Despite having to cope with rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates, many homebuyers across North Jersey were still able to secure a home this past year. And with this, some towns in our region stood out to homebuyers more than others, making them some of the most popular towns to buy a home in 2024.
Between their proximity to New York City, the availability of parks and green spaces, the abundance of history and their walkable downtowns, among other things, new residents were drawn to these towns for different reasons.
Joel Bergen, Realtor.com’s senior economist, compiled a list of the top homebuying ZIP codes for each of the five North Jersey counties in 2024.
These rankings were based on the number of unique views of property listings and the number of days listings remained active. The ZIP codes with the hottest market demand had a high number of unique views per property and listings that remained on the market for a short period of time. Rankings are based on data collected from January to November 2024.
Here were the hottest homebuying ZIP codes in North Jersey in 2024, by county:
Bergen County’s hottest towns for homebuying, by ZIP code
Car headlights streak along a stretch of Franklin Ave. that passes under the Ridgewood Train Station.
Bergen County is a popular destination for homebuyers that want to live in a suburban neighborhood, but also want to be within close commuting distance to New York City. Homes in this county are typically among the priciest in New Jersey, but buyers have the option to choose between quiet residential neighborhoods in places like Ramsey and Mahwah, or places with a more urban atmosphere like Ridgewood.
The county’s No. 1 homebuying ZIP code this past year, Wyckoff is known for being a peaceful, yet somewhat pricey, suburban community with historic structures, such as old farmhouses and barns. The town is home to quaint shopping centers, several parks and environmental centers. The median value of a home for sale in this ZIP code was $1.025 million in 2024.
Similarly, Dumont — the county’s fifth-hottest ZIP code for homebuying this year — is considered to be a modest residential community in Bergen County with structures that represent the town’s early days. It features quaint homes, popular dining spots and an abundance of natural amenities, with a median listing price of $624,000 in 2024.
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07481 – Wyckoff – $1.025 million
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07450 – Ridgewood – $1.1875 million
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07446 – Ramsey – $899,000
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07430 – Mahwah – $699,000
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07628 – Dumont – $624,000
Passaic County’s hottest towns for homebuying, by ZIP code
Tudor homes line a street in the Allwood section of Clifton, New Jersey, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
While not much farther from New York than Bergen, many Passaic communities feature more spacious neighborhoods and are known for beloved nature spots, like the Botanical Gardens of New Jersey in Ringwood. The county has busier hubs like Clifton, or areas with quieter lifestyles like Ringwood and Bloomingdale.
Wayne, Passaic County’s No. 1 ZIP code, is a large and economically diverse North Jersey suburb. While it lacks walkability and a formal downtown, the community features rolling hills, several shopping districts and good school systems. The median price of a home for sale here in 2024 was $649,900.
Th county’s third-hottest town for homebuying this past year, Haledon is a smaller, more quaint suburban community in Passaic County. It’s known for its history, specifically in terms of its connection to the American Labor Movement, when a former mayor had allowed members of the movement to meet at the Botto House — now known as the American Labor Museum — while factory workers were striking in Paterson in 1913. The median price of a home for sale here was $679,900 in 2024.
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07403 – Bloomingdale – $519,900
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07508 – Haledon – $679,900
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07013 – Clifton – $599,000
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07456 – Ringwood – $578,000
Morris County’s hottest towns for homebuying, by ZIP code
Denville, NJ March 12, 2023 — The Park Meadow section of Denville along the Rockaway River.
Centrally located in North Jersey, Morris County offers residents easy access to New York and other North Jersey hubs. It is also known for offering a mix of living styles and atmospheres for all ages, between lakefront communities, bustling nightlife and an abundance of history.
With a median listing price of $442,500 in 2024, No. 1 Wharton is a small and charming suburban community that features history, classic Colonial-style homes and an abundance of natural amenities. In Denville, the county’s second-hottest ZIP code for homebuying this past year, you can find a bustling downtown area with local shops and restaurants, as well as historic communities like Indian Lake — an artificial lake community created in the 1920s.
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07885 – Wharton – $442,500
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07834 – Denville – $625,000
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07869 – Randolph – $690,000
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07045 – Montville – $774,000
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07438 – Oak Ridge – $489,000
Essex County’s hottest towns for homebuying, by ZIP code
A view of downtown on Bloomfield Ave in Montclair on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
Essex County offers residents an easy commute to New York City, but also allows residents to maximize their living space, experience life in a quiet urban or suburban community and enjoy a variety of natural amenities.
With a median listing price of $554,400 in 2024, No. 1 Bloomfield is full of tree-lined residential streets, highly-rated dining spots, good schools and convenient access to public transportation. No. 3 Montclair — which had a median listing price of $899,000 in 2024 — is known for being a diverse and artsy hub with a walkable downtown that is full of local businesses and a rich dining scene. The town also consists of neighborhoods that all offer different housing styles.
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07003 – Bloomfield – $554,400
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07009 – Cedar Grove – $749,000
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07042 – Montclair – $899,000
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07040 – Maplewood – $799,000
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07006 – Caldwell – $827,483
Sussex County’s hottest towns for homebuying, by ZIP code
Drone image looking south over Lake Hopatcong on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
The North Jersey county that is located the furthest from New York City, Sussex County is known for offering residents more affordable housing, spacious lots and an abundance of natural amenities. Overall, the towns in this county tend to foster a more rural and low-key lifestyle.
With a median listing price of $429,000 in 2024, No. 1 Hopatcong — which is home to a portion of Lake Hopatcong, the largest lake in New Jersey at 2,500 acres — offers both seasonal and year-round living for those who want to be near the water. Some neighborhoods in this town offer relatively newer homes with larger lots and wider streets, while other neighborhoods are more narrow and steep. Sussex, the county’s third-hottest town for homebuying this year, is a popular spot for those looking to live a slow and quiet life. It consists of an abundance of farm land, lots of natural amenities and a variety of small businesses.
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07843 – Hopatcong – $429,000
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07874 – Stanhope – $429,900
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07461 – Sussex – $459,900
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07860 – Newton – $449,000
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07821 – Andover – $669,000
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.
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