Englewood Cliffs, NJ Real Estate Guide: Buy, Sell & Rent

Englewood Cliffs is a small Bergen County borough perched on top of the Hudson Palisades, just north of the George Washington Bridge. It had 5,342 residents in the 2020 Census on a little over two square miles of land, and it's a separate town from its larger neighbor, Englewood. What makes Englewood Cliffs different is the way it's laid out: residential streets of single-family homes on one side, a corporate office corridor along Sylvan Avenue on the other, and protected parkland along the cliffs and riverfront. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Englewood Cliffs.

Why People Choose Englewood Cliffs

The borough was incorporated in 1895, and its first mayor, William O. Allison, is credited with founding it. Much of what you see today traces back to the 1950s. Prentice-Hall built the first corporate office on Sylvan Avenue in 1953, and the borough's 1954 zoning code kept single-family neighborhoods separate from the office district with buffer zones. That pattern still defines the town.

Sylvan Avenue remains a business address. LG Electronics has its North American headquarters on Sylvan Avenue, and CNBC operates from its Englewood Cliffs facility. The corridor has also seen turnover. Unilever moved its U.S. headquarters to Hoboken in 2025. Samsung moved into the former Unilever campus at 700 Sylvan Avenue in the fall of 2025, and news reports in June 2026 said the company plans to move its U.S. headquarters to Texas by the end of the year.

The other draw is the setting. The Palisades Interstate Park was created in 1900 to protect the cliffs, and today park land covers the cliff edge and the riverfront below, with access to trails, picnic areas and the Hudson.

Getting Around: Commuting from Englewood Cliffs

There's no train station in Englewood Cliffs, so commuters rely on buses and the borough's direct highway access to the George Washington Bridge.

• Bus: NJ Transit route 156 runs along Sylvan Avenue toward the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, and route 186 travels Sylvan Avenue to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.
• Car: U.S. Route 9W (Sylvan Avenue) and the Palisades Interstate Parkway run side by side through the borough, from Fort Lee to Tenafly. Hudson Terrace (County Route 505) connects Fort Lee and Englewood. The parkway's southern end at the GWB in Fort Lee links to I-95, U.S. 1/9 and U.S. 46.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Englewood Cliffs' housing is shaped by its zoning history. The 1954 code removed apartment buildings and factories, so for decades the borough's residential areas have been made up mostly of single-family houses. Here's what you'll find:

• Single-family homes: The bulk of the housing stock. Many date from the post-World War II building boom, when roughly 700 acres of the former Allison lands went on the market in 1947 and the population grew quickly over the next two decades. Redevelopment has since replaced some older homes with new construction.
• The Sylvan: A rental community by Garden Communities on the former Unilever site at 800 Sylvan Avenue. The first phase of 112 three-bedroom rental townhomes welcomed its first residents in late 2025, with an apartment building planned as the next phase. Ninety affordable rental apartments were offered by lottery in 2026.
• Future zoning changes: As part of its Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, the borough has been moving 2026 ordinances that create affordable housing overlay zones along southern Sylvan Avenue.

Buying a Home in Englewood Cliffs

Buying in Englewood Cliffs usually means buying a single-family home. Here's what we help buyers check:

• Age and condition: Homes from the postwar era may have original systems, roofs or additions from different decades. A thorough inspection, plus a check of permits for past renovations, is worth the time.
• Teardown and new-construction comps: Because some lots have been rebuilt, prices on the same block can vary widely. We compare like with like so you don't overpay or underbid.
• Zoning and lot rules: If you plan to expand or rebuild, we'll help you look into the borough's zoning and bulk requirements before you commit.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so you can budget accurately.

Financing? We can connect you with a lender for pre-approval before you tour.

Selling Your Englewood Cliffs Home

With a limited number of homes in a small borough, each sale carries weight, and a renovated house, an original postwar home and a lot that appeals to builders can each attract a different buyer. Pricing has to reflect which one you have. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours, advise on whether updates are worth making before you list and market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Englewood Cliffs

Because the borough's housing is mostly single-family, rental choices have traditionally been limited. The Sylvan adds new rental townhomes and apartments, including income-restricted units. We help renters compare options and commutes, and we help homeowners price, market and screen tenants if they decide to rent out a house.

For investors, the main question is the property itself: condition, carrying costs and whether the home suits a rental, a renovation or a rebuild. We'll help you run realistic numbers on rent, taxes, insurance and improvements before you buy.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Palisades Interstate Park, along the cliffs and Hudson River shoreline
• Allison Park, a cliff-top overlook park with walkways and lawns, named for the borough's first mayor
• Englewood Picnic Area at the southern end of Henry Hudson Drive, with a playground, Bloomer's Beach and trail access
• Englewood Cliffs Community Center on Hudson Terrace
• Witte Field on Johnson Avenue and Veterans and Fallen Heroes Park on West Bayview Avenue
• Library cards for residents through the Fort Lee Public Library
• Public schools: Englewood Cliffs Public Schools, including North Cliff School and the Upper School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Englewood Cliffs with nearby towns? Read our guides to Englewood, Fort Lee and Tenafly, 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 Englewood Cliffs.

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.