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River Edge vs Hackensack

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: household income (+89% in River Edge) and home values (+68% in River Edge).

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River Edge, NJKnown for its schoolsNew Jersey · 12,091 people
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Hackensack, NJA colonial town, settled 1665New Jersey · 46,057 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

River EdgeKnown for its schools
Schools#29 for schools in NJof 458 towns HealthHealthier than 99%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#77 most walkable in NJ2.6 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves All about River Edge →
HackensackA colonial town, settled 1665
HistorySettled in 16656 places on the National Register Famous people71 notable peopleborn in Hackensack Outdoors#45 most walkable in NJ4.7 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves All about Hackensack →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Household income+89%
Households in River Edge earn more
River Edge $159,028Hackensack $84,277
Home values+68%
Homes cost more in River Edge
River Edge $660,300Hackensack $393,700
Homeowners+39.6 pts renters
Hackensack has more renters
River Edge 76.2%Hackensack 36.6%
Jobs per worker2.6×
Hackensack is more of a job hub
Hackensack 1.71River Edge 0.65
Bachelor’s degree++24.7 pts
More adults in River Edge have a degree
River Edge 66.8%Hackensack 42.1%
Size3.8×
Hackensack is the bigger place
Hackensack 46,057River Edge 12,091
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $2,140 more a month in River Edge

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

River Edge$5,600/mo
Typical home $861K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.51%+ · or rent about $1,879/mo · Housing →
Hackensack$3,460/mo
Typical home $475K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.45% · or rent about $1,911/mo · Housing →

The difference: $2,140 a month, about $25,700 a year, between River Edge and Hackensack.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

Report cards

River Edge places higher on 19 of 25 NJ lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every New Jersey ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
A−River EdgeSafer than 82% of U.S. towns CHackensackSafer than 28% of U.S. towns
Schools
ARiver EdgeBetter than 94% of districts in the state CHackensackBetter than 26% of districts in the state
Health
A+River EdgeHealthier than 99% of U.S. towns B+HackensackHealthier than 75% of U.S. towns
19River Edge
6Hackensack

Lists won, of 25 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Fewest uninsuredHealth · 469 towns #45#417 Most activeHealth · 469 towns #43#370 Highest graduation rateSchools · 385 towns #11#278 HealthiestHealth · 469 towns #30#325 Highest incomeIncome · 469 towns #99#392 Best libraries for kidsLibraries · 216 towns #30#151 Lowest obesityHealth · 469 towns #28#284 SafestSafety · 324 towns #102#276

Left end = #1 in New Jersey. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of River Edge’s rankings →

Where they are

River Edge and Hackensack share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

River EdgeHackensackRiver EdgeHackensack
River Edge ↔ Hackensack2.6 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
239 River Edge residents work in Hackensack (4% of its workers)
Work & commute in River Edge →
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
River EdgeHackensack
Snow a year33″28″
January low23°F25°F
July high86°F87°F
Growing season (days)189d216d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)64th54th
Outdoors & history
River EdgeHackensack
Trails3 mi5 mi
Conserved land12.8%3.5%
Settled18941665
National Register places66
Archive photos624
Famous people born here—71
Community
River EdgeHackensack
Library hours a week49 hrs64 hrs
Colleges in town—1
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

River EdgeHackensack
People
Population 12,091Lowest 46,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +6.3%Lowest NJ: +5.7% +7%Highest NJ: +5.7%
Median age 43.6±2.8Highest 9% above NJ 41.8±2.1Lowest 4% above NJ
River Edge and Hackensack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.6%±3.5Highest NJ: 21.8% 14.7%±1.5Lowest NJ: 21.8%
Age 65+ 16.6%±2.7Lowest NJ: 17.2% 18.1%±1.6Highest NJ: 17.2%
Hackensack and River Edge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 66.8%Highest NJ: 43.6% 42.1%Lowest NJ: 43.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.5%±1.4Lowest NJ: 6.4% 6.5%±1.2Highest NJ: 6.4%
Hackensack and River Edge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $159,028±$21kHighest 54% above NJ $84,277±$5kLowest 19% below NJ
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $660,300±$23kHighest 45% above NJ $393,700±$24kLowest 13% below NJ
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,879±$98Lowest 9% above NJ $1,911±$50Highest 11% above NJ
Hackensack and River Edge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $10,000+Highest at least 4% above NJ $9,652Lowest about the NJ average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.6%±14.2Highest NJ: 51.6% 51.4%±4.9Lowest NJ: 51.6%
River Edge and Hackensack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 4.4%Lowest NJ: 9.7% 12.1%Highest NJ: 9.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 76.2%Highest NJ: 63.8% 36.6%Lowest NJ: 63.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1954Lowest 16 yrs older than NJ 1969Highest 1 yr older than NJ
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 35 minHighest 16% above NJ 29 minLowest 5% below NJ
Work from home 21.4%±6.3Highest NJ: 16.8% 14.4%±2Lowest NJ: 16.8%
River Edge and Hackensack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 3.5%Lowest 11.7%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.8 miHighest 9.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.65Lowest 1.71Highest
Top workplaceoutside town New York (26%)New York (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 4% work in HackensackFew work in River Edge
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 12.8%Highest 3.5%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.6 miLowest 4.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.4 miHighest 1.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 15Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 133Lowest 150Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #29 of 458 in NJ#228 of 458 in NJ
School district River Dell Regional School District · River Edge School DistrictBergen County Vocational Technical School District · Hackensack School District
High school in town None in townHackensack High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 13.2
New Jersey average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

River Edge neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to River Edge’s Town Square.

Hackensack neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hackensack’s Town Square.

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Bordering River Edge

+ Compare
Paramus26,568 people · $814K homes
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New Milford16,995 people · $580K homes
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Oradell8,235 people · $738K homes
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Teaneck Township41,876 people · $546K homes

Towns like River Edge

N
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New Providence13,727 people · $770K homes
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Ramsey14,805 people · $697K homes
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Verona Township14,545 people · $608K homes
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Robbinsville Township15,641 people · $568K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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