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Quality of Life in Bergenfield, NJ
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
57% above national average
The Real Cost of Living in Bergenfield, NJ for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $28k | $52k |
| Comfortable | $91k | $134k |
| Luxury | $183k+ | $284k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $215k+ | $334k+ |
93%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
6 within 10 miles
Gas
20 within 10 miles
Hospital
20 within 20 miles
Airport
EWR — Newark Liberty International
Post Office
USPS — Bergenfield, NJ
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Bergenfield, New Jersey, is a densely settled, middle-to-upper-middle-class borough in Bergen County, known for its strong Filipino-American community, family-oriented atmosphere, and convenient commuter access to Manhattan. With a cost-of-living index of 157—well above the national average of 100—the borough attracts professionals and families who prioritize proximity to New York City, good schools, and a walkable suburban environment over lower housing costs. The population of roughly 28,000 is diverse, with a median household income that consistently exceeds the national median, reflecting a community of educators, healthcare workers, and white-collar commuters.
Cost of living, housing affordability, and how Bergenfield compares to nearby towns
Bergenfield’s housing market is expensive by national standards but competitive within Bergen County. The median home value sits at $469,200, which is significantly higher than the national median but lower than in neighboring towns like Tenafly ($800,000+) or Teaneck ($500,000+). Median rent is $1,744, a figure that undercuts the county average of roughly $2,000, making it a more accessible rental option for young professionals and small families. However, the overall cost-of-living index of 157 means that groceries, utilities, and transportation all carry a premium. For context, a household earning the Bergen County median income of around $100,000 can comfortably afford a mortgage on a $469,200 home, but renters earning less than $70,000 annually may find the market tight. Compared to Hackensack—just two miles south—Bergenfield offers quieter streets and larger single-family homes, but at a 10–15% price premium.
Local amenities, school quality, and what daily life feels like for families
Daily life in Bergenfield centers on its walkable downtown along North Washington Avenue, where residents find a mix of Filipino bakeries, pizzerias, and independent shops. The borough’s public schools, part of the Bergenfield School District, serve roughly 4,500 students and consistently earn above-average ratings on state assessments, with Bergenfield High School offering a range of Advanced Placement courses and a strong athletics program. For recreation, Cooper’s Pond and the nearby Overpeck County Park provide walking trails, sports fields, and a lake. The average commute time of 32.8 minutes is slightly above the national average but typical for the region, with many residents driving to the New Bridge Landing or Broadway train stations for NJ Transit service to Hoboken and New York Penn Station. The borough’s tight-knit feel is reinforced by annual events like the Bergenfield Street Fair and the Filipino-American Independence Day celebration, which draw thousands. Families appreciate the low violent crime rate—well below the national average—and the presence of multiple daycare centers and pediatric clinics within a mile of the town center.
Bergenfield is best suited for commuters who work in New York City or northern New Jersey and want a safe, diverse suburb with solid schools and a manageable commute. Young professionals will find the rental market more affordable than in Hoboken or Jersey City, while families can access good public education without the premium prices of Tenafly or Ridgewood. Retirees on fixed incomes may struggle with the high cost of living, but those with equity from a previous home sale will appreciate the walkable downtown and proximity to medical facilities like Hackensack University Medical Center. For anyone seeking a balance between urban access and suburban calm, Bergenfield delivers a reliable, community-driven quality of life.
Crime in Bergenfield, NJ
Lower crime rates than 99% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Bergenfield, New Jersey, presents a notably low-crime profile compared to both state and national averages, with a violent crime rate of just 6.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 17.2 per 100,000. These figures place the borough among the safest communities in Bergen County, a region that itself benefits from relatively low crime rates within the New York metropolitan area. However, the broader context of New Jersey's criminal justice system, which has increasingly embraced progressive reforms and lenient sentencing policies, introduces a layer of concern for residents and prospective movers that raw statistics alone do not capture.
Crime in context
Bergenfield's violent crime rate is roughly 95% lower than the national average, and its property crime rate is similarly suppressed, sitting at about one-tenth of the U.S. figure. For comparison, the national violent crime rate hovers around 380 per 100,000, while New Jersey's statewide rate is approximately 200 per 100,000. Bergenfield's numbers are exceptional even within this safer state. Yet these statistics must be weighed against the operational reality of the local justice system. Bergen County, like much of New Jersey, operates under a progressive prosecutorial philosophy. District attorneys and judges in the region frequently prioritize diversion programs, reduced bail, and plea deals that limit incarceration. While intended to reduce recidivism, this approach has been criticized for returning repeat offenders to the streets quickly, undermining the deterrent effect that swift, certain consequences provide. For a community like Bergenfield, this means that while the current crime rate is low, the structural incentives for criminal behavior remain elevated due to the lenient judicial environment.
What residents experience
Daily life in Bergenfield is characterized by a palpable sense of security, with residents frequently citing the borough's quiet, family-oriented atmosphere. The local police department maintains a visible presence, and community policing initiatives are active. However, the progressive judicial climate creates a disconnect between the low crime numbers and the potential for future incidents. Property crimes, while rare, are often handled with minimal custodial sentences, and violent offenders may face reduced charges or early release. This dynamic means that a single individual with a history of theft or assault can cycle through the system multiple times, each time returning to the same neighborhoods. For families and long-term residents, this introduces an element of unpredictability—the safety of the community depends not only on effective policing but also on the willingness of the courts to impose meaningful penalties.
Neighborhood-level variation in Bergenfield is minimal, as the borough is compact and uniformly residential. The most significant safety differential is between the main thoroughfares, such as Washington Avenue and New Bridge Road, which see more foot traffic and occasional petty crime, and the interior residential blocks, which are exceptionally quiet. Regardless of location, the overarching concern remains the same: the progressive legal framework that governs Bergen County means that the low crime rate is a fragile equilibrium, vulnerable to shifts in prosecutorial discretion or judicial leniency. Prospective residents should view Bergenfield's current safety as a positive, but one that requires continued vigilance and community engagement to preserve.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-05-02T02:22:37.000Z
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