Is Ridgefield Park Safe, Pros and cons of living in Ridgefield Park

Ridgefield Park, a village in Bergen County, New Jersey, offers a suburban lifestyle with convenient access to New York City. Established in 1892, it blends a rich history with modern amenities, including waterfront parks and a variety of local shops and restaurants. The community is known for its active nightlife, diverse population, and a family-friendly atmosphere, making it an appealing place for many to consider a move.

The village’s commitment to tradition is evident in its Fourth of July Parade, which is recognized as one of the longest continuously celebrated events in New Jersey. This historical charm, combined with its strategic location and accessibility to major highways like Interstate 80 and the New Jersey Turnpike, provides residents with both a peaceful retreat and a gateway to urban opportunities.

Is it Safe to Live in Ridgefield Park?

Ridgefield Park has a crime rate that is 47% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. The village recorded a total of 0.41 daily crimes, with 0.03 violent crimes and 0.38 property crimes reported. This overall safety record makes Ridgefield Park an attractive choice for those seeking a secure community (as reported by AreaVibes).

The chance of becoming a victim of violent crime in Ridgefield Park is approximately 1 in 1,218, while the chance of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 96. These figures indicate that violent crime rates are about average for communities across the U.S., but property crime rates are above average when compared to other communities nationwide (as reported by NeighborhoodScout).

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Ridgefield Park is approximately 28% higher than the national average. Housing expenses are a significant contributor to this figure, being 83% higher than the national average. Utility prices are also slightly higher, at 4% above the national average, and transportation costs, including gas prices and bus fares, are also 4% higher than the national average (as reported by PayScale).

For those considering a move, it’s important to note that overall living costs in Ridgefield Park are 31% higher than the U.S. national average and 161% higher than New Jersey’s state average. These expenses are driven by high housing costs, elevated transportation expenses, and rising food prices (as reported by Salary.com).

Housing Costs

The median home value in Ridgefield Park was $496,700 as of 2024, representing an 8.12% increase from the previous year (as reported by Data USA). Redfin indicates that the median sale price of a home in Ridgefield Park was $535,000 in March 2026, a decrease of 13.0% year-over-year. However, the median sale price per square foot has increased by 28.2% since last year (as reported by Redfin).

Renters in Ridgefield Park can expect to pay an average of $1,670 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, which is 2% higher than the national average rent price. The median monthly rent was reported as $1,496 by Livability.com. Zillow, however, reports a median rent of $2,050 for all bedrooms and property types, with houses renting between $1,600 and $3,400 (as reported by Zillow).

Income and Employment

The median household income in Ridgefield Park was $100,718 in 2024, showing a 2.6% increase from the previous year (as reported by Data USA). Livability.com reports a median income of $101,461. For renters, the median household income was $61,949 in 2022 (as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau). The average annual household income was $115,451 in 2024 (as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau).

The economy in Ridgefield Park employs approximately 7,031 individuals. The primary industries for employment are Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services. The highest paying industries include Utilities, Public Administration, and Finance & Insurance (as reported by Data USA).

Job Market and Major Employers

Employment in Ridgefield Park grew by 0.774% from the previous year, with approximately 7,031 individuals employed. The most common job sectors are Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services. The highest paying sectors are Utilities, Public Administration, and Finance & Insurance (as reported by Data USA).

Major employers in the area include Samsung SDS, Agfa, and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. Other companies with a presence in Ridgefield Park include FLIR Systems, Nature’s Bounty Co., and 7-Eleven (as reported by Lensa and Zippia). Samsung Electronics America, Inc. also has its headquarters in Ridgefield Park.

Climate

Ridgefield Park experiences a climate with warm, humid summers and very cold, snowy winters. Temperatures typically range from 25°F to 85°F throughout the year, rarely dropping below 12°F or exceeding 93°F. The village is partly cloudy year-round (as reported by myPerfectWeather and Country Studies).

Annual precipitation averages around 49 inches, with July being the wettest month, receiving about 5 inches of rain. Snowfall averages about 30 inches annually. The summer months, from June to September, are warm, with July being the hottest month, featuring average highs of 85°F and lows of 69°F (as reported by myPerfectWeather and Country Studies).

Education

The Ridgefield Park School District has an overall Niche grade of B+. It serves 2,174 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1. State test scores indicate that 36% of students are proficient in math and 50% are proficient in reading (as reported by Niche).

The district’s average testing ranking is 5 out of 10, placing it in the bottom 50% of public schools in New Jersey. Minority enrollment is high, at 82% of the student body, with a majority being Hispanic. This is higher than the New Jersey state average of 62% minority enrollment (as reported by Niche and Ridgefield Park Public School District).

School Ratings

Elementary schools within the district, such as Grant, Lincoln, and Roosevelt Elementary Schools, all received a B or B- rating from Niche. Ridgefield Park Junior/Senior High School has an overall Niche grade of B+ and is ranked among the top public high schools in New Jersey for college preparation (as reported by Niche).

However, the Ridgefield Park School District’s average math proficiency score is 31%, which is below the New Jersey public school average of 38%. Reading proficiency is at 49%, matching the statewide average (as reported by Best Public Schools in Ridgefield Park, NJ).

Demographics

Ridgefield Park is home to approximately 13,235 residents, with a slight increase of less than 1% from the 2020 Census. The population is diverse, with 50.0% Hispanic, 32.1% White, 8.9% Black, and 6.8% Asian residents (as reported by Census Dots and Wikipedia).

The median age in Ridgefield Park is around 40 years old. The population distribution includes about 18.4% children under 15, 11.5% aged 15-24, 30% aged 25-44, 25.8% aged 45-64, and 14.3% aged 65 or older (as reported by Point2Homes).

Population and Diversity

As of 2024, 40.3% of Ridgefield Park residents were born outside the United States, which is similar to the national average. Approximately 87.9% of residents are U.S. citizens. The village has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census and is less diverse than New Jersey overall (as reported by Data USA and Census Dots).

The Hispanic population has grown, now making up 50% of the residents, which ranks Ridgefield Park 30th statewide for its Hispanic population share. The Black population has also seen significant growth, increasing its share to 8.9%, and ranks 241st statewide for this demographic (as reported by Census Dots).