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Living in
Ridgewood.
About
Life in Ridgewood
This is a solidly affluent suburb designed around families and long-term residents—nearly 47% of households include children, the median age is 41, and about 70% of homes are owner-occupied. That said, you're paying premium prices: homes average $883,000 and monthly rents run $2,499, reflecting the town's status as one of the state's wealthiest communities. The commute to Manhattan averages 35-40 minutes depending on your exact destination and transit choice, which is manageable but something to factor into your daily routine.
Ridgewood at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
22.3%
Broadband Internet
97.0%
of households
Population Growth
+2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.3% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Ridgewood: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ridgewood, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (14.8%), and 6.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.6%
of residents
65 and Older
13.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.0%
of households
Married Couples
66.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.93
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 45% above NJ average
Rent, home values, and income in Ridgewood
In Ridgewood, rent runs 45% above the NJ average, and home values are 96% above the NJ average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
82.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1950
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,254,771 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.8 pts below NJ average
Unemployment in Ridgewood
Unemployment in Ridgewood is 1.8 percentage points lower than the NJ average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Ridgewood Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute34.6 min avg
How Ridgewood residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ridgewood, most residents drive alone to work (47%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 90% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ridgewood runs 90% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
33.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
476.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ridgewood Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bergen County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bergen County, which includes Ridgewood, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Flash Flood | $12,500 |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,500 |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $548,000 |
| 2019 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $340,000 |
| 2018 | 36 | Flash Flood | $529,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bergen County, county-wide
Ridgewood is about 3% of Bergen County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bergen County, which includes Ridgewood, is typically good — 258 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
258
per year
Moderate Days
101
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Bergen County, county-wide
Ridgewood is about 3% of Bergen County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ridgewood has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.2"
Annual Snowfall
32.7"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
117
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
123
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 26°F | 3.28" |
| Feb | 43°F | 27°F | 2.82" |
| Mar | 51°F | 34°F | 4.09" |
| Apr | 63°F | 44°F | 3.97" |
| May | 73°F | 53°F | 3.94" |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 4.25" |
| Jul | 87°F | 69°F | 4.45" |
| Aug | 85°F | 67°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 78°F | 60°F | 4.11" |
| Oct | 67°F | 48°F | 3.73" |
| Nov | 56°F | 38°F | 3.30" |
| Dec | 45°F | 31°F | 4.10" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ridgewood
Uninsured
2.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ridgewood's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.8 mi away · Paramus
Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Paramus
Ramapo Ridge Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.1 mi away · Wyckoff
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ridgewood
Ridgewood's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 80.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
80.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ridgewood (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 12,505 students · in-state tuition $7,340 · 58% graduate · median earnings $69,594 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 10,696 students · in-state tuition $7,410 · 59% graduate · median earnings $65,181 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,557 students · in-state tuition $5,060 · 37% graduate · median earnings $52,092 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,512 students · in-state tuition $67,897 · 80% graduate · median earnings $92,809 (10 yrs after entry)
Columbia University in the City of New York
14.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 8,973 students · in-state tuition $74,180 · 93% graduate · median earnings $109,430 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,964 students · in-state tuition $5,206 · 30% graduate · median earnings $46,595 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ridgewood
Ridgewood has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
National Historical Park
6 mi awayGeneral Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
14 mi awayHamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
14 mi awayThomas Edison National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awaySaint Paul's Church National Historic Site
National Historic Site
16 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
18 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
18 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
19 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ridgewood
Ridgewood Public Library
125 N. Maple Avenue, Ridgewood
Cities Near Ridgewood
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ridgewood?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ridgewood FAQ
Is Ridgewood, New Jersey affordable?⌄
Ridgewood's median rent is $2,499/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $208,211/year. Median home value is $891,200.
Is Ridgewood, New Jersey safe?⌄
Ridgewood's violent crime rate was 34 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 476 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ridgewood, New Jersey?⌄
Ridgewood has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ridgewood, New Jersey?⌄
The cost of living in Ridgewood is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,499/month and median household income is $208,211/year. The median home value is $891,200. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ridgewood, New Jersey?⌄
The average commute in Ridgewood is 35 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from