River Vale, NJ Real Estate Guide for Buyers, Sellers & Renters

River Vale is a township in the Pascack Valley region of northern Bergen County, with 9,909 residents as of the 2020 Census and a little over four square miles of land. It was formed on April 30, 1906, from parts of Hillsdale Township and Washington Township, and it takes its name from its location along the Hackensack River. The township calls itself the "Garden Spot" of the Pascack Valley, and its three golf courses, Revolutionary War history and mostly owner-occupied housing set it apart from its neighbors. Here's what buyers, sellers, renters and investors should know about River Vale.

Why People Choose River Vale

River Vale is primarily a homeownership town. Census Bureau estimates for 2020–2024 show about 90% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners. Day-to-day life centers on Rivervale Road, where Town Hall (406 Rivervale Road), the River Vale Free Public Library (412 Rivervale Road) and the township-owned River Vale Country Club (660 Rivervale Road) are all located. The Four Corners area is the township's main business district, with shops, restaurants, services and medical offices.

Golf is a big part of the town's identity. The township counts three golf courses within its borders. River Vale Country Club is an 18-hole, semi-private course owned by the Township of River Vale. It offers seasonal memberships and also welcomes public daily-fee golfers.

Getting Around: Commuting from River Vale

River Vale is less than 20 miles from New York City, according to the township. It has no train station of its own, so commuters drive to stations in neighboring towns.

• Train: NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line stops in several bordering towns, including Westwood, Hillsdale, Woodcliff Lake, Park Ridge and Montvale. Trains run to Hoboken, and riders bound for New York Penn Station transfer at Secaucus Junction.
• Car: Rivervale Road and Westwood Avenue are the township's main routes. River Vale borders Montvale, Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, Hillsdale, Westwood, Emerson, Harrington Park and Old Tappan, plus Pearl River, New York, on its northern edge, so Rockland County is a short drive.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

With nine in ten occupied homes owner-occupied, River Vale's housing stock is weighted toward homes that people buy rather than rent. Here's how the options break down:

• Owner-occupied homes: The large majority of the market, so most searches come down to comparing lot, layout, age and condition.
• Attached and multi-unit options: These come up far less often than in larger Bergen County towns. When a condo, townhouse or two-family home does hit the market, it's worth moving quickly.
• New construction on Rivervale Road: In 2025, the township agreed to include the Forcellati Brothers Nursery property at 691–693 Rivervale Road in its court-ordered affordable housing plan. The plan calls for 75 housing units on the site, 15 of them (20%) affordable. The township council adopted its Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, which runs through 2035, in June 2025.

Buying a Home in River Vale

With limited inventory, preparation counts. A few things we help you check:

• Pre-approval first: When few homes are for sale, sellers favor buyers who show up with financing in place. We can connect you with a lender before you start touring.
• Older-home inspections: For an older home, plan a thorough inspection of the roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and drainage, and ask for the permit history on any additions or finished basements.
• Association documents: For a condo or townhouse, we review monthly fees, reserves, rules and any planned special assessments.
• Two-to-four family homes: If one comes up, an FHA loan lets you buy it with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a major part of any New Jersey budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so there are no surprises.

Selling Your River Vale Home

River Vale sellers can point to a township-owned golf course, a Pascack Valley address with several train stations a short drive away, and a business district at Four Corners. Value still depends on lot, condition and updates. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using sales of homes like yours, then market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in River Vale

Rentals are scarce in a town where about 90% of occupied homes are owner-occupied, so renters should be ready to act when a unit opens up. Investors should watch for the occasional multi-unit property and for the new units planned at the Forcellati site. We help investors estimate realistic rents, taxes, insurance and repair costs, and we help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Baylor Massacre Burial Site, Rivervale Road and Red Oak Drive. This Bergen County historic memorial park marks the September 28, 1778 British attack on the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons. The soldiers' graves along the Hackensack River were rediscovered in 1967.
• Veterans Memorial Park, next to Town Hall. From 2000 until 2025, it displayed the stern plate of the World War II aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), which River Vale resident W. Henry Hoffman saved from the scrapyard. The township has loaned the plate to the U.S. Navy. It is on temporary display at Battleship New Jersey in Camden until it moves to the planned National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, D.C.
• River Vale Free Public Library, 412 Rivervale Road. The library started in 1952 in a basement classroom at the Roberge School and opened its current 8,000-square-foot building in 1983. It houses a USS Enterprise (CV-6) collection that includes a ship's flag, lanterns, the boxing bell and five log books.
• River Vale Country Club, 660 Rivervale Road, a township-owned 18-hole course
• Four Corners, the township's main business district
• Public schools: River Vale Public Schools (Roberge Elementary School, Woodside Elementary School and Holdrum Middle School) and the Pascack Valley Regional High School District, including Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale

Nearby Town Guides

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

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.