Upper Saddle River, NJ Real Estate Guide: Buy, Sell & Rent

Upper Saddle River is a borough in northern Bergen County with 8,353 residents as of the 2020 Census. Incorporated in 1894, it was farm country for most of its history, known for apples and strawberries well into the twentieth century. Today it is a residential borough where most homes are owner-occupied, with a commercial strip along Route 17 and a set of preserved Dutch-era buildings along its older roads. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Upper Saddle River.

Why People Choose Upper Saddle River

Upper Saddle River combines a residential setting with quick access to one of North Jersey's main highways. Route 17 runs through the borough, running north through Ramsey toward I-287 in Mahwah and south through Allendale and Saddle River toward the rest of Bergen County. The Saddle River runs through town, and the borough's local history is still visible: George Washington's troops marched up East Saddle River Road during the Revolutionary War, and several eighteenth-century stone houses still stand.

The borough also runs an active recreation calendar, with events such as Upper Saddle River Day, the USR 5K, a spring fishing derby and a community clean-up day at Lions Park.

Getting Around: Commuting from Upper Saddle River

• Train: Upper Saddle River has no rail station of its own. The closest major option is NJ Transit's Ramsey Route 17 station in neighboring Ramsey, a Main Line station with a large commuter parking deck reached from Route 17. Trains run to Hoboken by way of Secaucus Junction.
• Car: Route 17 is the borough's main highway, linking to I-287 to the north and to the rest of Bergen County to the south. West Saddle River Road, East Saddle River Road and Lake Street are the main local roads.

Commuting needs vary a lot from one address to the next here, so we're happy to map out drive times to the train station and your workplace for any home you're considering.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Upper Saddle River is mostly residential, and Census estimates for 2020–2024 show that more than nine in ten occupied homes are owner-occupied. The borough's zoning code sets out several residence districts (R-1, R-1A and R-2), plus a number of affordable housing districts and overlay zones. Commercial uses are concentrated in highway commercial and highway retail districts and an industrial park district.

Some of the borough's oldest houses still stand along its older roads. The Historical Society identifies several historic homes that remain private residences, including the Terhune-Hopper House at West Road and Lake Street and the Hennion-Rudolph House on Pleasant Avenue.

Buying a Home in Upper Saddle River

Buying here takes some homework, because properties can differ a lot in lot size, age and utilities. A few things we help buyers check:

• Water and sewer: The borough's Board of Health code includes rules for individual sewage disposal and individual water supplies. We confirm whether a home is on public sewer and water or relies on a septic system or private well, and we recommend the right inspections.
• Flood hazard areas: The borough has adopted floodplain management and flood hazard area ordinances. For homes near the Saddle River and its branches, we check FEMA flood maps and insurance needs before you make an offer.
• Older and historic homes: The borough code includes a historic preservation chapter. For older properties, we look into whether any review applies to future work, and we recommend a thorough inspection of foundations, roofs and systems.
• Zoning: Planning an addition, pool or accessory structure? Rules differ by zoning district. We help you confirm what's allowed with the borough's zoning office.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a big part of any New Jersey housing budget. We pull the current tax figure for every home on your list.

Need financing? We can connect you with a lender for pre-approval before you start touring, so you're ready to move when the right home comes up.

Selling Your Upper Saddle River Home

Because homes here vary so much in size, setting and condition, pricing has to be specific to your property. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of comparable homes, then market your listing across the MLS and every major online channel. The borough code also has a chapter on certificates of continued occupancy, so we help sellers plan ahead for any paperwork or inspections needed at resale and avoid delays at closing.

Renting and Investing in Upper Saddle River

With so much of the housing owner-occupied, rentals in Upper Saddle River are relatively limited, and that is worth knowing whether you're searching or investing. The borough has its own rental property ordinance, and it has posted notices to rental property owners about New Jersey's lead-based paint inspection requirement for rentals. If you plan to rent out a property, we'll walk you through the local and state rules, help you look at realistic rents, taxes and insurance, and help you price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Hopper-Goetschius House Museum, a Dutch sandstone house recorded by 1739 at Lake Street and East Saddle River Road, run by the Upper Saddle River Historical Society. The grounds include the Van Riper-Tice Barn (c. 1800) and the Ramsey-Sayer House (c. 1820), moved there in 1999 and now used as the museum's schoolhouse.
• Upper Saddle River Library on Lake Street, part of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS), with meeting rooms, museum passes and a "Library of Things"
• Borough parks including Lions Park, Hess Park and Liberty Pond Park, plus public pickleball courts
• Businesses and services along the Route 17 corridor
• Public schools: Upper Saddle River School District, with high school students attending Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Upper Saddle River with nearby towns? Read our guides to Saddle River, Montvale, Ramsey and Mahwah, 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 Upper 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.