Wallington, NJ Real Estate Guide for Buyers, Sellers & Renters

Wallington is a Bergen County borough of about 11,900 residents as of the 2020 Census on roughly one square mile of land in the county's southwest corner. The Passaic River forms its western edge, with three bridges linking it to the city of Passaic, and the Saddle River meets the Passaic at its northwest tip. Incorporated in 1895 and named for the Walling Van Winkle settlers of the 1600s, Wallington packs a lot of housing into a small footprint, much of it in two-unit buildings. It sits just a few minutes from our Garfield office. Here's what to know before you buy, sell, rent or invest in Wallington.

Why People Choose Wallington

Wallington is compact and well connected. It borders Garfield, Wood-Ridge, Carlstadt, East Rutherford and South Hackensack in Bergen County, plus Passaic across the river, so work, shopping and errands in several directions are close by. The Gregory Avenue, Market Street and Eighth Street bridges carry traffic straight into Passaic. The Eighth Street span was rebuilt as a new 290-foot bridge in 2019 with federal funding.

The borough also has history behind it. Washington's army retreated through the area in 1776, and Washington Crossing Park on the Passaic riverbank marks that past with a gazebo and monument. Over the years it was also home to a grist mill, lumber and chemical companies, and a large greenhouse nursery.

Getting Around: Commuting from Wallington

• Bus to New York: NJ Transit routes 160 and 161 run to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. The 160 is officially titled the Elmwood Park–Wallington–New York route.
• Local bus: NJ Transit routes 703, 707 and 780 provide local service to nearby towns.
• Train: NJ Transit's Bergen County Line runs through Wallington without stopping. Wesmont station, which opened in 2016, sits on the Wallington/Wood-Ridge border, but its platform is reached from the Wood-Ridge side. Trains run toward Hoboken, and Secaucus Junction is two stops away for connections to New York Penn Station.
• Car: A short stretch of Route 21 passes through the borough, County Route 507 is the main local road, and the New Jersey Turnpike is reached at Exit 16W in neighboring East Rutherford.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Wallington is best described by housing type. According to the borough's own Housing Element, about a third of its homes are in two-unit buildings, the largest single category, and roughly three out of four homes were built before 1970. Here's the mix:

• Two-family homes: The backbone of the borough's housing and a common first purchase for owner-occupants who want rental income from the second unit.
• Single-family homes: Less common than in many Bergen towns, but available. The borough's history notes that one-story houses on larger lots were built along Mount Pleasant Avenue in the 1950s.
• Three- and four-family buildings: Small multifamily properties make up a meaningful share of the housing stock.
• Garden apartments and larger buildings: Mount Pleasant Village and Jasontown, two garden apartment complexes built in the late 1960s, are part of a rental stock that includes many buildings of five or more units.

New housing is in the pipeline. In 2026 the borough introduced a redevelopment plan for the former Latex site at 350 Mount Pleasant Avenue, a vacant, borough-owned parcel of about 9.7 acres next to Wesmont station. The plan allows up to 192 townhouse or multifamily units, including affordable units. Smaller approved projects include townhouses on Paterson Avenue and new units on Midland Avenue.

Buying a Home in Wallington

With so many two-family homes, Wallington is a natural fit for buyers who want their home to help pay for itself. If you're using an FHA loan, a two-to-four family property can be bought with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units.

A few things we help buyers check:

• Older-home inspections: Most of the housing here predates 1970, so we pay close attention to heating systems, electrical service, plumbing, roofs and foundations.
• Legal unit count: On two- and three-family homes, we confirm the number of legal units and the certificate of occupancy before you commit.
• Flood zones: The Passaic River flooded parts of Wallington twice after Hurricane Irene in 2011, and the borough's planning documents note floodplains along both the Passaic and Saddle Rivers. We check flood maps and insurance requirements for every property up front.
• Property taxes: We pull the current tax figure for every home you're considering so your budget is accurate.

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

Selling Your Wallington Home

Because two-family and small multifamily homes dominate Wallington, sellers often have two audiences: owner-occupants and investors. Pricing depends on the property type, unit count, condition, rents in place and location relative to the river. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your property across the MLS and every major online channel to reach both groups.

Renting and Investing in Wallington

Wallington is a renter-heavy borough, with the majority of its occupied homes rented according to the borough's Housing Element. Between two-family units, garden apartment complexes and larger buildings, there's a wide range of rental options.

For investors, the deep supply of two-to-four family properties is the main draw. Before you buy, we'll help you review realistic rents, taxes, insurance, flood exposure and condition so the numbers work from day one. For landlords, we help price, market and screen tenants.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Samuel Nelkin County Park, a 17-acre Bergen County park with a playground, tennis and basketball courts, a baseball field, a walking path, a pond for catch-and-release fishing and a dog park
• Washington Crossing Park on the Passaic River
• Dul Field, Crescent Park and the Hathaway Street Skate Park
• Lucky Strike Wallington bowling and entertainment center
• Gregory Avenue, Market Street and Eighth Street bridges to Passaic
• Public schools: Wallington Public Schools, including Wallington High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Wallington with nearby towns? Read our guides to Garfield, Passaic, East Rutherford and Wood-Ridge, 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 Wallington.

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.