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

Westwood is a compact borough in Bergen County's Pascack Valley, home to 11,282 residents as of the 2020 Census. It covers only about 2.3 square miles, but it packs a historic train station, a walkable downtown, a regional hospital and a network of borough parks into that footprint. Westwood was incorporated in 1894, when it separated from Washington Township, and the railroad has shaped the town ever since. Here's what buyers, sellers, renters and investors should know about real estate in Westwood.

Why People Choose Westwood

Westwood grew up around the railroad. Passenger trains to New York began running through the area in 1870, and the borough's development followed the tracks. That history is still visible today. The Westwood train station, a stone depot dedicated in 1932 and designed by Erie Railroad architect Graham King, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020, the first Westwood property to earn that listing. The station sits inside Veterans Memorial Park, so the borough's commuter hub and its main public green share the same spot in the center of town.

Westwood is also a health care and shopping destination for the Pascack Valley. Pascack Valley Medical Center, a 128-bed Hackensack Meridian Health hospital, is in the borough, and Westwood Plaza on Broadway is one of the area's larger shopping centers.

Getting Around: Commuting from Westwood

• Train: Westwood station, at Broadway and Westwood Avenue, is on NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line. Trains run to Hoboken Terminal, with a transfer at Secaucus Junction for New York Penn Station.
• Bus: NJ Transit Route 165 (Westwood–New York) starts in Westwood and runs into Manhattan.
• Car: Kinderkamack Road (County Route 503) and County Route 502 are the main roads through town. The Garden State Parkway is reached at Exit 168 (Washington Avenue) in neighboring Washington Township.

Neighborhoods and Housing Types

Westwood is a fully built-out borough, with very little vacant land, so most housing here is existing stock rather than new subdivisions. The borough's zoning code sets out several residential districts, which gives a good picture of the housing mix:

• Single-family homes: The R-1 district is reserved for detached single-family homes.
• Medium-density and mixed residential: The R-3 Medium Density Residential district and the R-2 Residential/Office district allow more housing per lot than R-1, along with some mixed residential and office use.
• Multifamily housing: The borough has adopted several multifamily affordable housing overlay zones on commercial and light-industrial land, which open those sites to apartment development.
• Downtown: The Central Business District around Westwood Avenue and Broadway puts shops, dining and the train station within walking distance of nearby homes.

Inventory changes constantly. We'll show you what's on the market for each housing type right now.

Buying a Home in Westwood

Westwood appeals to buyers who want rail access and a walkable town center in a small borough. Because the town is built out, a lot of its homes are older, and good preparation matters. Here's what we help buyers check:

• Older-home inspections: Have a full inspection done, with attention to the roof, heating system, electrical service, plumbing and foundation. Ask about oil tanks too.
• Flood risk: Pascack Brook and Musquapsink Brook run through Westwood and have flooded in heavy storms. The borough has sought federal grant money to elevate flood-prone homes. We check FEMA flood maps and insurance requirements before you make an offer.
• Two-family homes and FHA: An FHA loan can finance a two-to-four family property with a low down payment as long as you live in one of the units. Rent from the other unit can help with the mortgage.
• Property taxes: Taxes are a big 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 Westwood Home

A train station, a walkable downtown and a hospital in town give Westwood sellers plenty to highlight, and with so little room for new construction, nearly every buyer here is shopping existing homes. Pricing still has to fit the specific property: a home within walking distance of the station, one in a mapped flood zone and a two-family home each compete differently. We'll prepare a free comparative market analysis based on recent sales of homes like yours, then market your home across the MLS and every major online channel.

Renting and Investing in Westwood

Rail commuters, hospital staff and people who work in the Pascack Valley create steady rental demand in Westwood. For investors, we look at realistic rents, taxes, insurance, flood exposure and condition before you buy, so the numbers work from the start. We also help landlords price, market and screen tenants.

What's Changing in Westwood

Westwood Plaza at 700 Broadway lost its Kmart anchor in 2023. The borough then rezoned the shopping center district to allow indoor recreation such as skating rinks, bowling and sports training facilities. In May 2026, the plaza went under contract for sale to an affiliate of Regency Centers. The mayor said at the time that the property remained zoned for a shopping center and that no redevelopment plan had been submitted. The borough has also adopted its Fourth Round affordable housing obligation under New Jersey's Mount Laurel framework.

Local Landmarks and Amenities

• Westwood train station (National Register of Historic Places), home of the Westwood Heritage Society
• Veterans Memorial Park, with its historic bandstand, summer concerts and town events
• Westvale Park, with lighted ball fields, a dog park, a community garden and a walking path to Hegeman Park
• Pascack Brook County Park, a 79-acre Bergen County park next to Westvale Park
• Overbrook Bird Sanctuary on Westwood Avenue
• Pascack Valley Medical Center (Hackensack Meridian Health)
• Westwood Community Center and the Westwood Free Public Library
• Westwood Plaza shopping center on Broadway
• Public schools: Westwood Regional School District, which serves Westwood and Washington Township and includes Westwood Regional High School

Nearby Town Guides

Comparing Westwood with nearby towns? Read our guides to Hillsdale, Emerson, Washington Township 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 Westwood.

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.