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

Saddle River is a borough of 3,372 residents (2020 Census) in northern Bergen County, about 15 miles from the New York City line. It is a separate town from Upper Saddle River and Saddle Brook. The borough was formed in 1894, and its land-use rules have shaped it ever since. Zoning arrived in 1930, and in 1951 the minimum residential lot was raised from one acre to two. The result is a town of large lots, centuries-old homesteads and open land along the Saddle River. Here's what you should know before you buy, sell or rent here.

Why People Choose Saddle River

Space is the main draw. The borough's single-family zones allow no more than one home per two acres, and a 2020 borough housing plan found that residential uses cover about three-quarters of its roughly 3,175 acres.

History is the other draw. The first house in what is now Saddle River went up in 1709 and the first mill in 1714. A sawmill and foundries followed. The 65-acre Saddle River Center Historic District, along parts of East Allendale and West Saddle River roads, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. More than a dozen individual homes across the borough are listed too.

Rindlaub Park, created in the early 1960s behind Borough Hall, is the borough's central park. The Saddle River splits the park in two. A covered footbridge about 80 feet long now crosses the river, opening up the park's western wetlands, which had been cut off from the main recreation area.

Getting Around: Commuting from Saddle River

• Car: Route 17 runs north-south through the western part of the borough. East Allendale Road, Chestnut Ridge Road and East and West Saddle River roads are the main county roads. East Allendale Road has an interchange with Route 17.
• Train: There is no rail station in Saddle River. The borough's own history notes that the railroad was routed about a mile outside town. A nearby option is NJ Transit's Ramsey Route 17 station, on the Main/Bergen County Line, with a parking deck reached directly from Route 17. Trains run to Hoboken, with a transfer at Secaucus Junction for New York Penn Station.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Saddle River's housing is mostly single-family detached homes on large lots, with a few higher-density sites near Route 17. The borough's 2020 housing plan, based on 2018 Census Bureau survey data, counted about 1,360 homes:

• Single-family detached homes: About 81% of the housing stock. Roughly 55% of homes were built after 1980, while about 14% date from before 1950.
• Historic homesteads: Homes on the State and National Registers include the Andries Thomas Van Buskirk House and the Ackerman-Dewsnap House on East Saddle River Road, and the Ackerman House on Chestnut Ridge Road.
• Attached homes: Only about 4% of the stock is single-family attached, such as townhouses.
• Apartment buildings: About 15% of homes are in buildings with five or more units.
• Residences at Choctaw (newer): A 111-unit, three-story garden-style apartment community with one-, two- and three-bedroom units, all income-restricted. Its grand opening in October 2025 marked the borough's first purpose-built affordable housing community.

Affordable housing rules are changing. In March 2026 the borough introduced an ordinance to replace its affordable housing chapter under its Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. Under it, any new development with five or more multifamily units would have to set aside 20% of them as affordable.

Buying a Home in Saddle River

Here, the lot matters as much as the house. A few things we help buyers check:

• Land and site conditions: The borough's housing plan lists wetlands, floodplains, steep slopes and stream buffers as development constraints. Some parcels along East Saddle River Road and River Farm Lane sit partly in the 100-year floodplain. For any property near the river or a brook, we check FEMA flood maps and insurance costs before you make an offer.
• Historic properties: If a home is on the State or National Register or in the historic district, ask what that means for exterior changes, additions or demolition before you plan a renovation.
• Older-home inspections: Homes range from 18th-century homesteads to recent construction. Plan a thorough inspection and review the permit history, especially for additions.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a major part of any New Jersey budget. 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 Saddle River Home

No two Saddle River properties are alike. Acreage, frontage, topography, historic status and the age of the house can all move value more than square footage does. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis using recent sales of properties like yours, then market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Saddle River

This is mainly an ownership market. The borough's 2020 plan estimated that about 14% of homes were renter-occupied. Rentals are mostly single-family homes and apartment units, and the Residences at Choctaw units are reserved for income-qualified households. The same plan counted almost no two-to-four family homes. We help landlords price, market and screen tenants for single-family rentals, and we help investors weigh realistic rents, taxes, insurance and upkeep on large properties.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Rindlaub Park and its covered footbridge over the Saddle River
• Saddle River Center Historic District, East Allendale and West Saddle River roads
• Joe Jefferson Clubhouse, 29 East Saddle River Road, on the National Register
• Garret K. Osborn Barn, East Allendale Road, on the State and National Registers
• Borough municipal offices, 100 East Allendale Road
• Saddle River Post Office, 177 East Saddle River Road
• Public schools: Saddle River School District (Wandell School). Students continue at Eric S. Smith Middle School in the Ramsey Public School District, then choose Ramsey High School or Northern Highlands Regional High School.

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Saddle River with nearby towns? Read our guides to Upper Saddle River, Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus and Ramsey, 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 Saddle River.

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.