Shifting to Ridgewood, NJ: Issues to Know Earlier than You Transfer

Are you considering of transferring to Ridgewood, New Jersey? Ridgewood is a improbable place to reside and lift a household. As a resident of Ridgewood, NJ, you’ll take pleasure in quite a lot of housing choices, together with sprawling historic properties and basic brownstones, in addition to a straightforward commute to New York Metropolis, low crime charges, nice eating and leisure choices, glorious faculties, and a family-friendly neighborhood really feel.

So, why Ridgewood of all locations within the U.S.? As a result of its zip code of 07450 confirmed up as quantity three on Realtor.com’s “Hottest Zip Codes of 2023” (Realtor.com is our associate website). This record of the highest 10 hottest zip codes exhibits the place homebuyers discover worth within the neighborhood of high-priced metros. And, in case you’re questioning, primary is Gahanna, OH, and quantity two is Southington, CT. 

What Are Realtor.com’s Hottest Zip Codes of 2023?

These scorching zips provide a substantial bang in your buck with larger-than-average properties at lower-than-average costs. This alone makes transferring to cities, like Ridgewood, NJ, price it for some. In keeping with Area of interest, Ridgewood is the quantity two greatest suburb to reside in New Jersey (after Ho-Ho-Kus). Ridgewood will get an total grade of A+, with the best marks for public faculties, nightlife, and family-friendliness.

Usually, wherever you resolve the place to reside, you’re searching for a spot that matches your persona, life circumstances, preferences, and pursuits. Elements to think about earlier than transferring embrace the price of residing, actual property markets, issues to do in that space, and a lot extra. These are the standards we’ve used to have a look at Ridgewood, NJ, and the opposite cities featured on Realtor.com’s Hottest Zip Codes of 2023.

What Are the Professionals of Residing in Ridgewood, NJ?

There are such a lot of issues to like about Ridgewood, NJ. It’s persistently rated as top-of-the-line locations to reside in New Jersey. As a resident of Ridgewood, you’ll take pleasure in a family-friendly suburban really feel, a protected atmosphere with a low crime price, a historic downtown space, a fast commute to New York Metropolis and the neighboring cities and cities, entry to top-notch eating places, bars, cafes, parks, and retailers, extremely rated faculties, and the encompassing pure magnificence.

Right here’s some data on the place Ridgewood is positioned and the way huge it’s. Ridgewood is an almost-six-square-mile village in northeastern Bergen County, New Jersey, positioned roughly 20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan.

The land was initially inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Native Individuals, then by the Dutch settlers who began constructing their properties within the space within the 1700s. When the railroad was constructed, the place grew to become a preferred summer time recreation vacation spot, the place rich New Yorkers constructed their estates. Many grew to become year-round residents. Right this moment’s Ridgewood is house to a thriving culinary scene, a top-rated faculty system, a hospital, a number of beautiful parks, many historic properties, and extra.

Ridgewood’s neighborhoods embrace downtown (or, merely, “City”), centered on East Ridgewood Avenue and residential to a number of historic buildings, Scrabbletown, the Outdated Nation Membership, Higher Ridgewood, Salem Ridge, Floral Park, and The Lawns. There’s additionally an space known as The View, positioned on and to the west of Ridgewood’s highest level, an unnamed ridge recognized for its skyline views of New York Metropolis.

Ridgewood has a inhabitants of solely 26,168, in accordance with the newest out there U.S. Census knowledge (as of July 2022).

Do you suppose that transferring to Ridgewood, NJ, is within the playing cards for you? Then, here’s a rundown of what you must know earlier than transferring.

The Value of Residing in Ridgewood, NJ

The value of residing in Ridgewood is excessive. At 177, it’s 77% increased than the nationwide common and 56% increased than the state’s value of residing of 121. That is decided by evaluating the price of residing in Ridgewood to the prices of residing in different cities round the USA. If a metropolis’s index rating is increased than 100%, then the price of residing is above common. When the index rating is decrease than 100, you’ll discover a below-average value of residing.

Items and companies, groceries, transportation, and utilities are all increased in Ridgewood than the nationwide common. The housing prices are 337%, in comparison with the nationwide common of 100%. The one value that’s decrease than the nationwide common is healthcare (97%).

