Just 12 miles west of Midtown Manhattan, the town of Wood-Ridge is the tale of a train station. When the borough petitioned for the new Wesmont Station to be built along a 150-acre former industrial site in the northwest corner of town, the plan was to create a walkable community with recreation, attractive housing and easy commuter access. And that is exactly what happened. “The 800 new townhouses made you feel like you were moving into a new town,” says Realtor Danny Yoon with Prominent Properties Sotheby’s Realty. Yoon was one of the first to buy in Wood-Ridge in 2014. “We call it New Town, and it attracts high-income buyers in the tech and financial industries. I also see people trying to downsize showing interest. Old Town feels like a traditional New Jersey suburb; it has a lot of business owners and families and is very well maintained.”
Buyers enjoy a 5-year tax abatement when they move to Wood-Ridge, a welcome perk. Home prices are also lower than much of Bergen County. “You can buy a home for under a million dollars,” Yoon says. “The new development also raised Wood-Ridge’s population by 10,000. With the new revenues, the borough has improved sidewalks and schools, built a new recreation complex, and is debt-free thanks to the mayor’s management. It’s a successful town.”
Welcome to Wood-Ridge sign outside the senior center.
A glimpse of the NYC skyline can be seen from some of the houses in Wood-Ridge, NJ.
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Former Curtiss-Wright aircraft factory
Wesmont Station, with its new residential village and athletic complex, was built on land formerly occupied by the Curtiss-Wright aircraft factory, a sprawling plant that manufactured engines for fighter bombers during the Second World War and employed 20,000 men and women around-the-clock at its peak. Wood-Ridge’s part in the war is remembered in street names, such as Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Truman. A Rosie the Riveter bronze statue also stands near the entrance to the new Wesmont Village development.
Aerial view of Wood-Ridge, NJ with rows of beautiful homes all over town.
Wood-Ridge was built on land formerly occupied by the Curtiss-Wright aircraft factory.
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Mix of new townhouses and 20th-century suburban homes
Though Wood-Ridge is part of the densely populated New Jersey/New York Metro Area, it feels like a small town. Townhouses in the new Wesmont Village are spaced between greenery and are walkable to the borough’s recreation complex and new train station. The rest of the borough offers early- and mid-20th-century single-family homes, from Cape Codss and Tudors to contemporary bi-levels and colonial-style homes. Some Tudor-style homes built during the Great Depression in the “Sunshine City” part of the borough enjoy views of the Manhattan skyline. The median price for a home in Wood-Ridge is $710,000, nearly double that of the national median, yet still below other communities in Bergen County like Englewood Cliffs or Tenafly.
Attached townhomes in Wood-Ridge, NJ has various home-options with a sense of community.
Colonial style houses in Wood-Ridge, NJ. has elevated steps from the street-view.
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Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex, library and senior center
The main recreational center in town is the Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex. Built within the last five years, the complex was part of the Wesmont Station redevelopment. It includes a children’s playground, a dog park, a two-story recreation center with basketball courts, and athletic facilities shared with the local public schools. The complex runs along the western edge of the borough, creating a buffer between the residential community and the former Curtiss-Wright aircraft factory site.
Other sports fields and playgrounds are in green spaces throughout the community, such as Veterans Memorial Park and the Marshall Lane Playground. Residents gather at Veterans Memorial Park for annual events like the 9/11 Memorial Service and the Christmas tree lighting. The park is also part of the borough's annual street fair, with live music, food, vendors and carnival rides.
The Wood-Ridge Memorial Library has existed for nearly a century. It is housed in the historic Brinkerhoffs House, the only surviving structure made of hand-cut native sandstone in the area. It is now listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places. By contrast, the Wood-Ridge Senior Center is new and offers weekly bus trips to area malls and supermarkets. The center hosts exercise classes, which include yoga, Zumba and strength training. Social groups like the Sixty-Plus Club also meet at the center.
The Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex also includes a playground and dog park for family recreation.
The Wood Ridge Complex is a popular venue for soccer leagues to host their sporting events.
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Eateries on Valley Boulevard and Hackensack Street
The borough is home to pizzerias, hamburger joints, a bagel place and eateries specializing in empanadas, vegan dishes, Mediterranean, Greek and Mexican food. The European-style Mills Bakery on Valley Boulevard has been a local institution for almost a century. Its glass cases are often stocked with butter cookies, custom cakes, biscotti and doughnuts. Across the street, Goldberg's Original Bagels features fresh bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches. Another breakfast/lunch spot is Blue Café next to the bakery, which offers an array of sandwiches and wraps. Justin’s Ristorante II on Hackensack Street is a borough favorite, serving traditional Italian cuisine on white tablecloths. The Lodi Farmers Market on Passaic Avenue specializes in fresh fruits and vegetables, but shoppers will find grocery items there, too. Wood-Ridge is also close to a Costco and two Walmarts.
Goldberg's Bagels is a Wood-Ridge favorite for delicious bagels.
Wood-Ridge locals head to Mills Bakery for amazing deserts.
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Above-average public school system
The Wood-Ridge School District receives a B from Niche and serves over 1,200 students. District schools include Catherine E. Doyle Elementary (PK-3), Wood-Ridge Intermediate School (4-6), and Wood-Ridge Junior/Senior High (7-12). High school students can also attend programs at Bergen County Technical Schools in Hackensack, Teterboro or Paramus. The Wood-Ridge High School Blue Devils participate in 14 seasonal sports and have won numerous state and national championships.
Catherine E. Doyle Elementary School in Wood-Ridge serves students in grades PK-3.
Wood-Ridge High School is ranked 288th within New Jersey.
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Commuting from Wood-Ridge by car, bus or train
A little over 1 square mile, Wood-Ridge is lined with ADA-compliant sidewalks and street crossings, making it good for pedestrians and cyclists. NJ Transit buses come through the borough on Valley Boulevard and Hackensack Street. Route 17 also runs north and south through the borough. NJ Transit’s Bergen County line stops at the new Wesmont Station, and the Pascack Valley Line runs parallel to Route 17, stopping at the original Wood-Ridge Station. Commuter parking is available at both locations.
Crime and climate trends in Wood-Ridge
According to New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Reporting data, there has been little to no change in the number of violent and property crimes in Wood-Ridge over the past five years. Local crime affects less than 1 percent of the borough’s population. Residents also enjoy four seasons in Wood-Ridge, with warm, humid, and wet summers and cold, snowy winters.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
