Hackensack, NJ
The Bergen County seat — a true urban core (~46,000 residents) just 6 miles from Midtown via the GWB. Walk Score 73, two NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line stations, HUMC and the county courthouse anchoring employment, and 4,000+ new residential units rolling out under a $500M downtown redevelopment.
Median Sale (Mar 2026)
$465K
+32.9% YoY (Redfin)
Zillow ZHVI
$393K
+3.6% YoY (Zillow 2026)
Walk Score
73
Very Walkable
Pascack Valley Line
2
in-town stations · Hoboken/PATH
Community Overview
Hackensack is the seat of Bergen County, NJ — a true urban core (~46,100 residents) approximately 6 miles west of Midtown Manhattan via the George Washington Bridge. Unlike most Bergen County suburbs, Hackensack offers a mixed-density market: high-rise condos, mid-rise rentals, brownstones, multi-family stock, and traditional residential streets — at a meaningful value discount to surrounding affluent towns (Zillow ZHVI ~$393K vs. Bergen County medians well above $700K).
The economy is anchored by Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) — Bergen County's first hospital (founded 1888) and one of NJ's largest employers — plus the Bergen County Courthouse government district. The Shops at Riverside (Bloomingdale's, Saks luxury anchors) and downtown Main Street provide retail/dining infrastructure. Walk Score 73 makes Hackensack one of the few genuinely urban-walkable boroughs in Bergen County.
The defining 2026 story is the downtown transformation: 163-acre Rehabilitation Plan with $500M+ private investment and ~4,000 new residential units delivered or in pipeline. February 2025 designated the former Sears site for redevelopment. The Hackensack Bus Terminal is being redeveloped into a 15-story mixed-use property. Demographics are diverse: 37.2% Hispanic, 26% White, 18.1% Black, 42.7% foreign-born — making Hackensack one of Bergen's most international cities.
Education
Reported honestly: Hackensack School District serves the city — Hackensack High School holds GreatSchools 4/10, Niche B; ranked #255 NJ public high schools. 1,726 students. Graduation rate 88% (vs. NJ avg 85%); SAT avg 1130. State proficiency below affluent suburban Bergen peers. Note: Bergen County Academies — a county magnet ranked top 1% in NJ — is physically located in Hackensack but is NOT part of the Hackensack school district.
Hackensack High School
GreatSchools 4/10, Niche B. 1,726 students. 88% grad. SAT 1130, ACT 26.
Bergen County Academies
Top 1% NJ — county magnet, separate admissions. Located in Hackensack but NOT part of city district.
District Note
Urban district performance below affluent Bergen suburb peers.
Alternatives
Many families pursue BC Academies admission, private/parochial, or move to suburb feeder zones for K-12.
Transportation & Commute
Hackensack offers a rare urban transit profile for Bergen County. NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line provides two in-town stations (Anderson Street and Essex Street) with service to Hoboken Terminal, where PATH and ferry connect to Manhattan. NJ Transit Bus 165 reaches Port Authority Bus Terminal (~63 min full route; commuter-time express variants 165E/165R reduce travel time). Driving: ~6 mi to Manhattan via Route 4 and the GWB (~20-30 min off-peak). Walk Score: 73 (Very Walkable) — genuinely urban for Bergen.
Pascack Valley Line
2 stations
Bus 165
~63 min
Drive to NYC
20-30 min
Demographics & Community
Hackensack is one of Bergen's most diverse cities — a true urban demographic profile that contrasts with the affluent suburban neighbors. Race/ethnicity: 37.2% Hispanic, 26.0% White, 18.1% Black, with the balance Asian and other. 42.7% foreign-born. Median household income $84,277, median age 41. As the Bergen County seat, the city anchors county government, courts, hospital systems, and a substantial day-time commercial population.
Population
~46,100
Median Income
$84,277
Foreign-born
42.7%
Hispanic / White / Black
37/26/18%
Bachelor's+
~42.1%
Walk Score
73
Dining & Lifestyle
Hackensack's lifestyle infrastructure is a mix of urban diversity and luxury retail. The Shops at Riverside (Simon-owned, with Bloomingdale's and Saks anchors) hosts Restaurant Row — Morton's, Houston's, Maggiano's, P.F. Chang's, Rosa Mexicano, True Food Kitchen. Downtown Main Street redevelopment is rebuilding the historic dining and nightlife corridor with new condo towers above. The 37% Hispanic population and 42.7% foreign-born share contribute a deep diversity of ethnic dining throughout the city.
The Shops at Riverside Restaurant Row
Morton's, Houston's, Maggiano's, P.F. Chang's
Rosa Mexicano (Riverside)
Upscale Mexican
True Food Kitchen (Riverside)
Healthy / California-style
Downtown Main Street dining
Active restaurant/bar district in redevelopment zone
Diverse city dining
Reflecting 37% Hispanic, multiple ethnic options
County government / hospital district
Lunch options for civic / medical workers
2026 Market Insights
Hackensack is in the middle of its largest transformation in decades. The 163-acre downtown Rehabilitation Plan has driven over $500M in private investment with ~4,000 new residential units delivered or in pipeline. February 2025 designated the former Sears site for redevelopment; the Hackensack Bus Terminal is being redeveloped into a 15-story mixed-use property. The 32.9% YoY closed-sale jump (Redfin Mar 2026 median $465K) reflects new-condo absorption in the redevelopment zone, not citywide appreciation.
Best read of underlying value: Zillow ZHVI of $392,506 (+3.6% YoY). The combination of urban walkability, dual rail stations to Hoboken/PATH, hospital/courthouse employment base, and ongoing condo construction creates a value tier proposition unique in Bergen County. As a value tier vs. surrounding Bergen towns (ZHVI ~$393K vs. Bergen medians >$700K), Hackensack attracts buyers seeking urban density without Manhattan pricing.
