Tenafly, NJ
A 15,000-resident Bergen County borough where 41% of residents are foreign-born — anchored by Tenafly High School (#17 in NJ for 2026), the 400-acre Tenafly Nature Center, and one of the most walkable Main Streets north of the GWB.
Median Sale Price
$1.7M
+14.2% YoY (Redfin Mar 2026)
Days on Market
73
Down from 85 prior year
Tenafly High School
#17 NJ
Niche · GreatSchools 9/10
NYC Commute
~22 min
driving · 15 mi
Community Overview
Tenafly is a 4.6-square-mile borough of approximately 15,400 residents — one of New Jersey's most internationally diverse communities, with 41% of residents foreign-born. Census Reporter, Data USA, and Niche all point to a population that is roughly 58% White, 31.1% Asian, and 7.5% Hispanic, with a substantial Korean-American community concentrated along Piermont Road and County Road and a long-established Jewish community anchored by the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades.
The borough's defining institution is Tenafly Public Schools — Tenafly High School ranks #17 in New Jersey for 2026 (Niche), #4 in Bergen County, with GreatSchools 9/10 and 72% math / 88% reading proficiency. Median household income is $208,200 and 79.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (vs. NJ's 42.9% and the US average of 35%).
Real estate is sharply tiered: East Hill estates routinely trade above $3M, while West Hill and Riverdale offer established family-scaled colonials ($1M–$2.5M), and the walkable downtown / Smith Hill area sits at the borough's entry tier ($900K–$1.5M). The 2026 market remains "somewhat competitive" — well-priced homes draw multiple offers within two weeks.
Education
Tenafly Public Schools serve six campuses with a 11:1 student-to-teacher ratio. Tenafly High School (1,166 students) is the headline draw — Niche A+/4.01-of-5, ranked #17 best public high school in New Jersey for 2026 and #248 nationally.
Tenafly High School
Math 72%, Reading 88% proficient. GreatSchools 9/10. 1,166 students.
Maugham Elementary
GreatSchools 9/10 — top elementary in the district.
Other Elementaries
Smith, Stillman, Mackay (7/10 GS) — all above NJ average.
Tenafly Middle School
The district's only middle school — above-average rating.
Transportation & Commute
Tenafly has no rail service — the Northern Branch line was discontinued — but the borough is exceptionally walkable for Bergen County. Downtown Washington Street scores 88–91 on Walk Score (Very Walkable / Walker's Paradise). NJ Transit Bus 166 reaches Midtown Manhattan in roughly 47 minutes; off-peak driving to Port Authority is about 22 minutes via Route 9W and the GWB. Rockland Coaches express bus service supplements the route.
Drive (off-peak)
~22 min
Bus 166
~47 min
Distance
15 miles
Demographics & Community
Tenafly stands out for its international character: 41% of residents are foreign-born and 31.1% are Asian-American — among the highest concentrations in Bergen County. Korean Americans make up roughly 15% of the population (and rising), with Korean churches, Hangul schools, and businesses lining Piermont Road into adjacent Closter and Cresskill. The Jewish community is one of the most established in northern New Jersey, anchored by the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades and Kehilat Kesher Orthodox congregation.
Population
~15,400
Median Income
$208,200
Bachelor's+
79.2%
Median Age
42.2
Asian-American
31.1%
Foreign-born
41%
Dining & Lifestyle
Tenafly's downtown Washington Street and Piermont Road dining cluster spans Korean, Japanese, Mediterranean kosher, Greek, Italian, Indian, Spanish tapas, and a strong neighborhood-bistro scene. Tavlin draws Modern Orthodox families with Mediterranean kosher; Axia Taverna anchors Greek dining; Tenafly Brasserie and Spring House hold the bistro tier. Korean and Japanese restaurants are especially dense given the international resident base.
Tenafly Brasserie
European bistro
Tavlin
Mediterranean kosher
Axia Taverna
Greek
Veda
Indian
Spring House Tenafly
Neighborhood gastropub
Sayola Tapas
Spanish tapas
Osaka Sushi
Japanese
Mel's Butcher Box
Butcher & deli
2026 Market Insights
Tenafly is meaningfully outpacing the New Jersey state average in 2026. Redfin's March median sale price of $1,700,000 (+14.2% YoY) and Zillow's $896,668 ZHVI (+10.4% YoY) both materially exceed the NJ statewide forecast of 2–4% appreciation. Median price per square foot of $685 (+27.9% YoY) confirms the trend.
Days on market improved year-over-year (73 vs. 85), and well-priced homes routinely draw multiple offers within two weeks. The luxury segment shows 19 active listings at a $1.8M median list. Growth is driven by tight inventory, persistent NYC-commuter demand from families willing to pay for the school district, and continued Korean-American buyer concentration.
