Harrington Park, NJ Real Estate Guide for Buyers, Sellers & Renters

Harrington Park is a Northern Valley borough in Bergen County with 4,741 residents as of the 2020 Census, on about 1.85 square miles of land along the edge of the Oradell Reservoir. The area was once part of Harrington Township, which dates to 1775, and the borough was incorporated during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. The West Shore Railroad turned its farms, mills and orchards into a suburb, and it grew fastest between 1950 and 1970. Here's what buyers, sellers, renters and investors should know about Harrington Park.

Why People Choose Harrington Park

Open space is the borough's calling card. Harrington Park says its recreational acreage per resident is among the highest in New Jersey, and its 2025 master plan reexamination lists nine parks and recreation sites on the state's Recreation and Open Space Inventory. The Oradell Reservoir borders the borough, and the master plan identifies those reservoir lands as a regional drinking water source.

The civic core is compact. Borough Hall is at 85 Harriot Avenue, Harrington Park School is up the street at 191 Harriot Avenue, and the public library is on Herring Street. The small downtown business district runs along La Roche Avenue, with its entrance at the intersection of Semmens Road, La Roche Avenue and Carman Road. The borough also hosts an annual fall 5K, a Ragamuffin Parade in October and a seasonal farmers market.

Getting Around: Commuting from Harrington Park

• Bus: NJ Transit route 167 serves Harrington Park and runs to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. The borough's master plan notes that commuter parking in town supports bus service to New York City.
• Rail: The borough was built around the old West Shore Railroad, but there is no passenger rail station in town today.
• Car: Old Hook Road (County Route 502) and Livingston Street (County Route 505) are the main through routes. Schraalenburgh Road, Lafayette Road, Tappan Road and Harriot Avenue are also county roads.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Harrington Park is overwhelmingly a single-family town. Census estimates cited in the 2025 master plan reexamination put single-family detached homes at about 92% of the housing stock. Census Bureau QuickFacts shows roughly 92% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. The main options:

• Single-family homes: Many date from the borough's 1950–1970 growth period.
• Townhouses: The borough has two townhouse developments.
• Small conversions and mixed use: A former bank at 4 Park Street was converted to residential use in 2020. In 2022, the Zoning Board approved a mixed-use project with 28 rental units at 72–76 Schraalenburgh Road.
• Accessory apartments: The borough's Fourth Round affordable housing plan includes an accessory apartment program, which offers incentives to owners who create qualifying rental units.

Change is coming to the business and industrial blocks. An affordable housing overlay already allows apartments, townhouses and mixed-use buildings, up to 35 feet or 2.5 stories, on several B-1, B-2 and I-1 sites. In March 2026, the Planning Board held a hearing on an amended Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan that would add more overlay sites. We track these changes for clients buying or selling near downtown and Schraalenburgh Road.

Buying a Home in Harrington Park

Buyers here usually compare lot size, layout, condition and distance to the bus and downtown. A few things we help you check:

• Older-home inspections: For an older home, plan a thorough inspection covering roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and drainage, and review the home's permit history with the Building and Zoning office.
• Townhouse associations: For attached homes, we review association fees, reserves, rules and any planned assessments.
• Reservoir-area lots: For homes near the Oradell Reservoir lands or Pondside Park, we check FEMA flood maps and any environmental limits before you make an offer.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a major part of any New Jersey budget, so we pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering, including any changes from a townwide revaluation.

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

Selling Your Harrington Park Home

Harrington Park sellers can point to a direct bus to Midtown, a large park system and a setting along the Oradell Reservoir. Because so few homes change hands in a mostly owner-occupied borough, pricing has to reflect the specific lot, condition and location. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of homes like yours, then market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Harrington Park

Rentals are limited here. The 2025 master plan counted only a few dozen renter-occupied homes. That could change as the approved Schraalenburgh Road project, the accessory apartment program and the overlay zones add rental units. Investors should watch the B-1, B-2 and I-1 overlay sites closely. We help investors estimate realistic rents, taxes, insurance and repairs, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Oradell Reservoir, which forms part of the borough's border
• Borough parks on the state open space inventory: Hoelscher Field (formerly Highland Field), Lohs Field, Pondside Park, George Street Park, Beachwood Park, Nutshell Park, Donald T. Horsey Centennial Park, the Trautwein property and the swim club
• The former one-room schoolhouse on Hackensack Avenue, which graduated its last class in 1926
• Harrington Park Public Library, 10 Herring Street, a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System
• Downtown shops and services along La Roche Avenue
• Borough Hall, 85 Harriot Avenue, and the recycling center on Penn Street
• Public schools: Harrington Park School District (Harrington Park School) and the Northern Valley Regional High School District, including Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Harrington Park with nearby towns? Read our guides to Closter, Old Tappan, Haworth and River Vale, 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 Harrington 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.