Franklin Lakes, NJ Real Estate Guide: Buy, Sell & Rent

Franklin Lakes is a borough in northwest Bergen County with 11,079 residents as of the 2020 Census, spread across roughly 9.4 square miles of land. It's a borough where preserved open space, centuries-old houses and a major corporate headquarters all sit within the same borders, and where Route 208 and Interstate 287 meet. Here's what you should know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Franklin Lakes.

Why People Choose Franklin Lakes

Room to breathe is a big part of the appeal. The borough owns a nature preserve built around a former reservoir, keeps a well-used public library, and has more than a dozen homes on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. That mix of preserved land and preserved history is a large part of what sets Franklin Lakes apart in Bergen County.

It's also a work destination. BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), the medical technology company, lists its executive offices at 1 Becton Drive in Franklin Lakes, so some buyers are looking for a short commute to a major corporate campus rather than a ride into Manhattan.

Getting Around: Commuting from Franklin Lakes

• Route 208: Runs through the borough and continues southeast through Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock and Fair Lawn, linking Franklin Lakes to the rest of Bergen and Passaic counties.
• Interstate 287: Passes through Franklin Lakes, and Route 208 connects to it near the Oakland border. That gives drivers direct access to one of the region's main highway loops.
• Transit: If you'll be riding NJ Transit into New York, tell us where you work. We'll map the drive to nearby train stations and park-and-ride lots for each home you're considering, so the commute is part of the decision from the start.

Homes and History

Franklin Lakes has an unusually deep inventory of historic houses for a town its size. The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office lists more than a dozen properties in the borough on the State and/or National Register, and several of them line Franklin Lake Road, including the Ackerman-Boyd House, the Storms House, the Van Blarcom House, the Van Winkle House and the Van Houten-Ackerman House. Other listed homes stand on Ewing Avenue, Woodside Avenue, Pulis Avenue, Franklin Avenue and Circle Avenue.

The borough's history isn't only colonial. The Reaction Motors Rocket Test Facility on Dogwood Trail has been on the National Register since 1979, a reminder of Franklin Lakes' place in the early days of American rocketry.

Historic or not, every property is different, so we evaluate each home on its own lot, age and condition rather than leaning on generalizations about a section of town.

Buying a Home in Franklin Lakes

Whether you're paying cash, financing with a conventional loan or relocating for a job, a few checks matter here:

• Historic listings: If a home appears on the State or National Register, or sits next to one, we'll look into what that means for renovations or additions before you commit.
• Older-home inspections: For houses with decades (or centuries) behind them, we recommend a thorough inspection covering the roof, foundation, heating system, plumbing and electrical, plus any specialized tests your inspector suggests.
• Lot and site review: Larger properties can come with easements, outbuildings, pools or drainage questions. We review the survey and any permits on file so you know exactly what you're buying.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a big piece of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home on your list so there are no surprises.

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

Selling Your Franklin Lakes Home

Franklin Lakes borders Wyckoff and Oakland, and buyers shopping northwest Bergen County will weigh your home against what's available in those towns too, so it has to stand out on its own merits. A historic house on Franklin Lake Road, a home near the nature preserve and a property close to the Route 208 and I-287 interchange each appeal to a different buyer. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of homes like yours, recommend the preparation that pays off, and market your listing across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Franklin Lakes

When a Franklin Lakes rental does come up, timing matters. Corporate relocations, buyers waiting on a purchase and people working nearby can all be in the market for a lease. We help renters move quickly when the right home comes up, and we help owners price, market and screen tenants. For investors, we'll walk through realistic rents, taxes, insurance and maintenance on any property before you buy, so the numbers make sense from day one.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, built around the former Haledon Reservoir and open for hiking, fishing and bird watching
• Franklin Lakes Public Library on De Korte Drive, with museum passes, a Library of Things and local history resources
• Reaction Motors Rocket Test Facility (National Register of Historic Places)
• Historic homes along Franklin Lake Road
• BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) executive offices
• Public schools: Franklin Lakes School District (grades PreK–8) and the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District, whose Ramapo High School is on George Street in Franklin Lakes

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Franklin Lakes with nearby towns? Read our guides to Wyckoff, Oakland, Mahwah and Wayne, 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 Franklin Lakes.

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.