The bifurcation between East Hill ($3M–$7M+) and downtown / West Hill ($900K–$2.5M) is a structural feature of the market. Buyers should not read the headline median as a single product — it averages across two distinct submarkets driven by very different households.
Real Estate Snapshot
Source: Redfin (Mar 2026), Zillow (2026)
Neighborhoods
East Hill
Tenafly's most prestigious section — large estates, brick mansions, cul-de-sac luxury homes (5,000–10,000+ sqft); trophy homes routinely $3M–$7M+.
$1.8M – $7M+
West Hill
West of downtown — established residential blocks, mid-century and updated colonials.
$1M – $2.5M
Riverdale / Tammy Brook Hills
Family-popular neighborhoods cited alongside East Hill in Corcoran's neighborhood guide.
$1.2M – $2.8M
Downtown / Smith Hill
Walkable to Washington Street and Tenafly elementary schools — smaller lots, the borough's entry tier.
$900K – $1.5M
Quick Profile
Points of Interest
Tenafly Nature Center
Nature400-acre wooded preserve since 1961 with hiking trails, ponds, and environmental education programs — the borough's green centerpiece.
Davis Johnson Park & Gardens
ParkSeven-plus acres at Engle St / Westervelt Ave, recently redesigned rose garden — popular for weddings and family events.
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades
CommunityOne of the region's largest Jewish community centers — fitness, arts, daycare, cultural programming, and family services.
Clinton Inn Hotel
HospitalityLandmark hotel since 1868 — downtown anchor offering rooms, dining, and event hosting in the heart of Washington Street.
Downtown Washington Street
Shopping & DiningWalk-friendly Main Street with shops, library, movie theater, and Roosevelt Commons — Walk Score 88-91.
Camp Merritt Memorial
HistoryWWI embarkation camp memorial at Madison Ave / Knickerbocker Rd — historic landmark shared with neighboring Cresskill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Tenafly in 2026?
Redfin's March 2026 median sale price for Tenafly is $1,700,000 (+14.2% YoY), with median price/sqft at $685 (+27.9% YoY). Zillow's home value index — which weights all home types more evenly — is $896,668 (+10.4% YoY). The bracket between the two reflects Tenafly's bifurcated market: East Hill estates trading $3M+ versus West Hill and downtown homes at $1M–$2M.
How are Tenafly schools rated?
Tenafly High School ranks #17 among NJ public high schools (Niche 2026), #4 in Bergen County, with GreatSchools 9/10. Math proficiency is 72% and reading 88% (vs. NJ averages of ~38% / 49%). The district has six schools serving the borough; Maugham Elementary is rated 9/10 by GreatSchools. Student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1.
How long is the commute from Tenafly to Manhattan?
Tenafly is 15 miles from Manhattan with no rail service — the Northern Branch line was discontinued. Driving to Port Authority off-peak runs about 22 minutes; NJ Transit Bus 166 reaches Midtown in roughly 47 minutes. Walk Score for downtown Washington Street is 88–91 (Very Walkable / Walker's Paradise), among the highest in Bergen County.
What communities are prominent in Tenafly?
Tenafly is one of NJ's most internationally diverse boroughs — 41% foreign-born and 31.1% Asian-American with a substantial Korean-American community along Piermont Rd / County Rd. The Jewish community is anchored by the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades and Kehilat Kesher Orthodox congregation (300+ families).
What types of homes are in Tenafly?
Almost entirely single-family detached. East Hill houses Tenafly's trophy estates ($3M–$7M+), West Hill and Riverdale offer established family-friendly colonials ($1M–$2.5M), and the downtown Smith Hill area sits at the borough's entry tier ($900K–$1.5M). Condo and townhouse inventory is minimal.
Is the Tenafly market a buyer's or seller's market?
It remains a "somewhat competitive" seller's market in 2026. Well-priced homes still draw multiple offers within two weeks, and median days on market improved year-over-year (73 vs. 85). Tight inventory plus persistent NYC-commuter demand keeps pricing firm — Tenafly's YoY appreciation (+10–14%) outpaces the NJ state average of roughly 3.5%.
Data Sources & References
Real Estate: Redfin Tenafly (Mar 2026), Zillow ZHVI (2026), DeFalco NJ Spring 2026.
Schools: Niche 2026, GreatSchools.org, Public School Review.
Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau, Census Reporter, Data USA, World Population Review (2026).
Transit: Tenafly Borough, NJ Transit, Walk Score, Moovit.
Data refreshed May 2026. Verify with a licensed agent before any real estate decision.
Compare Tenafly with…
Side-by-side 2026 stats — prices, schools, commute, demographics.