Real Estate Snapshot
Source: Redfin (Mar 2026), Zillow (2026)
Neighborhoods
Downtown / Main Street Redevelopment
Active redevelopment zone with new high-rise condos and rentals — The Brick (378 units), Print House (696 units, Russo Development); 1BR condos ~$219K, 2BR $395K-$799K.
$219K – $799K
Fairmount Section
Established residential neighborhood with single-families and condos — SFRs commonly $700K-$900K, condos from ~$480K.
$480K – $900K
Prospect Avenue Corridor
High-rise rental/condo spine adjacent to HUMC — buildings include Camelot, Baridge House. Condos $219K-$799K.
$219K – $799K
Beach Street / North Hackensack
Smaller-lot single-family neighborhoods — generally more affordable than Fairmount.
$400K – $700K
Quick Profile
Points of Interest
Hackensack University Medical Center
Healthcare803-bed nonprofit teaching/research hospital — Bergen County's first hospital (founded 1888) and one of NJ's largest employers. 30 Prospect Avenue.
Bergen County Courthouse
CivicCounty government complex — anchors downtown employment with civic infrastructure.
The Shops at Riverside
Luxury Retail390 Hackensack Ave — Simon-owned luxury mall with Bloomingdale's and Saks anchors; Restaurant Row with Morton's, Houston's, Maggiano's, P.F. Chang's, Rosa Mexicano, True Food Kitchen.
Bergen County Academies
EducationSelective county magnet ranked top 1% in NJ — physically located in Hackensack but not part of the city school district. One of the most competitive admissions in NJ.
Downtown Main Street Redevelopment
New Development163-acre Rehabilitation Plan — over $500M private investment, ~4,000 new residential units delivered or in pipeline. New high-rise condos and rentals reshaping the city core.
Bergen Town Center (adjacent Paramus)
ShoppingBig-box / outlet retail just over the Hackensack border — supplements the Shops at Riverside.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Hackensack in 2026?
Redfin's March 2026 median sale price is $465,000 (+32.9% YoY) with median price/sqft at $396 (+26.3%). Zillow's home value index is $392,506 (+3.6% YoY) — the most stable typical-home benchmark. Movoto's median list (April 2026) reads $349,000 with ~33-day median DOM. The wide gap reflects mix shift toward condo absorption skewing recent closings higher; the ZHVI is the most grounded figure.
How are Hackensack schools rated?
Reported honestly: Hackensack High School holds GreatSchools 4/10, Niche B; ranked #255 NJ public high schools. 1,726 students, 13:1 ratio. Graduation rate 88% (vs. NJ avg 85%). State proficiency: math 8-19%, reading 35-50%. SAT avg 1130; ACT 26; GPA 3.39. As a true urban district, ratings sit below affluent suburban Bergen peers. Note: Bergen County Academies — a county magnet ranked top 1% in NJ — is physically located in Hackensack but is NOT part of the Hackensack school district.
How long is the commute from Hackensack to Manhattan?
Hackensack has rare in-town rail access for a Bergen city: NJ Transit Pascack Valley Line — Anderson Street and Essex Street stations — provides service to Hoboken Terminal, with PATH/ferry connections to Manhattan. NJ Transit Bus 165 runs to Port Authority Bus Terminal (~63 min full route; commuter-time express variants 165E/165R reduce travel time). Driving: ~6 mi to Manhattan via Route 4 and the GWB (~20-30 min off-peak). Walk Score 73 (Very Walkable) — genuinely urban for Bergen County.
What types of homes are available in Hackensack?
Hackensack offers mixed-density inventory unusual for Bergen County: high-rise condos and rentals (Camelot, Baridge House along Prospect Ave; The Brick and Print House in the new Main Street redevelopment), brownstones, multi-family stock, and traditional single-family residential streets (Fairmount section, Beach Street). Downtown 1BR condos ~$219K; 2BR condos $395K-$799K; SFRs in Fairmount $700K-$900K. The Main Street redevelopment is delivering ~4,000 new units backed by $500M+ private investment.
What is the demographic profile of Hackensack?
Hackensack has approximately 46,100 residents — one of Bergen's most diverse cities. Race/ethnicity: 37.2% Hispanic, 26.0% White, 18.1% Black, with the balance Asian and other. 42.7% foreign-born. Median household income is $84,277, median age 41, with a 12.1% poverty rate. As the Bergen County seat, the city's economy is anchored by county government, courthouse, and HUMC employment.
What is the 2026 Hackensack outlook?
Hackensack is in the middle of its largest transformation in decades. The 163-acre downtown Rehabilitation Plan has driven over $500M in private investment with ~4,000 new residential units delivered or in pipeline. The 32.9% YoY closed-sale jump reflects this new-condo absorption. As a value tier vs. surrounding Bergen towns (Zillow ZHVI ~$393K vs. Bergen County medians well above $700K), Hackensack offers the unusual combination of urban walkability, dual rail stations, hospital/courthouse employment base, and ongoing condo construction.
Data Sources & References
Real Estate: Redfin Hackensack (Mar 2026), Zillow ZHVI (2026), Movoto, Jersey Digs.
Schools: Niche Hackensack HS, GreatSchools, Public School Review, Bergen County Academies.
Demographics: Census Reporter, Data USA, Neilsberg.
Transit & Development: NJ Transit Pascack Valley, Walk Score, City of Hackensack Redevelopment, DMR Architects.
Data refreshed May 2026. Verify with a licensed agent before any real estate decision.
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