bus to Midtown Manhattan and a World War I memorial that anchors the center of town. Here's what buyers, sellers, renters and investors should know about Cresskill.

Why People Choose Cresskill

During World War I, Camp Merritt covered about 770 acres across what is now Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Haworth and Tenafly, and more than a million soldiers passed through it on their way to France. The camp closed in 1919. In 1924 Bergen County dedicated the Camp Merritt Memorial Monument, a granite obelisk at the center of the traffic circle where Knickerbocker Road meets Madison Avenue. The circle sits on the Cresskill-Dumont line.

Civic life centers on Union Avenue, home to Borough Hall at 67 Union Avenue and the Cresskill Public Library at 53 Union Avenue. The borough also runs a municipal pool, a community and recreation center, and several parks and fields. Recent additions include a pickleball court that opened in June 2026 and a Thursday farmers market at the library that began the same month.

Getting Around: Commuting from Cresskill

• Bus to Manhattan: NJ Transit's 166 runs between Cresskill and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown, traveling through Tenafly and Englewood along Engle Street. In Cresskill, stops include Madison Avenue and Knickerbocker Road at Camp Merritt Memorial Circle.
• Local bus: NJ Transit's 753 connects Cresskill with Paramus.
• Rail: Cresskill had a commuter rail station at Union Avenue and Piermont Road from 1859 until service ended in the 1960s. There is no passenger rail station in town today, so most commuters use the bus or drive.
• Local roads: Knickerbocker Road, Piermont Road, County Road and Madison Avenue carry most trips through the borough.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Cresskill is primarily a single-family town. The borough's zoning code sets aside three one-family residence districts, and Census estimates show that roughly 78 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied. The same code also provides for other kinds of housing:

• Townhouses: Two townhouse residence districts and a planned unit residential development district.
• Apartments: A residential apartment zone, plus a dual-use zone that pairs professional offices with apartments.
• Affordable housing: Cresskill has several affordable housing zones, including three downtown affordable housing overlay districts.
• Historic homes: Four houses in the borough are listed on both the state and national historic registers, listed below.

Affordable housing planning is ongoing. In March 2026 the borough's Joint Land Use Board held a public hearing on an amended Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, tied to a settlement with Fair Share Housing Center. We follow these changes for clients buying or selling near the affected zones.

Buying a Home in Cresskill

Because most homes here are single-family, buyers usually compare lot size, layout, age and condition. We help you check:

• Older-home inspections: Ask the seller for the home's age and its renovation and permit history, and plan an inspection that covers the roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and drainage.
• Flood risk near the Tenakill Brook: The brook overflowed its banks during Tropical Storm Ida in 2021. The borough has since received nearly $1.1 million for a Tenakill Brook flood mitigation project and is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For homes near the brook, we review FEMA flood maps, elevation and flood insurance before you make an offer.
• Townhouse and condo associations: For attached homes, we review monthly fees, reserves, rules and any planned special assessments. For FHA buyers, we confirm the complex qualifies.
• Historic properties: Cresskill has a Historic Preservation Commission. If a home is a registered landmark, we help you understand what that means before you plan changes.
• Property taxes: 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 Cresskill Home

A Cresskill listing has clear selling points: a one-seat bus ride to Midtown, a municipal pool, borough parks and a historic landmark at the center of town. Values still vary by lot size, condition and location, including how close a home is to the Tenakill Brook. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis from recent comparable sales, then market your home on the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Cresskill

Cresskill's rental supply is limited. Options include apartments in the borough's apartment and dual-use zones, plus single-family homes and townhouses offered for lease. Investors should keep an eye on the borough's affordable housing plan and overlay zones, which shape where new housing can go. We can help you estimate realistic rents, taxes, insurance and maintenance before you buy, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Camp Merritt Memorial Monument at Knickerbocker Road and Madison Avenue
• Tallman House, one of Cresskill's oldest homes, available to organizations for history and education programs
• Historic houses on the state and national registers: Blackledge-Gair House (111 Madison Avenue), Demarest-Atwood House (84 Jefferson Avenue), Peter Huyler House (50 County Road) and Benjamin P. Westervelt House (235 County Road)
• Cresskill Public Library, 53 Union Avenue
• Cresskill Municipal Pool
• Crestron Field, the basketball and tennis courts on 3rd Street, the new pickleball court and Merrifield Memorial Grove
• 9/11 Memorial on 3rd Street
• Cresskill Community and Recreation Center
• Public schools: Cresskill Public School District, including Edward H. Bryan School, Merritt Memorial School, Cresskill Middle School and Cresskill High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Cresskill with nearby towns? Read our guides to Tenafly, Demarest, Bergenfield and Dumont, or browse all of our North Jersey town guides.

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, Passaic and Union 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 Cresskill.

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.