1st Advantage MortgageBergen County (962,316 residents) has a $124,884 median household income and $1,914 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in New Jersey before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Bergen County
- How much Bergen County households make
- Employment and commuting in Bergen County
- Bergen County housing compared with New Jersey
- Bergen County against other New Jersey counties
- The counties around Bergen County
- The communities that make up Bergen County
- Debt-to-income at Bergen County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Bergen County borrowers
- Who lives in Bergen County, in numbers
- A Bergen County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Bergen County residents
- Other New Jersey guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Bergen County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bergen County's population at 962,316, the largest in New Jersey. Land area is 233 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4,134 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 62 places in the county (61 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Hackensack, with about 46,057 residents, or 5% of the county.
How much Bergen County households make
$124,884 is the median household income for Bergen County, set against $103,556 for New Jersey. That places it 4th among New Jersey's 21 county-level areas.
| Band | Bergen County | Compared with New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.2% | -3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.6% | -4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.2% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 29.0% | +7.4 pts |
Some 13% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 59% have six-figure incomes. Poverty rate, Bergen County: 6.8%; New Jersey: 9.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.472 here. None of these numbers decides a Bergen County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Bergen County
Top Bergen County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 25%; second, professional and administrative services, 16%. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 26% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 19% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bergen County | Gap to New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.8% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -0.3 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Bergen County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Bergen County housing compared with New Jersey
Half of Bergen County renters pay more than $1,914 a month and half pay less; the New Jersey midpoint is $1,720. By the Census definition, 51% of Bergen County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $623,000, or 5.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 65%. Half the housing stock was built before 1960.
| Cost | Bergen County | New Jersey figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $623,000 | $454,400 | 37% higher |
| Vacant units | 4% | 7% | -3.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 32% | +2.4 pts |
| Owners | 65% | 64% | +1.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,914/mo | $1,720/mo | 11% higher |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | -0.8 pts |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% | 0.9% | -0.5 pts |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Bergen County against other New Jersey counties
The 3 Bergen County numbers that rank furthest from typical in New Jersey, and what each means for a borrower:
- On median home value, Bergen County sits near the top of New Jersey at $623,000, the highest of 21. High values mean many owners could borrow against equity; weigh that risk carefully.
- Few New Jersey counties match Bergen County on population: 962,316 here, 9,343,809 for the state, ranking the highest of 21. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
- Median gross rent: $1,914/mo in Bergen County. Only 1 of 21 New Jersey counties are higher. High rent is the first thing a lender's ratio will see.
The counties around Bergen County
Passaic County is closest, 13 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hudson County, is 16 miles off. None of the six report a higher median household income than Bergen County; Rockland County is highest at $109,959 and Bronx County lowest at $48,676. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen County | - | $124,884 | $1,914/mo | 65% |
| Passaic County, NJ | 13 mi | $87,522 | $1,621/mo | 53% |
| Rockland County, NY | 14 mi | $109,959 | $1,901/mo | 68% |
| New York County, NY | 14 mi | $103,931 | $2,197/mo | 25% |
| Bronx County, NY | 14 mi | $48,676 | $1,458/mo | 20% |
| Essex County, NJ | 15 mi | $80,789 | $1,531/mo | 45% |
| Hudson County, NJ | 16 mi | $91,795 | $1,894/mo | 31% |
The communities that make up Bergen County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 62 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 85% of Bergen County residents live in one of the 62. Upper Saddle River ($250,001) and Fairview ($63,606) mark the top and bottom of Bergen County's income range among larger places. This guide covers each of the 62 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hackensack | city | 46,057 | $84,277 | $1,911 | 5 mi |
| Fort Lee | borough | 40,067 | $107,274 | $2,270 | 9 mi |
| Fair Lawn | borough | 35,610 | $144,574 | $1,917 | 3 mi |
| Garfield | city | 32,783 | $79,700 | $1,688 | 6 mi |
| Englewood | city | 29,638 | $102,571 | $1,977 | 7 mi |
| Bergenfield | borough | 28,450 | $130,045 | $1,752 | 5 mi |
| Paramus | borough | 26,568 | $144,349 | $3,032 | 1 mi |
| Ridgewood | village | 26,308 | $208,211 | $2,499 | 3 mi |
| Lodi | borough | 26,082 | $89,305 | $1,714 | 6 mi |
| Cliffside Park | borough | 25,781 | $93,452 | $1,837 | 11 mi |
| Elmwood Park | borough | 21,412 | $101,740 | $2,074 | 4 mi |
| Palisades Park | borough | 20,290 | $94,743 | $2,009 | 9 mi |
| Rutherford | borough | 18,894 | $143,153 | $1,966 | 10 mi |
| Dumont | borough | 18,279 | $126,071 | $1,787 | 4 mi |
Debt-to-income at Bergen County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Bergen County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Bergen County: $10,407
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,914)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,833 a month
Homeowners in Bergen County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
What the numbers mean for Bergen County borrowers
- Long drives. With 26% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Bergen County budgets.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 59% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Who lives in Bergen County, in numbers
In Bergen County, 53% of adults have at least a four-year degree (44% in New Jersey). About 6% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Bergen County | Gap to New Jersey | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 53.1% | +9.5 pts | +31.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | -3.6 pts | +2.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | -2.9 pts | -6.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | -2.2 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 42.0 | +1.9 yrs | +0.5 yrs |
| Work from home | 18.5% | +1.7 pts | +9.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | -1.4 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | -0.5 pts | +1.4 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Bergen County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 16.3% |
A Bergen County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Bergen County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bergen County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for New Jersey borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Bergen County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Bergen County resident can confirm its license with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the New Jersey state guide for the statewide picture.
Other New Jersey guides
For statewide rules and data, see the New Jersey guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is $124,884 a good income in Bergen County?
It is the county median, so half of Bergen County households earn more and half less; 59% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in Bergen County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,914 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is Teterboro covered?
Yes. Teterboro is one of 62 Census places in Bergen County, and this guide covers all of them.
Can Bergen County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every New Jersey county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Bergen County check a lender's license?
With the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.