Largest municipality in Bergen County
Mahwah is a New Jersey township with a diverse selection of homes and endless recreational opportunities. Derived from the Indigenous Lenape word "mawewi," which means "meeting place," the area offers a sprawling township where residents can meet at local eateries, on hiking trails and on mountaintop vistas. Scaling over 26 square miles, Mahwah is the largest municipality in Bergen County, with nearly a third of the area covered by state and county parkland. Up against the New York state line, Mahwah is a great spot for New Yorkers looking to live outside of the city and still have a reasonable commute.
Skiing, hiking in the Ramapo Mountains
Being in the Ramapo Mountains offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors. Campgaw Mountain Reservation has skiing and snowboarding when the snow starts falling as well as campgrounds for overnight stays. Ramapo Valley County Reservation offers hiking trails past waterfalls and provides access to the Ramapo River, where residents can go fishing, kayaking or rafting. Open year-round, Secor Farms has fall hayrides, Thanksgiving pies and fresh produce all summer long. For indoor activities, there’s the Mahwah Public Library. There are also smaller municipal green spaces closer to the town’s center like Riverside Park with a playground and baseball diamonds.
Simgle-family homes from $500,000
There’s a diverse mix of homes in Mahwah, including one- and two-bedroom condos, 20th-century Cape Cod and ranch-style homes, newer colonials on larger lots and contemporary-style estates. “Homes are seeing multiple offers and inevitably sell for over asking price,” says Jason Dion, Broker for Century 21 The Crossing, who’s been selling homes in the area for more than seven years. Condos typically sell for $300,000 to $600,000. Older two- and three-bedroom single-family homes go for $500,000 to $800,000, while modern colonial styles with four or five bedrooms sell for $1 million to $2 million. Estates can range from $2 million for a property with a six-bedroom home to $19 million for a home accompanied by many acres of land.
Externship program at Mahwah High
Students may start at the Betsy Ross School, which earns an A from Niche, for kindergarten through third grade, before going to the Joyce Kilmer School, which has an A-minus, for fourth and fifth grade. They may then attend Ramapo Ridge Middle with an A-minus before transitioning to Mahwah High, which gets an A and offers the Thunderbird Externship Program that allows rising juniors and seniors to gain real-world work experience in fields like pediatric care and software development. “Schools in Mahwah, and Bergen County as a whole, are some of the best in the state,” says Dion.
Shopping and dining in Mahwah
Nearby shopping centers have supermarkets like ACME and other chains like The Home Depot. There are plenty of popular local restaurants like Mahwah Bar & Grill, which has been serving burgers and sandwiches since 1992. Mason Jar is a popular brunch spot with an omelet bar and a carving station. And State Line Diner is a family-owned restaurant that has been offering familiar American favorites for over 35 years.
Commuting to NYC from the Mahwah Train Station
The Mahwah Train Station offers daily service to Hoboken and usually takes about an hour. Commuters can then hop on the subway for access to Manhattan and Long Island. Those driving into the city can use State Route 17 and drive 20 miles south to the George Washington Bridge.
Photography Contributed By
Brendan Rogers
