Bergenfield blends small-town spirit with city access
Bergenfield is quintessential suburbia: there's annual Halloween and St. Patrick's Day parades, summer fishing derbies, and Family Fun Day. "It's a very big community town," says Linda Stamker, a licensed real estate sales associate with Compass. "It's a very friendly town with good schools." Close to New York City but untouched by highways, Bergenfield provides a suburban oasis with quick access to the concrete jungle.
Diverse housing options attract city families year-round
Most Bergenfield newcomers are families who hail from New York City. The borough offers them more space, backyards, a top-notch school system, and it's only 7 miles northwest of the George Washington Bridge. While older colonials and postwar houses are the prominent choices in the borough, homebuyers can also find larger properties and newer construction. "The housing prices are very diverse," Stamker says. "You can get a house for $350,000 or $2 million. There's something for everyone."
High schoolers can earn credits from multiple universities
Not only is the Bergenfield Public Schools System highly ranked, but the schools are also conveniently located so everyone can walk. Kids are split among five elementary schools before coming together at Roy W. Brown Middle and Bergenfield High. A few years ago, Bergenfield High made The Washington Post's list of "America's Most Challenging High Schools." High schoolers can earn college credits through collaborative programs with Farleigh Dickinson University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Students can also participate in dual-enrollment college programs at Fairleigh Dickinson, Ramapo College, Syracuse University and Bergen Community College.
Veteran’s Memorial Park is a hub for play and community
When school's out, kids have plenty to do to keep busy, including making use of the borough’s recreation department and Little League. Veteran's Memorial Park, the life center of the borough, has something for everyone from the playground, the splash pad area and athletic fields. "People are always walking their dogs around the park's sidewalks and kids can play in the sprinklers all day at the water feature," Stamker says. You can also find numerous pocket parks with playgrounds scattered around neighborhood streets. Go for a nice stroll with your dog at Cooper's Pond or sit on a bench and look at the ducks.
Washington Avenue is packed with shops and local eateries
Don't let the narrowness of Washington Avenue fool you. This road is the main thoroughfare of Bergenfield. You can find dozens of restaurants, medical practices, grocery stores and mom-and-pop shops. Tommy Fox's Public House is a classic Irish pub. Grab a pint of Guinness, play trivia with friends, listen to live music, or sing karaoke. At Brownstone Diner & Pancake Company, have a stack of old-fashioned buttermilk flapjacks or be more adventurous and try pigs in the blanket pancakes. Enjoy a piping hot bowl of homemade matzo ball soup or chicken noodle soup from Foster Village Kosher Delicatessen any day of the week.
![James Leynse]()
Photography Contributed By
James Leynse