The Job Market in Ridgewood, NJ

Ridgewood’s economic system is fairly strong, with an unemployment price of 5.5%. (The U.S. common is 6.0%.) Ridgewood has seen the job market lower by 0.5% during the last 12 months. Future job progress over the subsequent 10 years is predicted to be 25.9%, which is decrease than the U.S. common of 33.5%. A number of the greatest locations to work at in Ridgewood, NJ, embrace the Valley Hospital, the varsity system, the regionally based mostly regulation and architectural corporations, and Digital Convergence Applied sciences. Ridgewood’s many residents commute to different cities for work, nevertheless.

Salaries in Ridgewood, NJ

The median family earnings for Ridgewood is $194,256. It’s increased than the median family earnings for New Jersey ($83,572) and better than the nationwide median family earnings of $70,784 (all 2021 numbers, the newest out there).

The median wage in Ridgewood works out to be roughly $79,000. The state’s minimal wage price is $14.13, which is increased than the federal price of $7.25 per hour.

Shopping for a House in Ridgewood, NJ

Housing in Ridgewood, NJ, can set you again a cool mil or two. In August 2023, the median itemizing house worth for Ridgewood was $1,002,000, trending up 20.7% year-over-year. There have been 26 lively listings, with 28 median days in the marketplace. The median itemizing house worth per sq. foot was $475. Presently, Ridgewood house costs fall throughout the vary of $499,000 and as much as two million.

Renting a House in Ridgewood, NJ

There are extra leases than properties on the market in Ridgewood. Final time we checked, there have been 31 residences and homes for lease. Realtor.com lists the common rental worth as $3,200 monthly. This value is significantly increased than the median asking month-to-month lease of $1,759. In keeping with Realtor.com, as of August 2023, the studio rental value was $1,445 monthly, and a one-bedroom was $1,642.

The Faculties Accessible in Ridgewood, NJ

The Ridgewood Public College District has a number of extremely rated faculties, together with Ridgewood Excessive College and Bergen County Academies. Area of interest rated Ridgewood as quantity 5 on the record of greatest public faculties in New Jersey. This alone is an enormous draw for households to need to reside in Ridgewood.

There are 25 faculties in whole, together with personal faculties. GreatSchools charges Ridgewood’s public faculties in a excessive vary of 9 and 10 out of 10. The GreatSchools ranking is predicated on quite a lot of faculty high quality indicators, together with take a look at scores, school readiness, and fairness knowledge. Area of interest.com offers Ridgewood an A+ grade.

To search out top-rated faculties in Ridgewood, NJ, you should use Shifting.com’s College Scores Device, which options GreatSchools scores and different useful data.

There are over 180 schools and universities inside 50 miles of Ridgewood, the closest one being Bergen Group School in Paramus, NJ. One of many top-rated universities shut by is Columbia College in New York Metropolis. Additionally in New York Metropolis is the biggest college within the space, New York College.

The Taxes in Ridgewood, NJ

The minimal mixed 2023 gross sales tax price for Ridgewood, New Jersey, is 6.63%. That is the overall of state, county and metropolis gross sales tax charges. The New Jersey gross sales tax price is at present 6.625%. The County gross sales tax price is 0%. The Ridgewood gross sales tax price is 0%.

The common property tax is 2.73%, which is increased than the state’s 2.52%. Each are increased than the common property tax price in the USA, which is 1.1%. 

Getting Round in Ridgewood, NJ

Ridgewood, NJ, will get a low stroll rating of 42, which is taken into account “a car-dependent metropolis.” Which means that most errands require a automotive. The bike rating is a low 41, which means Ridgewood doesn’t have many bike lanes and minimal bike infrastructure on the whole.

Public transit choices embrace 13 bus routes and two rail traces. The transit rating can be on the low facet at 43.

As for the common one-way commute, it’s 38.5 minutes in Ridgewood, which is longer than the nationwide common of 26.8. Residents predominantly drive to work, however a good quantity take a prepare. There is no such thing as a direct prepare from Ridgewood to Manhattan, NY, so most individuals commuting to New York Metropolis take the NJ Transit to Secaucus after which take the prepare to Penn Station. Another choice is by bus from Ridgewood straight to Manhattan.

