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Little Ferry is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, occupying a compact footprint of roughly one and a half square miles along the Hackensack River near the Meadowlands. Its population was 10,987 at the 2020 census. The borough's name reaches back to its origins as a ferry crossing on the Hackensack River, and the community retains a small-town, residential character within one of the most densely populated parts of New Jersey. Little Ferry's location is its defining asset. It sits just west of the George Washington Bridge corridor and is bisected by U.S. Route 46, a major regional artery, placing Manhattan and the rest of the New York metropolitan area within a short commute. The Hackensack River forms the borough's western edge, and the Meadowlands wetlands lie immediately to the south, giving the borough both a riverfront history and proximity to one of the region's largest protected natural areas. The borough is predominantly residential, with a mix of older single-family homes, two-family houses, and small apartment buildings arranged on a tight street grid. Its municipal services include a recreation department offering youth, adult, and senior programs, and community parks such as Willow Lake Park and Lakeview Park provide local green space. Public school students attend the Little Ferry Public Schools for elementary and middle grades, with high school and specialized options available through Bergen County's regional and technical programs. For residents, Little Ferry offers the accessibility and convenience of Bergen County's inner suburbs — close to New York City, well served by highways and transit, and grounded in a small, self-contained borough government — with the trade-offs of a dense, compact community near major transportation corridors.

Population 10,987

County Bergen

Active Listings 59

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Little Ferry in?

Little Ferry is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. It sits along the Hackensack River near the Meadowlands, just west of the George Washington Bridge corridor.

How far is Little Ferry from New York City?

Little Ferry is minutes from the George Washington Bridge, with Manhattan reachable in roughly 20 to 30 minutes by car depending on traffic. U.S. Route 46 and nearby interstates provide direct access to the city.

What schools serve Little Ferry?

The Little Ferry Public Schools serve elementary and middle grades within the borough, while high school students attend regional schools or apply to Bergen County Technical Schools and the Bergen County Academies magnet programs.

What is Little Ferry known for?

Little Ferry is known for its small, compact borough character along the Hackensack River, its origins as a ferry crossing, and its location near the Meadowlands with quick access to the George Washington Bridge and New York City.

City Guide

About Little Ferry

Real Estate & Housing

Little Ferry's housing stock is dense, established, and typically more affordable than Bergen County's tonier towns. The borough mixes older single-family homes with two-family houses and small garden-apartment buildings, much of it built during the early-to-mid 20th century on a tight street grid. The housing reflects Little Ferry's history as a working-class river and commuter community, with modest lot sizes and a high proportion of attached and multi-family units. Its position along U.S. Route 46 and near the George Washington Bridge keeps demand steady from households seeking a short New York City commute at a more accessible price point than many nearby municipalities. The market offers practical, older housing rather than new construction, and the borough's small size limits the supply of large single-family properties.

Neighborhoods

Little Ferry is a compact borough whose neighborhoods are defined by the Hackensack River to the west and the Meadowlands to the south. The street grid is tight and walkable, with residential blocks arranged around the U.S. Route 46 corridor that runs through the borough. Older single-family and two-family homes predominate, with garden apartments concentrated along the main roads. Willow Lake Park and Lakeview Park anchor local green space. The riverfront retains vestiges of the borough's ferry and industrial past, while the Meadowlands provide open space and wildlife habitat at the borough's edge. Little Ferry's small scale means most homes are close to local schools, parks, and the commercial strips along the main corridors.

Lifestyle in Little Ferry

Little Ferry offers a commuter-oriented, small-town lifestyle within the New York metropolitan area. Its proximity to the George Washington Bridge and Manhattan makes it a practical base for households working in the city or elsewhere in Bergen County, while the borough itself remains quiet and residential. The recreation department runs youth, adult, and senior programs, and neighborhood parks provide space for sports and everyday outdoor use. Residents benefit from Bergen County's dense network of shopping, dining, and services, and the Meadowlands' trails and wetlands are immediately accessible. The borough's compact, self-contained government fosters a close-knit feel, and the appeal is straightforward: a small, affordable-by-Bergen-standards community with exceptional access to one of the country's largest employment markets.

Schools & Education

Little Ferry's public school students are served by the Little Ferry Public Schools for the elementary and middle grades, with instruction based in the borough. For high school, students attend regional and countywide options, and Bergen County offers specialized programs through the Bergen County Technical Schools and the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, which admit students through an application process. These county magnet and technical programs give Little Ferry families access to a broader range of secondary pathways than a borough of its size would otherwise support. The borough's small scale and its schools' community orientation are part of its identity, even as many families weigh the regional high school and magnet options available across Bergen County.

Getting Around

Little Ferry's transportation position is a core strength. U.S. Route 46 runs directly through the borough, connecting to Interstate 80 and the George Washington Bridge a short distance to the east, and Interstate 95 and the New Jersey Turnpike are nearby. This highway network places Manhattan, the Meadowlands, and the broader Bergen-Hudson region within a short drive. NJ Transit bus service and regional rail connections are accessible from surrounding towns, and Teterboro Airport, a major general-aviation and corporate facility, lies immediately adjacent to the borough. Commuting is car- and transit-oriented, with the borough functioning as a compact bedroom community for the region's employment centers rather than a self-contained job hub.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Little Ferry centers on its community parks and its position beside the Meadowlands. Willow Lake Park and Lakeview Park provide neighborhood green space for sports, walking, and family outings, while the borough's recreation department organizes programs for youth, adults, and seniors. The Hackensack River forms the western boundary and offers waterfront views, and the vast Meadowlands wetlands immediately to the south provide trails, birding, and open space through the region's protected estuarine ecosystem. Beyond the borough, residents have quick access to Bergen County's county parks, the Palisades Interstate Park, and the cultural and recreational resources of New York City, all within a short drive or transit ride.