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Upper Saddle River is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, situated in the Saddle River valley in the northern part of the state, about 28 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan. Its 2020 population was 8,353, and it is one of the region's most affluent, low-density residential communities. The borough's history reaches back to the Lenape people and to Dutch colonists who settled the valley in the 18th century and built mills along the Saddle River, for which the town is named. Upper Saddle River incorporated as a borough in 1894 but remained principally rural for another half-century. Its transformation came in the 1950s and 1960s, when farmland gave way to the subdivisions that define the borough today, and the population surged from about 700 residents in 1950 to nearly 8,000 by 1970. The town's colonial past remains visible in the Hopper-Goetschius House, a 1730 structure now operated as a museum, and in other surviving 18th-century homes. George Washington's troops marched along East Saddle River Road during the Revolutionary War. The community is served by the Upper Saddle River School District for grades K-8—three schools enrolling roughly 1,100 students—and by Northern Highlands Regional High School in nearby Allendale for grades 9-12, a consistently highly rated regional school serving Upper Saddle River, Saddle River, Allendale, and Ho-Ho-Kus. For residents, Upper Saddle River offers a combination of large homes, spacious lots, strong schools, and a genuine small-town feel within a roughly hour-long commute of New York City via Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway. Its character is quiet, scenic, and deliberately low-density, appealing to families seeking space and top-tier schools in northern Bergen County.

Population 8,353

County Bergen

Active Listings 49

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Upper Saddle River, New Jersey in?

Upper Saddle River is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, located in the Saddle River valley. It sits about 28 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan in the northern part of the state.

What is the population of Upper Saddle River?

Upper Saddle River's population was 8,353 at the 2020 census, up slightly from 8,208 in 2010. It is an affluent, low-density residential borough that remained rural until the suburban building boom of the 1950s and 1960s.

What is Upper Saddle River, New Jersey known for?

Upper Saddle River is known as a quiet, affluent Bergen County suburb with large homes, spacious lots, and highly regarded schools. It grew from a Dutch-settled mill community along the Saddle River, and George Washington's troops marched through the area during the Revolution.

What schools serve Upper Saddle River?

Upper Saddle River students attend the Upper Saddle River School District for grades K-8, which operates three schools. For high school, students attend Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, serving Upper Saddle River, Saddle River, Allendale, and Ho-Ho-Kus.

How do residents commute from Upper Saddle River?

Upper Saddle River is reached by State Route 17 and the Garden State Parkway, both providing a commute to New York City of roughly an hour. NJ Transit bus service runs into Manhattan, and nearby train stations in Allendale, Ramsey, and Mahwah offer rail options.

City Guide

About Upper Saddle River

Real Estate & Housing

Upper Saddle River's housing market is defined by large single-family homes on generous lots, reflecting the borough's post-1950s transition from farmland to affluent suburb. The stock includes a mix of spacious mid-century homes, newer custom construction, and a handful of surviving historic residences from the town's colonial past. Zoning and the community's low-density character keep development limited, preserving a landscape of lawns, mature trees, and substantial properties rather than dense subdivisions. Buyers are drawn by the schools, the setting, and the commuter access, and the market skews toward established family homes and new builds on larger parcels, with attached or rental housing playing a minimal role.

Neighborhoods

Upper Saddle River is organized as a low-density residential borough rather than a set of large planned subdivisions, with homes spread along quiet, tree-lined streets that follow the borough's colonial-era road network. The area along East Saddle River Road carries particular historical significance as the route of Washington's troops during the Revolution, and several 18th-century houses survive among the newer homes. Development that replaced farmland in the mid-twentieth century created the borough's characteristic mix of established residential streets and newer custom properties. There is no central downtown; instead, neighborhoods are unified by the schools, parks, and the Saddle River's wooded corridors running through the borough.

Lifestyle in Upper Saddle River

Upper Saddle River offers a quiet, affluent suburban lifestyle centered on spacious homes, strong schools, and a distinctly residential, low-density setting. Daily life revolves around the school district, local recreation, and the community's parks and historic sites, with little commercial development within the borough itself. Residents value the combination of privacy, scenery, and proximity to New York City, commuting via Route 17 or the Garden State Parkway or taking NJ Transit from nearby rail stations. The town's Revolutionary-era history, visible in the Hopper-Goetschius House and other surviving 18th-century buildings, lends a sense of heritage to an otherwise modern suburban community.

Schools & Education

Upper Saddle River is served by the Upper Saddle River School District for kindergarten through eighth grade. The district operates three schools with roughly 1,100 students and a notably low student-teacher ratio, giving it an intimate, community-centered character. For high school, students attend Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, a highly regarded regional school that serves Upper Saddle River, Saddle River, Allendale, and Ho-Ho-Kus. This structure means elementary and middle school remain local while high school draws from several neighboring towns, and families often cite the schools as a primary reason for moving to the borough. Higher education is available across northern New Jersey and the greater New York area.

Getting Around

Upper Saddle River is well connected for a quiet residential borough. State Route 17, accessible from the western part of town, and the Garden State Parkway provide the principal highway routes, with a drive to New York City of roughly an hour depending on traffic. NJ Transit bus service offers a direct commuting option into Manhattan, and nearby train stations in Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ramsey, and Mahwah provide rail alternatives on the Bergen and Main lines. The borough itself is automobile-oriented, with no fixed-route transit within its residential streets, so most households rely on a car for daily errands while using bus or rail for the New York commute.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Upper Saddle River is oriented around the borough's parks, playing fields, and the Saddle River's wooded corridors, which provide a scenic natural backdrop through the community. The Hopper-Goetschius House, a 1730 Dutch colonial home now serving as a museum, offers a window into the town's Revolutionary-era past, and the borough's open space supports walking, cycling, and youth sports. Beyond the borough, Bergen County's extensive park system, including the Ramapo Mountain reservations to the northwest, offers hiking, lakes, and outdoor recreation within a short drive, while New York City's cultural and entertainment offerings remain easily accessible for day trips.