The Climate in Ridgewood, NJ

In Ridgewood, NJ, the summers are heat, humid, and moist; the winters are very chilly and snowy; and it’s partly cloudy 12 months spherical. Over the course of the 12 months, the temperature usually varies from 23°F to 85°F and is never under 9°F or above 93°F. The very best time to go to for warm-weather actions is from mid-June to late September.

Issues to Do in Ridgewood, NJ

Although small, Ridgewood has considerable facilities which might be particularly well-suited for households. This contains quite a few parks with playgrounds, picnic areas, live performance levels, fields for soccer, baseball and softball, and mountain climbing trails.

For instance, Graydon Park additionally has a curler rink and a pool whereas Veterans Discipline, positioned subsequent to the library and police station, has 4 baseball and softball fields and hosts house video games for the Ridgewood Excessive College baseball staff. The hill in Residents Park is used for sledding within the winter, and Ridgewood Wild Duck Pond, which is a part of Bergen’s Saddle River County Park, has a pond that’s used for fishing and ice-skating, a fenced-in canine park, a six-mile bike path, and extra. Saddle River County Park is a sprawling area that comprises 5 parks inside it. As you’ll be able to think about, facilities abound.

Ridgewood’s notable points of interest embrace the James Rose Heart, a non-profit panorama structure and neighborhood middle with stunning gardens, Schoolhouse Museum (in-built 1872 as a one-room schoolhouse), and a number of other artwork galleries (The Secure and the Convey Artwork Gallery, specifically, have many constructive critiques).

Not surprisingly, Ridgewood enjoys a thriving culinary scene. Most eating places, cafes, bakeries, and bars are clustered downtown, however you’ll discover some elsewhere, simply not in excessive focus. From high-end Italian to tapas, ramen, sushi, and pub grub — you’ll be able to simply discover all of it in Ridgewood. Some non-so-hidden jems embrace the “seed-to-cup” Ray Sol Espresso Roasters, the family-owned La Lanterna Café and Grill, Metal Wheel Tavern, which options a big patio and reside music, the fine-dining Café 37, Sook Pastry bakery, and Cravings Tapas Bistro — simply to call a couple of.

And, in fact, Ridgewood just isn’t with out its annual celebrations. Along with seasonal occasions just like the 4th of July downtown parade, Ridgewood hosts a neighborhood music fest and the Ridgewood Guild Worldwide Movie Competition.

FAQs About Shifting to Ridgewood, NJ

Is it costly to reside in Ridgewood, NJ?

The common value of residing in Ridgewood is $2,283 for one individual and $5,837 for a household of 4. These are fairly excessive numbers. Count on to pay about $20 for lunch and $78.50 for dinner if you eat out, increased than common costs for groceries, and a median of $92 per one individual for utilities. 

Is Ridgewood, NJ, an excellent place to reside?

Should you can swing it, Ridgewood generally is a improbable place to reside and lift a household. You’ll take pleasure in top-rated faculties, quiet suburban neighborhoods, family-friendly facilities and actions, proximity to New York Metropolis, Philadelphia, and different cities and cities if you must commute or simply take pleasure in an evening in an enormous metropolis, a bustling eating scene, glorious parks, and extra. If the suburban way of life appeals to you, Ridgewood must be your best choice.

How a lot cash do you must reside comfortably in Ridgewood, NJ?

As of January 2023, the minimal wage in New Jersey elevated to $14.13 per hour, however you’ll want greater than that to reside comfortably in Bergen County, New Jersey, the place Ridgewood is positioned. You’ll want a residing wage of $19-$76 for one working grownup and $15-$30 for 2 working adults. The vary will depend on whether or not you could have kids and what number of kids you could have. This quantities to a required annual earnings of $40,468 to $158,917 for one grownup and $62,792 to $158,664 for 2 working adults. Consider: these numbers are earlier than taxes.

Able to Transfer to Ridgewood, NJ?

For extra details about transferring to Ridgewood, NJ, try the sources out there at Shifting.com, such because the Metropolis Profile Report characteristic. Merely enter the zip code or the state and metropolis of your potential transfer to get a free report with metropolis demographics, actual property data, and high quality of life elements. When searching for the greatest transferring firm, consult with Shifting.com’s intensive community of respected and dependable movers. Good luck, and joyful transferring!